Visiting the Lesser-Known Waterfalls at Ramapo Valley Reservation

Mahwah’s Ramapo Valley Reservation is one of the state’s most popular parks, but despite this immense popularity, most visitors are only aware of one waterfall in the park: MacMillan Falls. In reality, there are at least four waterfalls in this park: the aforementioned MacMillan Falls, as well as Bear Swamp Brook Falls, Upper Bear Swamp Brook Falls, and an unnamed cascade. Even though the other three are not well known, all of these waterfalls are impressive in their own way.

Reaching every waterfall in a single hike is somewhat complicated since the trail network is not designed around them. It is possible to reach them all along a 6-mile moderate hike, through some of the quieter sections of this park. Continue reading for more information on these relatively unknown waterfalls.

The Hike

The hike is about 6 miles and features about 1,000 feet of vertical gain. The hike reaches four waterfalls in Ramapo Valley Reservation and is mostly on marked trails. A short section follows an almost no-traffic private road, and two of the waterfalls are just off this road. Outside of the aforementioned road, the trail is mostly on a natural, but not overly rocky surface. There are two larger climbs and a few rolling hills sprinkled throughout.

This is not a commonly hiked loop, and as such, many different trails are taken to complete it. Despite having to take multiple trails, I find this is the most intuitive way to reach all four waterfalls.

Ramapo Valley Reservation is very popular, sometimes overwhelmingly so. This hike takes you to some of the park’s lesser-traveled areas and is generally pretty quiet. However, the beginning and end of the hike will likely be busy, and you can have trouble finding parking on weekends. Try to arrive early on weekends or come on a weekday.

Starting the Hike and the First Waterfall

Begin by walking down a set of steps in the corner of the large parking area, then continue along the wide, unpaved road that serves as the entrance to the main park. You will immediately cross a wide bridge over the Ramapo River. Up ahead, you will see Scarlett Oak Pond to the right.

Continue following this road straight ahead until you reach a sign pointing left to a waterfall. Turn left at the sign starting the Yellow Trail, and continue a short distance until you reach a bridge crossing MacMillan Brook. From this point, the trail becomes much more natural.

After the bridge, the Yellow Trail hugs MacMillan Brook and features a few set of stone steps leading up to MacMillan Falls.

MacMillan Falls

MacMillan Falls is easily the most well-known waterfall in the park thanks to its quick access. It is also arguably the most impressive, standing at 20 feet tall. This waterfall (along with the later ones) tends to run dry in late summer, so make sure you visit after heavy rain or in the spring.

Past MacMillan Falls, the Yellow Trail continues to hug MacMillan Brook as it climbs a moderate hill. There are a few small cascades on MacMillan Brook, depending on water levels.

After a quarter mile, you will reach a crumbling paved road hosting the Blue Trail. The Yellow Trail also turns left here. Take this road up until you reach MacMillan Reservoir. Along the way, the Yellow Trail departs to the right, but remain on the road.

The Less Traveled Part of Ramapo Reservation

At the reservoir, locate the start of the Red Trail, which is on the other side of the road from the dam. The Red Trail climbs a moderate set of switchbacks for the next quarter mile, climbing about 200 feet. After a half mile, the trail intersects with the Yellow and Silver Trail. Continue onto this new trail.

For the next 0.8 miles, the Yellow and Silver Trail gradually descends until you reach Bear Swamp Road. Just before the road, there is an impressive set of ruins featuring the remains of two large buildings.

When you reach Bear Swamp Road, turn right to hike up it. Continue a couple hundred feet until you reach Bear Swamp Brook Falls.

Bear Swamp Brook Falls

There is no formal trail to the waterfall, but fortunately, it is visible from the road. An unmarked trail takes you closer.

Bear Swamp Brook is a very wide cascade. During average water periods, Bear Swamp Brook splits, creating two side-by-side cascades. During high-water periods, there is an additional cascade to the right. It is fairly easy to cross Bear Swamp Brook below the falls to get a head-on view of the waterfall as well.

Upper Bear Swamp Brook Falls

A short distance upstream from Bear Swamp Brook Falls is another small but worthwhile cascade. Unlike Bear Swamp Brook Falls, there is no trail from the road to reach it, nor is it visible from said road. The easiest way to find it is by bushwhacking upstream from the previous waterfall, as it is reasonably close. If you decide to return to the road, the best advice is to save the GPS coordinates above.

Upper Bear Swamp Brook Falls is much smaller than the lower waterfall, but that is not always a bad thing, as this waterfall is still very interesting. Most of the water flows down a side cascade, while a small stream flows to the right. This small stream supports abundant moss growth, making this waterfall especially green and scenic.

From Upper Bear Swamp Brook Falls, make your way back to the road. Again, the road is not visible from the falls, but it is still fairly easy to find as it generally follows the brook upstream.

When you are back on Bear Swamp Brook Road, continue following it gradually uphill until it forks with the road continuing straight or to the right over a bridge across Bear Swamp Brook. At this fork, look to the right for the Orange Trail. Take this trail, which sharply climbs a short hill and leaves the road. Continue on this trail for about a mile as it gradually goes up and down a few rolling hills. Eventually, it ends at the Red and Silver Trail, where you will want to turn right.

The next section of the hike features multiple trail changes over a short distance and may seem unnecessarily complicated. Unfortunately, this is the simplest way to get to the next waterfall. Take the Red and Silver Trail for 0.2 miles until you reach the Blue Trail. Make a hard left onto this trail and follow it for 0.1 miles. Along the way, you will rock hop through a swampy area that is the headwaters of the next waterfall. After this wet area, turn right onto the Blue and Pink Trail. This trail heads down MacMillan Brook until it reaches the final waterfall of the hike.

Unnamed Waterfall on MacMillan Brook

This waterfall is the smallest of those hiked today and also the most seasonal. The trail can be seen from the trail, but you can also make your way down to get a closer look.

This unnamed falls first down a small cascade before dropping into a narrow hole in the bedrock. Personally, I think that when this waterfall is flowing, it is undeservingly overlooked.

The Return

From the final waterfall, the return to the parking lot is gradual and relatively easy. Follow the Pink and Blue Trail until it ends at the Pink Trail. It does not matter which way you turn here, as the Pink Trail is a loop and both directions are the same length, passing around MacMillan Reservoir. The trail to the right is slightly easier, though.

Follow the Pink Trail until you once again reach the crumbling paved road from the beginning. Follow this road straight until you reach Scarlett Oak Pond, then the parking lot. You will pass the Yellow Trail from earlier. If you want, you can follow that trail back to the parking lot instead and pass by MacMillan Falls once again.

GPS Route

Review

This waterfall loop is a good option for those who want to hike the Ramapo Valley Reservation but do not want to deal with the crowds. Unfortunately, the crowds are unavoidable in the parking area and at the beginning and end of the hike, but the bulk of it is secluded. The three lesser-known waterfalls (Bear Swamp Brook Falls, Upper Bear Swamp Brook Falls, and the unnamed one on MacMillan Brook) are all worth visiting if conditions are ideal. Bear Swamp Brook Falls is surprisingly large for such an under-the-radar waterfall, and the one on MacMillan Brook is very underrated but suffers from limited water.

Outside of the waterfalls, the hike is just okay. The long stretch to and from Bear Swamp Road is not particularly interesting outside of a set of ruins. If you want a very good bang for your buck hike and do not mind crowds, the Vista Loop is a great alternative with less “dead space” between the sights.