Description

Unnamed Waterfall on MacMillan Brook is a relatively unknown waterfall at the incredibly popular Ramapo Valley County Reservation. This is especially surprising considering it is on the park map (unlike the nearby Bear Swamp Brook Falls and Upper Bear Swamp Brook Falls) and is just off the very popular Reservoir Loop Trail. Part of this relative obscurity may be that it is a seasonal cascade best viewed in spring or after heavy rain, as it can dry up during the summer.

The waterfall is a thin cascade that drops into a small chasm. It can easily be visited together with MacMillan Falls. It is also possible to visit the two aforementioned waterfalls on Bear Swamp Brook for those looking for a longer hike.

Directions

Listed below is the most direct route to the waterfall. If you are interested in seeing all the waterfalls in the park, a full guide is available here that takes a different route to see everything.

• From the parking area walk towards the directory and down a set of steps to reach a wide dirt trail.
• Follow this trail for about a mile, crossing over the Ramapo River and the side of Scarlet Oak Pond. After the pond, the trail begins to head uphill and transitions into a formerly paved road. Continue on this road until you reach the dam of MacMillan Reservoir.
• At the dam, locate the Pink Reservoir Loop Trail straight ahead. Take this trail for about 0.4 miles.
• Immediately after crossing a wooden footbridge, locate the Blue and Pink Brookside Trail on the left.
• Follow this trail 0.2 miles until you reach the waterfall on your left.

Parking

Ramapo Valley Reservation is extremely popular, and parking can be a challenge year-round, despite its massive parking area at 610 Ramapo Valley Rd, Mahwah, NJ 07430. Unfortunately, this massive lot is basically the only parking for the park, as street parking is forbidden, and a large church next door has posted signs against hiker parking. If you are dead-set on hiking here, you may be able to find parking at Continental Soldiers Park (or Ramapo College, though this is likely frowned upon), though this is a distance from the park.

If you decide to visit, make sure you arrive before 9:00 a.m. on weekends to secure parking. If visiting on a weekday, try to avoid the lunch rush or after work crowds.

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