AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Ramapo Valley County Reservation

Cactus Ledge–Ringwood-Ramapo Viewpoint, 12 sights

10.6 mi · ▲ 1,939 ft · 4 hr 30 min

Cactus Ledge–Ringwood-Ramapo Viewpoint, 12 sights is a 10.6-mile out-and-back in Ramapo Valley County Reservation near Skylands, NJ. The route passes Ringwood-Ramapo Viewpoint, Glasmere Ponds, Cactus Ledge and Scarlet Oak Pond before reaching Lake Henry at the turnaround, 5.2 miles in. It climbs 1,939 ft, with sections as steep as 32% grade. It scores 62/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi246 – 1,027 ft · steepest grade: 32%11.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Five Ponds Loop Trail 41.12013, -74.23815
Nearest town Skylands, NJ
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Cactus Ledge–Ringwood-Ramapo Viewpoint, 12 sights

10.6 mi · ▲ 1,939 ft · 4 hr 30 min

Elevation 246–1,026 ft

Out & Back · Ramapo Valley County Reservation

Trailhead: Five Ponds Loop Trail · 41.12013, -74.23815

Weather Sep 7: sunrise 6:30 AM · sunset 7:22 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Five Ponds Loop Trail, heading SE.
  2. 0.2 miSharp right onto Defiance Road/Crossover/Five Ponds Loop Trail, heading SW.
  3. 450 ftSharp left onto The Knob, heading NE.
  4. 0.3 miBear left onto Ringwood-Ramapo Trail, heading SE.
  5. 0.2 miPass Ringwood-Ramapo Viewpoint.
  6. 150 ftBear right onto Skylands Trail, heading NE.
  7. 350 ftBear right onto Five Ponds Loop Trail, heading E.
  8. 0.3 miPass Glasmere Ponds.
  9. 200 ftTurn right onto Midwood Road/Five Ponds Loop Trail/Mountain Bike Loop/Race Trail, heading S.
  10. 300 ftBear left onto Five Ponds Loop Trail, heading NE.
  11. 0.3 miSharp right onto Weyble Pond Road/Mountain Bike Loop/Race Trail, heading E.
  12. 50 ftBear left onto Halifax Trail, heading E.
  13. 0.2 miTurn right onto Tennesee Gas Service Road, heading SE.
  14. 1.2 miTurn left onto Halifax Trail, heading S.
  15. 0.4 miTurn right onto White Trail, heading S.
  16. 0.6 miBear right onto Havemeyer / White Trail, heading SE.
  17. 450 ftContinue straight onto White Trail, heading SE.
  18. 0.3 miBear left onto Tenessee Gas Service Road, heading SE.
  19. 0.4 miTurn right onto Halifax Trail, heading SE.
  20. 0.1 miBear left onto Vista Loop, heading E.
  21. 450 ftPass Cactus Ledge.
  22. 250 ftSharp right, heading S.
  23. 0.2 miPass Scarlet Oak Pond.
  24. 450 ftTurn left onto Pond Loop Trail, heading SW.
  25. 0.1 miPass Lake Henry.
  26. 300 ftTurn left, heading S.
  27. 300 ftReach Cactus Ledge, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  28. 350 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  29. 0.2 miTurn right onto Vista Loop, heading NE.
  30. 150 ftBear left, heading NE.
  31. 0.4 miBear right onto Halifax Trail, heading NW.
  32. 0.1 miTurn left onto Tenessee Gas Service Road, heading NE.
  33. 0.4 miBear right onto White Trail, heading N.
  34. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Havemeyer / White Trail, heading W.
  35. 450 ftBear left onto White Trail, heading W.
  36. 0.6 miTurn left onto Halifax Trail, heading NW.
  37. 0.4 miTurn right onto Tennesee Gas Service Road, heading E.
  38. 1.2 miTurn left onto Halifax Trail, heading NW.
  39. 0.2 miBear right onto Weyble Pond Road/Mountain Bike Loop/Race Trail, heading NW.
  40. 100 ftSharp left onto Five Ponds Loop Trail, heading NW.
  41. 0.3 miBear right onto Midwood Road/Five Ponds Loop Trail/Mountain Bike Loop/Race Trail, heading W.
  42. 300 ftTurn left onto Five Ponds Loop Trail, heading W.
  43. 0.3 miBear left onto Skylands Trail, heading SW.
  44. 400 ftBear left onto Ringwood-Ramapo Trail, heading NW.
  45. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  46. 50 ftContinue straight onto The Knob, heading N.
  47. 0.3 miSharp right onto Defiance Road/Crossover/Five Ponds Loop Trail, heading SW.
  48. 400 ftSharp left onto Five Ponds Loop Trail, heading SW.
  49. 0.1 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/cactus-ledge-ringwood-ramapo-viewpoint-out-back-16-sights

Trail surface

58% dirt5% gravel37% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:30 AMSunset 7:22 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 7:02 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:22 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:50 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Five Ponds Loop Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Skylands, New Jersey