AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Ramapo Mountain State Forest

Duck Pond–Black Bear Trail, 4 sights

4.1 mi · ▲ 536 ft · 1 hr 38 min

Duck Pond–Black Bear Trail, 4 sights is a 4.1-mile out-and-back in Ramapo Mountain State Forest near Erskine, NJ. The route reaches Duck Pond at the turnaround, 2.1 miles in. It climbs 536 ft, with sections as steep as 15% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 61/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi509 – 787 ft · steepest grade: 15%4.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Cliffside Drive Access 41.08315, -74.24775
Nearest town Erskine, NJ
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Duck Pond–Black Bear Trail, 4 sights

4.1 mi · ▲ 536 ft · 1 hr 38 min

Elevation 507–787 ft

Out & Back · Ramapo Mountain State Forest

Trailhead: Cliffside Drive Access · 41.08315, -74.24775

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

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 100 ftTurn left onto Cheshire Lane Trail, heading NE.
  3. 1 miBear right onto Catnest Swamp Road, heading N.
  4. 100 ftBear right onto Cheshire Lane Trail, heading NE.
  5. 250 ftBear left onto Ringwood-Ramapo Trail, heading NE.
  6. 0.1 miTurn right onto Catnest Swamp Road, heading NE.
  7. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  8. 50 ftTurn left onto Ringwood-Ramapo Trail, heading N.
  9. 100 ftBear right onto Catnest Trail-Renegade, heading N.
  10. 50 ftTurn left onto Ringwood-Ramapo Trail, heading N.
  11. 0.5 miTurn right onto Black Bear Trail, heading N.
  12. 50 ftContinue straight onto Ryerson Access, heading N.
  13. 250 ftBear left, heading N.
  14. 450 ftBear left onto Ice Pond Road/Ringwood-Ramapo Trail, heading N.
  15. 250 ftContinue straight onto Ice Pond Road, heading NW.
  16. 0.1 miReach Duck Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  17. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Ice Pond Road/Ringwood-Ramapo Trail, heading NE.
  18. 250 ftBear right, heading N.
  19. 450 ftBear right onto Ryerson Access, heading N.
  20. 250 ftContinue straight onto Black Bear Trail, heading N.
  21. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  22. 450 ftContinue straight onto Ringwood-Ramapo Trail, heading S.
  23. 0.2 miBear left, heading SW.
  24. 0.2 miTurn right onto Catnest Trail-Renegade, heading S.
  25. 50 ftBear left onto Ringwood-Ramapo Trail, heading S.
  26. 100 ftTurn right, heading S.
  27. 50 ftBear left onto Catnest Swamp Road, heading SE.
  28. 0.2 miTurn left onto Ringwood-Ramapo Trail, heading S.
  29. 0.1 miBear right onto Cheshire Lane Trail, heading E.
  30. 250 ftBear left onto Catnest Swamp Road, heading SE.
  31. 100 ftBear left onto Cheshire Lane Trail, heading E.
  32. 1 miTurn right, heading S.
  33. 50 ftArrive 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/duck-pond-black-bear-trail-out-back-4-sights

Trail surface

98% dirt2% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:30 AMSunset 7:22 PM

More from Cliffside Drive Access Trailhead

Hikes near Erskine, New Jersey