AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
McMillan Brook Falls - Mahwah, New Jersey 2023-01-18 (02).jpg
Ryan Hodnett · CC BY-SA 4.0
Ramapo Valley County Reservation

MacMillan Brook Falls–Cactus Ledge, 7 sights

2.9 mi · ▲ 875 ft · 1 hr 24 min

MacMillan Brook Falls–Cactus Ledge, 7 sights is a 2.9-mile out-and-back in Ramapo Valley County Reservation near Darlington, NJ. The route passes Cactus Ledge, Scarlet Oak Pond, Middle Valley and MacMillan Brook Falls before reaching MacMillan Reservoir at the turnaround, 1.5 miles in. It climbs 875 ft, with sections as steep as 30% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 10/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi243 – 814 ft · steepest grade: 30%3.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Halifax Trail 41.09299, -74.18969
Nearest town Darlington, NJ
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

MacMillan Brook Falls–Cactus Ledge, 7 sights

2.9 mi · ▲ 875 ft · 1 hr 24 min

Elevation 243–813 ft

Out & Back · Ramapo Valley County Reservation

Trailhead: Halifax Trail · 41.09299, -74.18969

Weather Sep 7: Overcast, high 75°F / low 57° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:30 AM · sunset 7:21 PM

  1. Start on Halifax Trail, heading S.
  2. 0.4 miBear left onto Vista Loop, heading SW.
  3. 0.1 miSharp right, heading S.
  4. 50 ftPass Cactus Ledge.
  5. 0.2 miPass Scarlet Oak Pond.
  6. 250 ftTurn right onto Pond/Vista Loop Trail, heading SE.
  7. 0.1 miTurn right onto Vista Loop, heading W.
  8. 0.2 miPass Middle Valley.
  9. 50 ftPass MacMillan Brook Falls.
  10. 50 ftTurn right onto Vista Loop/Waterfall Trail, heading SW.
  11. 0.3 miTurn left onto Ridge/Vista Loop Trail, heading NW.
  12. 250 ftPass MacMillan Reservoir.
  13. 150 ftBear left onto Reservoir/Vista Loop Trail, heading N.
  14. 0.1 miSharp right onto Vista Loop Trail, heading NW.
  15. 0.4 miTurn left onto Ridge/Vista Loop Trail, heading S.
  16. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Vista Loop Trail, heading NE.
  17. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SE.
  18. 0.3 miTurn left onto Halifax Trail, heading N.
  19. 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/macmillan-brook-falls-cactus-ledge-out-back-10-lakes-5-km

Trail surface

72% dirt5% gravel3% paved20% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 75°F57°
Precip0%Wind5 mphUV6Humidity63%
Rained 0.2″ 4 days ago (0.4″ over the last week)
Hourly temperature
75°55°
Sunrise 6:30 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:21 PM
Tue 78°61°
Wed 85°61°
Thu 86°67° 30%
Fri 77°58° 21%
Sat 79°57°
Sun 86°64°

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