MacMillan Reservoir–Mill Race Ruins, 5 lakes is a 2.7-mile out-and-back in Ramapo Valley County Reservation near Darlington, NJ. The route passes Scarlet Oak Pond, Vista, MacMillan Reservoir and Mill Race Ruins. It climbs 398 ft. It scores 31/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
0 mi240 – 663 ft3.1 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Vista Spur Trail 41.07837, -74.18909
Nearest town Darlington, NJ
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
MacMillan Reservoir–Mill Race Ruins, 5 lakes
2.7 mi · ▲ 398 ft · 1 hr 6 min
Elevation 241–664 ft
Out & Back · Ramapo Valley County Reservation
Trailhead: Vista Spur Trail · 41.07837, -74.18909
Weather Sep 7: Overcast, high 76°F / low 57° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:30 AM · sunset 7:21 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Vista Spur Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftPass Scarlet Oak Pond.
- 250 ftPass Vista.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Pond/Vista Loop Trail, heading NW.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Vista-Ridge Connector Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Ridge Loop Trail, heading NW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Ridge/Vista Loop Trail, heading W.
- 350 ftPass MacMillan Reservoir.
- 100 ftTurn left onto Ridge Loop Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Reservoir Loop, heading NW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Ridge Loop Trail, heading NW.
- 0.3 miPass Mill Race Ruins.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Rocky Mountain Connector, heading N.
- 0.2 miReach MacMillan Reservoir, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Ridge Loop Trail, heading E.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Reservoir Loop, heading SE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Ridge Loop Trail, heading SE.
- 500 ftTurn right onto Ridge/Vista Loop Trail, heading SE.
- 450 ftContinue straight onto Ridge Loop Trail, heading SE.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Vista-Ridge Connector Trail, heading E.
- 200 ftContinue straight onto Pond/Vista Loop Trail, heading SE.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Vista Spur Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
58% dirt22% gravel19% paved1% boardwalk
Weather
OvercastTemperature 76°F57°
Precip0%Wind5 mphUV6Humidity63%
Rained 0.2″ 4 days ago (0.4″ over the last week)
Hourly temperature
80°55°
Sunrise 6:30 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:21 PM
Tue
79°61°
Wed
85°61°
Thu
80°67°
30%
Fri
76°56°
22%
Sat
80°56°
Sun
84°59°
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Vista Spur Trail Trailhead
- MacMillan Brook Falls–Scarlet Oak Pond Loop, 5 sights 1.6 mi · ▲ 215 ft
- Ridge Overlook–Scarlet Oak Pond, 4 viewpoints 1.6 mi · ▲ 464 ft
- MacMillan Brook Falls–Ridge Overlook, 7 sights 2 mi · ▲ 439 ft
- Cactus Ledge–Scarlet Oak Pond Loop, 8 sights 2.3 mi · ▲ 581 ft
- MacMillan Reservoir Overlook–MacMillan Reservoir, 6 sights 3.5 mi · ▲ 739 ft
- Monroe Ridge–Cactus Ledge Loop, 11 sights 3.9 mi · ▲ 633 ft
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