MacMillan Reservoir Overlook–Ridge Overlook, 12 sights is a 10.7-mile out-and-back in Ramapo Valley County Reservation near Oakland, NJ. The route passes Lake Tamarack, Lake Vreeland, Laurel Hollow and 3 more before reaching Ridge Overlook at the turnaround, 5.3 miles in. It climbs 1,706 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 56/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi512 – 942 ft · steepest grade: 16%11.4 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Castle Loop Trail 41.04703, -74.25168
Nearest town Oakland, NJ
Directions
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MacMillan Reservoir Overlook–Ridge Overlook, 12 sights
10.7 mi · ▲ 1,706 ft · 4 hr 25 min
Elevation 512–940 ft
Out & Back · Ramapo Valley County Reservation
Trailhead: Castle Loop Trail · 41.04703, -74.25168
Weather Sep 7: sunrise 6:30 AM · sunset 7:22 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Castle Loop Trail, heading N.
- 250 ftBear right onto Tamarack Road/Hoeferlin Memorial Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Tamarack Loop, heading E.
- 0.3 miPass Lake Tamarack.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Schuber Trail, heading NE.
- 0.9 miPass Lake Vreeland.
- 50 ftBear right onto Millstone/Schuber Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Mary Post Road/Schuber Trail, heading NE.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Old Guard/Schuber Trail, heading NE.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Old Guard Trail, heading NE.
- 0.2 miPass Laurel Hollow.
- 0.2 miPass Middle Valley Lookout.
- 50 ftBear left, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Algonquin Gas Service Road, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Yellow Trail, heading NE.
- 0.1 miSharp left onto Schuber Trail, heading NE.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Mountain Road, heading N.
- 1 miTurn right onto Rocky Mountain Connector, heading N.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Ridge Loop Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miSharp right onto Brookside Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miPass MacMillan Reservoir.
- 100 ftBear left onto Reservoir Loop, heading NE.
- 0.3 miPass MacMillan Reservoir Overlook.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Vista Loop Trail, heading E.
- 0.4 miPass Ridge Overlook.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading SE.
- 100 ftReach MacMillan Reservoir Overlook, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Reservoir Loop, heading SW.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Brookside Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miSharp left onto Ridge Loop Trail, heading NE.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Rocky Mountain Connector, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Schuber Trail, heading NW.
- 1 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.4 miSharp right onto Yellow Trail, heading NW.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Algonquin Gas Service Road, heading SW.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Old Guard Trail, heading NW.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.4 miBear right onto Old Guard/Schuber Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Mary Post Road/Schuber Trail, heading S.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Millstone/Schuber Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left onto Schuber Trail, heading SW.
- 0.9 miTurn right onto Tamarack Loop, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Tamarack Road/Hoeferlin Memorial Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left onto Castle Loop Trail, heading S.
- 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 surface
61% dirt39% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:30 AMSunset 7:22 PM
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Castle Loop Trail Trailhead
- Castle Viewpoint & Hoeferlin Memorial Trail via Castle Loop Trail 1 mi · ▲ 96 ft
- Lake Tamarack & Schuber Trail via Castle Loop Trail 1 mi · ▲ 120 ft
- Todd Hill–Todd Lookout Loop, 6 viewpoints 1.7 mi · ▲ 320 ft
- Water Tower Ruins–Ramapo Lake Loop, 8 sights 2.3 mi · ▲ 431 ft
- Matapan Rock–Algonquin Gas Service Road, 4 sights 2.7 mi · ▲ 252 ft
- Lake Tamarack–Lake Vreeland, 3 lakes 2.9 mi · ▲ 447 ft
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