Ringwood State Park
Potake Pond–Shepherd Lake Loop, 6 sights
3.2 mi · ▲ 265 ft · 1 hr 12 min
Potake Pond–Shepherd Lake Loop, 6 sights is a 3.2-mile loop in Ringwood State Park near Skylands, NJ. The route passes Shepherd Lake, Ringwood State Park Beach and Potake Pond. It climbs 265 ft, with sections as steep as 23% grade. It scores 68/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Potake Pond–Shepherd Lake Loop, 6 sights
3.2 mi · ▲ 265 ft · 1 hr 12 min
Elevation 623–824 ft
Loop · Ringwood State Park
Trailhead: Ringwood-Ramapo/Shepherd Lake Trail/Mountain Bike Loop · 41.13537, -74.23180
Weather Sep 7: sunrise 6:30 AM · sunset 7:22 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Ringwood-Ramapo/Shepherd Lake Trail/Mountain Bike Loop, heading SE.
- 50 ftPass Shepherd Lake.
- 50 ftPass Ringwood State Park Beach.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Ringwood-Ramapo Trail/Mountain Bike Loop/Race Trail, heading E.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Shepherd Lake Trail/Mountain Bike Loop/Race Trail, heading NE.
- 0.5 miBear right onto Old Cranberry Road, heading E.
- 0.2 miPass Potake Pond.
- 50 ftSharp right onto Skylands Drive, heading S.
- 0.8 miContinue straight onto Cape Road/Mountain Bike Loop/Race Trail, heading S.
- 350 ftContinue straight onto White's Road, heading SW.
- 0.2 miSharp right onto Tennesee Gas Service Road, heading SW.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Skylands Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Tennesee Gas Service Road, heading W.
- 0.4 miSharp right onto Old Morris Road, heading W.
- 300 ftSharp left onto Mountain Bike Loop/Race Trail, heading W.
- 0.5 miBear left onto Ringwood-Ramapo/Shepherd Lake Trail/Mountain Bike Loop, heading N.
- 0.1 miThe loop closes back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~2 min). Leave by 7:00 PM for the 7:22 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:38 PM — 12 min before dark.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Ringwood-Ramapo/Shepherd Lake Trail/Mountain Bike Loop Trailhead
- Shepherd Lake–Ringwood State Park Beach, 5 sights 3.7 mi · ▲ 912 ft
- Warm Puppy Rock–Ringwood-Ramapo Viewpoint, 11 sights 6.7 mi · ▲ 1,427 ft
- Governor Mountain–Shepherd Lake, 9 sights 8.9 mi · ▲ 1,029 ft
- Monroe Ridge–Shepherd Lake, 7 sights 9 mi · ▲ 1,497 ft
- Ringwood-Ramapo Viewpoint–Shepherd Lake, 15 sights 9.3 mi · ▲ 1,666 ft
- MacMillan Reservoir–Shepherd Lake, 12 sights 10.7 mi · ▲ 1,709 ft
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