Ramapo Valley County Reservation

Five Ponds Viewpoint–Glasmere Ponds, 8 sights

9.4 mi · ▲ 1,864 ft · 4 hr 4 min

Five Ponds Viewpoint–Glasmere Ponds, 8 sights is a 9.4-mile out-and-back in Ramapo Valley County Reservation near Skylands, NJ. The route passes The Bog, Five Ponds Viewpoint and Glasmere Ponds. It climbs 1,864 ft, with sections as steep as 29% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 68/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi351 – 1,027 ft · steepest grade: 29%9.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: East Cottage Road/Crossover Trail 41.12697, -74.23633
Nearest town Skylands, NJ

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Five Ponds Viewpoint–Glasmere Ponds, 8 sights

9.4 mi · ▲ 1,864 ft · 4 hr 4 min

Elevation 351–1,026 ft

Out & Back · Ramapo Valley County Reservation

Trailhead: East Cottage Road/Crossover Trail · 41.12697, -74.23633

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

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on East Cottage Road/Crossover Trail, heading SE.
  2. 350 ftTurn left onto Swan Pond Road/Crossover Trail, heading SE.
  3. 50 ftPass The Bog.
  4. 450 ftBear right onto Arbor Trail, heading SE.
  5. 150 ftContinue straight onto Swan Pond Road/Crossover Trail, heading S.
  6. 250 ftContinue straight onto Five Ponds Loop Trail, heading S.
  7. 0.5 miPass Five Ponds Viewpoint.
  8. 0.3 miPass Glasmere Ponds.
  9. 50 ftTurn right onto Midwood Road/Five Ponds Loop Trail/Mountain Bike Loop/Race Trail, heading E.
  10. 300 ftBear left onto Five Ponds Loop Trail, heading SE.
  11. 0.3 miSharp right onto Weyble Pond Road/Mountain Bike Loop/Race Trail, heading E.
  12. 50 ftBear left onto Halifax Trail, heading E.
  13. 0.2 miTurn right onto Tennesee Gas Service Road, heading SE.
  14. 1.2 miTurn left onto Halifax Trail, heading SE.
  15. 0.4 miTurn right onto White Trail, heading SE.
  16. 0.6 miBear right onto Havemeyer / White Trail, heading SE.
  17. 450 ftContinue straight onto White Trail, heading SE.
  18. 0.3 miBear left onto Tenessee Gas Service Road, heading SE.
  19. 0.6 miReach Five Ponds Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  20. 0.6 miBear right onto White Trail, heading NW.
  21. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Havemeyer / White Trail, heading N.
  22. 450 ftBear left onto White Trail, heading N.
  23. 0.6 miTurn left onto Halifax Trail, heading N.
  24. 0.4 miTurn right onto Tennesee Gas Service Road, heading NW.
  25. 1.2 miTurn left onto Halifax Trail, heading NW.
  26. 0.2 miBear right onto Weyble Pond Road/Mountain Bike Loop/Race Trail, heading N.
  27. 50 ftSharp left onto Five Ponds Loop Trail, heading N.
  28. 0.3 miBear right onto Midwood Road/Five Ponds Loop Trail/Mountain Bike Loop/Race Trail, heading NW.
  29. 300 ftTurn left onto Five Ponds Loop Trail, heading W.
  30. 0.9 miContinue straight onto Swan Pond Road/Crossover Trail, heading S.
  31. 250 ftContinue straight onto Arbor Trail, heading SW.
  32. 150 ftBear left onto Swan Pond Road/Crossover Trail, heading S.
  33. 450 ftTurn right onto East Cottage Road/Crossover Trail, heading S.
  34. 250 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

62% dirt38% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:30 AMSunset 7:22 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 7:02 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:22 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:50 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from East Cottage Road/Crossover Trail Trailhead