AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
McMillan Brook - Mahwah, New Jersey 2023-01-18 (01).jpg
Ryan Hodnett · CC BY-SA 4.0
Ringwood State Park

MacMillan Reservoir–Shepherd Lake, 12 sights

10.7 mi · ▲ 1,709 ft · 4 hr 25 min

MacMillan Reservoir–Shepherd Lake, 12 sights is a 10.7-mile out-and-back in Ringwood State Park near Skylands, NJ. The route passes Shepherd Lake, Ringwood State Park Beach, Bear Swamp Lake and 4 more before reaching Vista at the turnaround, 5.3 miles in. It climbs 1,709 ft, with sections as steep as 29% grade. It scores 67/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi240 – 1,027 ft · steepest grade: 29%11.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Ringwood-Ramapo/Shepherd Lake Trail/Mountain Bike Loop 41.13537, -74.23180
Nearest town Skylands, NJ
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

MacMillan Reservoir–Shepherd Lake, 12 sights

10.7 mi · ▲ 1,709 ft · 4 hr 25 min

Elevation 241–1,026 ft

Out & Back · 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

  1. Start on Ringwood-Ramapo/Shepherd Lake Trail/Mountain Bike Loop, heading SE.
  2. 50 ftPass Shepherd Lake.
  3. 50 ftPass Ringwood State Park Beach.
  4. 0.2 miBear left onto Ringwood-Ramapo Trail/Mountain Bike Loop/Race Trail, heading E.
  5. 0.1 miTurn right onto Ringwood-Ramapo/Shepherd Lake Trail, heading SE.
  6. 0.2 miBear right onto Ringwood-Ramapo Trail, heading S.
  7. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Mountain Bike Loop/Race Trail, heading E.
  8. 0.1 miTurn left onto Tennesee Gas Service Road, heading S.
  9. 1.1 miBear right onto Halifax Trail, heading SE.
  10. 0.7 miPass Bear Swamp Lake.
  11. 100 ftTurn right onto Hoeferlin Memorial Trail, heading S.
  12. 450 ftSharp left onto Shore Trail, heading S.
  13. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Mountain Road/Shore Trail, heading S.
  14. 0.2 miPass Bear Swamp Lake.
  15. 250 ftTurn left onto Rocky Mountain Connector, heading SW.
  16. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Ridge Loop Trail, heading SE.
  17. 350 ftPass Mill Race Ruins.
  18. 0.3 miPass MacMillan Reservoir.
  19. 350 ftContinue straight onto Reservoir Loop, heading SE.
  20. 50 ftContinue straight onto Ridge Loop Trail, heading SE.
  21. 500 ftTurn right onto Ridge/Vista Loop Trail, heading SE.
  22. 450 ftContinue straight onto Ridge Loop Trail, heading SE.
  23. 0.1 miBear right, heading SE.
  24. 500 ftPass Scarlet Oak Pond.
  25. 500 ftContinue straight onto Vista-Ridge Connector Trail, heading SE.
  26. 200 ftContinue straight onto Pond/Vista Loop Trail, heading E.
  27. 150 ftContinue straight onto Vista Spur Trail, heading NE.
  28. 0.1 miPass Vista.
  29. 0.1 miReach MacMillan Reservoir, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  30. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Pond/Vista Loop Trail, heading SE.
  31. 150 ftContinue straight onto Vista-Ridge Connector Trail, heading NW.
  32. 0.2 miBear left onto Ridge Loop Trail, heading NW.
  33. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Ridge/Vista Loop Trail, heading SW.
  34. 450 ftTurn left onto Ridge Loop Trail, heading SW.
  35. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Reservoir Loop, heading W.
  36. 50 ftContinue straight onto Ridge Loop Trail, heading W.
  37. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Rocky Mountain Connector, heading NW.
  38. 0.8 miTurn right onto Mountain Road/Shore Trail, heading N.
  39. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Shore Trail, heading NW.
  40. 0.3 miSharp right onto Hoeferlin Memorial Trail, heading N.
  41. 450 ftTurn left onto Halifax Trail, heading N.
  42. 0.7 miBear left onto Tennesee Gas Service Road, heading N.
  43. 1.1 miTurn right onto Mountain Bike Loop/Race Trail, heading N.
  44. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Ringwood-Ramapo Trail, heading N.
  45. 0.3 miBear left onto Ringwood-Ramapo/Shepherd Lake Trail, heading NE.
  46. 0.2 miTurn left onto Ringwood-Ramapo Trail/Mountain Bike Loop/Race Trail, heading N.
  47. 0.1 miBear right onto Ringwood-Ramapo/Shepherd Lake Trail/Mountain Bike Loop, heading N.
  48. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/shepherd-lake-mill-race-ruins-out-back-13-sights

Trail surface

59% dirt9% paved7% gravel25% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:30 AMSunset 7:22 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~1 min). Leave by 7:00 PM for the 7:22 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:38 PM — 12 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Ringwood-Ramapo/Shepherd Lake Trail/Mountain Bike Loop Trailhead

Hikes near Skylands, New Jersey