Ramapo Mountain State Forest

Tamarack Viewpoint–Castle Viewpoint, 4 viewpoints

3.3 mi · ▲ 525 ft · 1 hr 22 min

Tamarack Viewpoint–Castle Viewpoint, 4 viewpoints is a 3.3-mile out-and-back in Ramapo Mountain State Forest near Wanaque-Midvale, NJ. The route passes Castle Viewpoint and Lake Tamarack before reaching Tamarack Viewpoint at the turnaround, 1.6 miles in. It climbs 525 ft, with sections as steep as 28% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 21/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi640 – 879 ft · steepest grade: 28%3.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.05489, -74.26103
Nearest town Wanaque-Midvale, NJ

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Tamarack Viewpoint–Castle Viewpoint, 4 viewpoints

3.3 mi · ▲ 525 ft · 1 hr 22 min

Elevation 640–880 ft

Out & Back · Ramapo Mountain State Forest

Trailhead: 41.05489, -74.26103

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

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Wanaque Ridge Spur Trail, heading S.
  3. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  4. 0.2 miBear left onto Castle Loop Trail, heading SE.
  5. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Algonquin Gas Transmission Service Road/Castle Loop Trail, heading NE.
  6. 250 ftContinue straight onto Castle Loop Trail, heading NE.
  7. 0.1 miPass Castle Viewpoint.
  8. 100 ftTurn right onto Deer Ledge Road/Cannonball/Castle Loop Trail, heading NE.
  9. 150 ftBear left onto Cannonball/Castle Loop Trail, heading E.
  10. 450 ftTurn left onto Castle Loop Trail, heading S.
  11. 0.2 miTurn left onto Tamarack Road/Hoeferlin Memorial Trail, heading E.
  12. 50 ftTurn right onto Tamarack Loop, heading NE.
  13. 0.3 miPass Lake Tamarack.
  14. 50 ftBear right onto Tamarack Loop Trail, heading NE.
  15. 350 ftTurn right, heading N.
  16. 250 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  17. 250 ftReach Tamarack Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  18. 200 ftSharp left, heading S.
  19. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  20. 0.1 miBear left onto Tamarack Loop, heading E.
  21. 0.3 miTurn left onto Tamarack Road/Hoeferlin Memorial Trail, heading SW.
  22. 50 ftTurn right onto Castle Loop Trail, heading SW.
  23. 0.2 miTurn right onto Cannonball/Castle Loop Trail, heading SW.
  24. 450 ftBear right onto Deer Ledge Road/Cannonball/Castle Loop Trail, heading NW.
  25. 150 ftTurn left onto Castle Loop Trail, heading N.
  26. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Algonquin Gas Transmission Service Road/Castle Loop Trail, heading W.
  27. 250 ftContinue straight onto Castle Loop Trail, heading N.
  28. 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
  29. 0.2 miTurn right onto Wanaque Ridge Spur Trail, heading SW.
  30. 0.3 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

70% dirt6% paved24% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:30 AMSunset 7:22 PM

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