Ridge Loop

Dogs Leashed

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Watch for unleashed dogs. The Ramapo Reservation is a dog haven and many owners allow their pets to roam off leash.

Half of this trail is on washed out old woods roads, so be prepared for technical, rock-laden trails.

Heading up the western spur of the loop, you'll run up an old road towards MacMillan Reservoir. The top of the road is often wet and freezes over in the winter months. The blue-blazed Ridge Loop continues ascending up a washed out old woods road. The trail is often wet and the tread is precarious with rocks challenging your footing.

As the trail separates from the popular front country reservoir destination, you continue past an intersection with the Red trail. The trail heads north after the junction with the Red-Silver trail that takes you into Ringwood State Park.

The trail quickly descends to two small creek crossings. Stepping stones are usually adequate for crossing, but after hard rains, be prepared for wet feet.

The trail begins a long slow climb up a woods road that, again, is strewn with rocks.

Once the trail leaves the woods roads, it becomes a fast moving singletrack trail the winds through the higher elevations of the reservation. During your descent on the back half of the trail, the Ridge Loop is briefly co-aligned with the yellow Vista Loop.

Sections of the descent are steep, and cross some social trails which may be confusing. The trail returns users back to the old road they climbed on the way up.

The headquarters for the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference is next door to the Ramapo Reservation. The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference is a volunteer-powered organization that builds, maintains, and protects public trails. Together with their partners, they strive to ensure that the trails and natural areas we share are sustainable and accessible for all to enjoy for generations to come.