Ramapo Valley County Reservation

Ramapo County Reservation is a sprawling 4,000+ acre county park. For every acre it seems there are two people and all of them want to cram into the parking lot! Ramapo Reservation is a marvelous place to explore, don’t get me wrong but it is overcrowded in the main section and on weekends you’re lucky to find a parking spot. A very popular place for humans and their canine companions, this park has every variety of terrain from short flat walks around the lake, to ridge walks, to farm ruins in the hollow. However, to find a trail where you are the sole hiker you’re going to have to walk deep in the interior. As with any park that experiences a great deal of human invasion, the trails are wider and hard packed, and there are a multitude of unmarked trails and habitat loss. Wildlife is rarely observed, and mostly: rules aren’t followed. There is no swimming posted in MacMillan Reservoir, but throughout summer you’ll find people swimming. You’re asked to pack out your trash, but even with the garbage cans placed around the most popular areas of the park, but you’ll find litter everywhere. It really is such a shame that this gorgeous park is so terribly mistreated. Located within walking distance of Ramapo College, it is a haven for the young and carefree. If you value solitude, this is the last place you want to visit in Northern New Jersey… and I say that in the nicest possible way.