LeGrande Hill and Ramapo Lake

LeGrande Hill and Ramapo Lake
Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Bergen/Passaic Cos.,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Ramapo Lake Spur Trail (formerly MacEvoy Trail): Blue/Black Blaze
LeGrande Hill Loop Trail (formerly Lookout Trail): Red Blaze
LeGrande Lake Connector Trail (formerly Hoeferlin Memorial Trail): Red/Blue Blaze
Ramapo Lake Loop Trail (formerly Lakeshore Path): Blue Blaze

Total Time: 2:15 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.8 Miles

Pros: Scenic lake, good views
Cons: Noise from Interstate 287, views of built-up areas
Hike Type: Lollipop Loop
Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/hrLUu1Z33MGggf2L8

Hiking Partner:
Yehudah Koblick
(With Shimmy Rosenberg at the beginning of the hike)

This hike involved the first snow of the season. It had been a while since I had been here, and I see that many of the trails have been renamed to include popular loops as the primary trail structure. I included the new and old trail names in this post. 

We parked at the lower Ramapo Reservation parking area at the beginning of Skyline Drive, and took the Ramapo Lake Spur Trail (formerly MacEvoy Trail) parallel to the brook up the mountain to Ramapo Lake. We enjoyed the spotty layer of light snow, crossing the dam outlet of Ramapo Lake, and then took the LeGrande Hill Loop Trail (formerly Lookout Trail). We took the trail up to the ridge, enjoying the views, and then took the trail down to the LeGrande Lake Connector Trail (formerly Hoeferlin Memorial Trail). We then took the Ramapo Lake Loop Trail on the south side of the lake back to the Ramapo Lake Loop Trail, which we took back to the car.

Map of the Route

Trailhead at the Start of the Hike

Approaching Ramapo Lake

Spotty Layer of Snow on the Dam

Ramapo Lake

Flock of Geese High Above the Lake

Le Grande Hill View with Windbeam Mountain in the Distance

Le Grande Hill View 

Ramapo Lake Eastern Terminus with Snow and Ice

Ramapo Lake