Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Bergen Co.
New Jersey
Hiking Trails:
Tamarack Loop Trail: Purple blaze
Todd Loop Trail: Green blaze
Total Time: 1:15 hours
Estimated Distance: 2.1 Miles
Pros: Scenic lakes and quiet area
Cons: Very limited parking, View isn't great
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/mcHShpsgrpPbr4PQ7
It had rained in the morning and was still a bit wet, which allowed me to get parking in the upper parking on Skyline Drive. The parking was recently limited in the area to several designated spots, resulting in many people coming to this hike and not finding parking. I would really like to see the parks system add more parking to the area!
Most people who park here go to Castle Rock and Ramapo Lake. I decided to go east and take the newly restructured the Tamarack Loop Trail which goes alongside Lake Tamarack, and then continued to Todd Lake. I then took the Todd Hill Loop Trail to the view overlooking Oakland, and then took the Tamarack Loop Trail back to my car.
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| Map of the Route |
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| No Parking Signs All Over the Place Limiting People from Enjoying the Area |
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| Trail Map Kiosk |
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| Flowering Mountain Laurels |
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| Tamarack Lake |
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| Glacial Erratic Rock at Tamarack Lake |
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| Tamarack Lake |
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| Chimney Ruins on the Trail |
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| Todd Lake |
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| Flowering Lily Pads |
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| Todd Loop Trail |
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| Todd Loop View |
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| Whitetail Deer Licking its Nose |
