Hike of the Week 10/12/2007

Description:

At the southern end of the parking area (to the right, as you enter), you will see a painted sign on a rock “To Ramapo State Park,” and three inverted-red-triangle-on-white blazes on a tree. These blazes mark the start of the Indian Rock Trail, blazed many years ago by Joseph “Ace” Tachine (who also erected many hand-painted signs along the trail), and recently reblazed by the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference.
        Follow the Indian Rock Trail through a small picnic area and into the woods on a level footpath. After bearing left at a T-intersection with a woods road, you’ll reach the Wanaque River, which is crossed on a stone-and-concrete footbridge. A short distance beyond, the trail crosses another woods road, with stone-and-concrete ruins visible on either side of the trail. These are remnants of manufacturing facilities constructed many years ago by the E.I. duPont de Nemours & Co.
        After a brief but steep climb, the trail turns right and levels off, with a large rock outcrop to the left. You’ll notice several figures of Native Americans in feathered headdress painted on the rock, giving it the name “Indian Rock.” The trail continues to ascend more gradually, crossing yet another woods road (the route of a gas pipeline) about half a mile from the start.
        Just beyond the road crossing, you’ll notice three orange blazes on a tree to the left, which mark the start of the Wanaque Ridge Trail. This will be your return route, but for now, you should bear right to continue on the Indian Rock Trail, which ascends gradually, then levels off.
        In another third of a mile, you’ll reach a fork with a woods road, where you should bear left. Soon afterwards, the Indian Rock Trail ends at a junction with another woods road. Here, you should turn left, now following the white-“C”-on-red-blazed Cannonball Trail.
        After a short climb, you’ll come to a Y-intersection, where you should bear right to continue on the Cannonball Trail, which now follows a wide, level woods road. In 400 feet, you’ll reach another Y-intersection. Here, you should bear left, still following the Cannonball Trail.
        You’re now heading north on a level gravel road, paralleling the western shore of Ramapo Lake, but some distance from the water. Because of the dense vegetation, you’ll only be able to catch a few glimpses of the lake through the trees.
        After paralleling the lake for about half a mile, you’ll pass a building on the hillside to the left that was formerly used as a ranger station. The road now approaches the scenic lake and, a short distance ahead, a rock ledge to the right offers a broad view over the lake.
        In 500 feet, you’ll reach another rock ledge that also offers a good view over the lake. Just beyond, a gravel road joins from the left. Continue ahead on the road, crossing a stone causeway that isolates a quiet pond on the left from the main body of the lake.
        A short distance beyond, follow the Cannonball Trail as it turns left onto an intersecting gravel road, leaving Ramapo Lake. Soon, the Cannonball Trail turns right onto a footpath, but you should continue ahead on the gravel road, now following the light-blue blazes of the MacEvoy Trail.
        After a slight climb, you’ll reach a clearing for a pipeline. Turn right, continuing along the MacEvoy Trail, which follows the pipeline for about 250 feet, then bears left and reenters the woods. Just beyond, you’ll notice three orange blazes on a tree to the left, which mark the start of the Wanaque Ridge Trail.
        Turn left, leaving the MacEvoy Trail, and continue along the Wanaque Ridge Trail, which soon begins a steady descent on a rocky woods road. In about a third of a mile, you’ll reach a T-intersection. Here, you should turn left onto a narrower woods road, which levels off and even climbs a little.
        In another third of a mile, you’ll reach a fork. Follow the orange blazes, which bear right, leaving the woods road, and soon begin to descend. You’ll pass through a wet area, cross a stream, and finally reach a T-intersection with another woods road. Here, you should turn left. Be alert, for in 350 feet the trail turns sharply right and begins to climb to the western ridge of the Ramapo Mountains.
        The trail soon bears right and heads north on a level footpath, then turns left and climbs to the crest of the ridge. Here, at a T-intersection, the trail turns left again and heads south along the ridge.
        Soon, you’ll emerge in an open area at a high point on the ridge, with a panoramic west-facing view. The Wanaque Reservoir is below, with the massive Raymond Dam in the foreground, and the Wyanokies beyond.
        Continue south along the ridge and, in another five minutes, you’ll notice a triple white blaze on a tree to the left. Follow the white trail to an east-facing viewpoint at another high point, then return to the orange trail and turn left to continue south along the ridge.
        The trail now descends, with views through the trees to the right. At the base of the descent, you’ll come to a Y-intersection, where the red-stripe-on-yellow-blazed Wanaque Reserve Trail goes off to the right. This trail leads to the private Wanaque Reserve, but you should bear left to continue on the orange-blazed trail, which crosses a stream, climbs to cross the gas pipeline, and turns right onto the woods road that parallels the pipeline.
        At the height of land along the road, there is a limited south-facing view straight ahead. The road now descends, but be alert, for in just 75 feet, the orange-blazed trail turns left, leaving the pipeline and entering the woods on a footpath. Just beyond, the orange trail ends at a junction with the Indian Rock Trail. Turn right and follow the Indian Rock Trail, retracing your steps back to the parking lot where the hike began.

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