Macevoy (Blue), Lookout (Red), Wanaque Ridge (Orange) and Castle Loop (White)

Really nice trail, good mix of flat and incline, only 35 minutes from the city. Parking lot was full when we arrived, but a large lot so good turnover, got a space in 15 mins. Despite lots of cars saw few people. Lots of opportunities to modify the all trails route.

This is a good loop with varied terrain, several nice views facing different directions, and lots of climb. I don't know how a loop trail can only go uphill, but that's what this one felt like. Since the castle ruins (included in the loop) have been reviewed at length elsewhere, I'll start with the orange-blazed Wanaque Ridge trail. I went counter-clockwise (right turn on the white trail to the castle ruins from the black dot connector). After the ruins, there's a short red connector trail (blazed with a white "C" on a red background) to reach the orange, which starts out as a woods road then dips into the forest for a good while. Eventually it turns left and goes up onto the ridge. Up here you are exposed to sunlight and get some nice views of Wanaque Reservoir and Norvin Green Forest (it was cool to see Wyanokie High Point from a distance). There's also a cool stone staircase on the orange trail. Eventually you get on another red connector (red triangle on white) and then follow a red and blue trail that takes you back up to a different ridge. The blazes are good, but the junctions are confusing in this sequence, so it's wise to keep your GPS handy. I didn't follow the curated trail exactly, instead taking the inner segment of the red-blazed LeGrande Hill loop to get away from the highway noise. I'm glad I did, because there are pretty views and nice climbs to be found here. This course features quite a few brook crossings, and with all the rain lately, the water level is higher than the rocks you'll be stepping on. Waterproof high-top boots strongly recommended. Note: Idiots have left smashed up beer cans on the ridge trail. Who are these morons and why can't they stay home?