Ramapo Mountain Yellow and Cannonball Trail is a 5.5 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Oakland, New Jersey that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, running, and nature trips and is best used from March until October. Dogs are also able to use this trail.
Take the blue blazed McEvoy Trail from parking lot. The trail climbs to Ramapo Lake where it joins a paved park road as it skirts the lake then turns north. The trail leaves the road at a sharp bend. Stay on road for about 50 yards and take the white blazed Castle Point Trail and begin a short, steep climb. At the top are some interesting ruins and outstanding views. Continue on the trail along ridge. The trail then descends, crosses a stream and turns uphill where it joins another park road and ends at Skyline Drive. Cross Skyline and take red blazed Cannonball Trl. Then a quick right onto the yellow blazed Hoeferlin Trail. Follow trail until it reaches Skyline Dr again and catch the white blazed Todd Trail by the Camp Tamarack sign. The Todd turns west into the woods and eventually joins a gravel camp road for a short distance, then turns south and reaches another outstanding overlook. Continue on Todd, across Skyline again and back to McEvoy. Left on MacEvoy to car.
NJ Division of Parks and Forestry 973-962-2242
Route 287 to Skyline Drive exit. North onto Skyline Drive and parking is on left about 1/4 mile from 287.
February 15, 2021We did this hike on Saturday. Couple of important points. The parking lot is a sheet of ice so make sure your vehicle can handle the conditions or you could be in for a rough time before even starting the hike. We helped a couple cars that had their wheels spinning get out of there. Pushing on a sheet of ice is not fun. Also due to the recent snow the trail is all snow / packed snow / ice so important that you have the right gear. Snow shoes or spikes highly recommended. The hike itself was fun. Not strenous though some small climbs involved to get to the castle ruins. Trails are clearly marked with blazes, and the trails used most frequently has the snow packed pretty well. Of course if you stepped outside of it, it was plenty deep to sink in upto your knees at places. Our first hike on snow, so quite a fun experience. Looking forward to more. P.S: No restrooms in sight - at least we didn't see them.
February 12, 2021
February 6, 2021Ridiculously snowy. Need snow shoes. I didn't have them. Lol.
January 24, 2021Great trail! We went when it was a bit chilly so there were some muddy, icy patches but very manageable. Loved the river/waterfalls on the way in and out and then the castle ruins at the top were a lot of fun to explore!
January 23, 2021I went towards the end of January. Weather was a bit cold, just below freezing, but with the wind on the higher parts of the trail, the more exposed parts, it was blustery. Some areas were windswept so some parts of the trail were slippery - leaves collected on less gusty sides of the hills. Be careful when walking downhill. Views are spectacular! I also strayed off the trail I had chosen, but in the end the mileage was pretty much similar. Definitely recommend!
January 17, 2021Nice views and the ruins were very cool to see.. The little streams and waterfalls along the way were nice .. only complaint is there were some muddy areas today.. but it happens !
January 17, 2021Good hike- very muddy is done area.
January 15, 2021mostly easy hike, with a few steep sections and one rock scramble
January 13, 2021January 9, 2021January 9, 2021very good hike
January 2, 2021Great hike! Very muddy- we actually went counterclockwise on the trail by mistake and completely missed the castle ruins. Would go again. Got pretty busy around 10am on our way back to the parking lot.
December 30, 2020December 28, 2020December 28, 2020December 28, 2020Muddy and icy
December 13, 2020December 12, 2020December 10, 2020December 6, 2020November 29, 2020Great just crowded coz a weekend
November 29, 2020perfect
November 29, 2020November 29, 2020nice trail.
November 28, 2020November 22, 2020November 16, 2020Castle ruins are awesome
November 15, 2020November 14, 2020
