Best trails in Oakland, New Jersey

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.Show more

Note: The trail blazes are white to white/blue to white.Show more

Moderate hike to lake. Scenic views of water and surrounding area. Take the Blue to the lake and then follow lake all the way around. Show more

Please be mindful and considerate when hiking this trail as parts of it are on private property. Show more

Some nice views and varied terrain A very nice hike on two of the lesser used trails in this popular park. Start out blue blazed McEvoy Trail. Reaching the dam, bear left on the yellow blazed Hoeferlin Trail. Continue on the dirt road and leave the crowds behind by turning left where the Hoeferlin joins the red blazed Lookout Trail (the second left). Here the trail has both red and yellow blazes. The trail begins a short climb to a scenic rocky overlook. After the overlook, the trail descends through a stand of mt. laurel. Soon you'll pass through an area that's been heavily damaged by gypsy moths. Most of the trees here are dead, giving this section a somewhat haunting look. After passing through another stand of mt. laurel, the red and yellow trails split. Turn left on the red blazed Lookout Trail. There will be some short ascents and descents as it crosses a few small ridges. The trail then descends gently and ends near the dam. From here, retrace your steps to your car.Show more

A lovely hike to nice views and through some old Boy Scout camps Take the orange blazed Schuber Trl. Then turn right on the white blazed Millstone Trl, which passes a decent view, then joins the Yellow Trl. Together they cross a road, then the Yellow splts to the right and climbs gently. Soon the Schuber Trl joins and together they pass a rocky area with a scenic view. Reaching the green and white blazed Old Guard Trl turn left. The trail climbs and crosses a gasline, then the Cannonball trail and the yellow blazed Hoeferlin Trl. It soon joins up with the red blazed Ringwood Ramapo. There is a view here that is best when leaves are down. Continue on the Old Guard until it reaches the Hoeferlin (yellow blazes) and proceed south. The Cannonball Trail (red w/ white C) soon joins. A short side trip (red/white blazes) brings you to Matapan Rock which has a decent view. Continue on the Hoeferlin/Cannonball as they descend and skirt Skyline Dr and head back into the woods. The Cannonball soon leaves. Continue on the Hoeferlin to your car.Show more