Ringwood North Loop from Sheppard Lake

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Not Allowed

Features Views

The route starts and ends at the Sheppard Lake Parking lot and follows a counter-clockwise loop through some of the best trails in the park.

Highlights include Alligator Trail, portions of Crossover Trail (white blaze), Skylands Trail (blue triangle blaze), a section of Ringwood-Ramapo Trail (Red Blaze), Blueberry Way, and the old Race Trail.

This same loop can also be done from Ringwood State Park Lot A.

Starting at Sheppard Lake, find the red-blazed trail at the south end of the parking lot (near the gate) and head west. At the first fork, keep left to leave the red trail, then take the first right to go behind the old abandoned mining machinery for a fun, winding downhill trail known as Alligator.

At the end, turn left to climb Crossover Trail (white blaze) to lot Lot A. After leaving the parking lot, keep left to go behind the greenhouse and climb Old Morris Rd to the Pipeline clearing. Veer right (east) at the pipeline to find the continuation of Morris Rd on the other side of the clearing. Then turn right when you reach the singletrack Race Trail.

Cross the Pipeline again and then take the right fork to hit the Skylands Trail heading south. When the Skylands Trail ends, continue south on the Ringwood-Ramapo Trail (Red Blaze) until you reach Defiance Rd, then turn left to take the Crossover Trail (white blaze) down to the fire road and all the way back up to Weyble Pond.

Follow the pink blazes (Five Ponds Loop) around the east side of the Weyble Pond, then downhill on the fire road. Cross the pipeline again and continue north on Blueberry Way all the way to the end near Potake pond. Turn left through "The Sand Pit", the left again on Skyland Fire Road.

When the road splits, take the right fork, and then turn right onto the singletrack Race Trail. Climb the Race Trail and then descend (retracing a short portion of the route) staying on Race Trail until you reach Sheppard Lake. Turn left to return to the Sheppard Lake Parking lot.