Ramapo Mountain State Forest 06202013
On June 20, I took a hike in the Ramapo Mountain State Forest, in the Ramapo Lake region, starting from the upper parking lot off of Skyline Drive (exit from I-287). Unfortunately, the online map cuts off some of the lower part of the forest where I hiked. I went south from the parking lot on the Yellow trail to the Ramapo Lake shoreline and past some nice vistas to the Red or Cannonball trail. There is a 2nd Red trail in the area that makes it tricky. The Red trail runs north along the Ramapo Lake shoreline and the White trail branches off of it and goes straight up a hill. At the top, there are ruins of a Mansion called the Castle and a Tower a little further on. Very interesting stone buildings. The trail meets the Red trail again and crosses Skyline Drive where it meets the Yellow trail, which brought me back to the parking lot.