Mountain Biking
Scuba Diving Mountain Biking About Us Site News Site Resources Contents
    

Here some trails in our neck of the woods you may want to try.

Cannonball Lake
to Bear Swamp Lake Radio Tower

Location: Mahwah, New Jersey
Coordinates: 41°03.5' N, 74°12.5' W
Map: NYNJTC #22
Distance: 8.5 miles
Climb: 600 ft
Speed: 7.3 mph average, 30 mph max

Directions

Route 17. Exit Rt 202 South (towards Morristown and Ramapo College)
At 2 miles pass Ramapo Reservations county park on right (closed to bikes)
At 3.5 miles look for intersection with Bear Swamp Road on your right. Park on street.
Trail
[Map]
Mile
Comment
0.0 Across wood-decked Cleveland bridge.
0.1 3-way intersection. Straight onto gravel road past gate. Street turns into asphalt.
Notes: Asphalt street runs parallel to Bear Swamp Brook with a moderate .85 mile climb. Watch for car traffic during boy scout meetings.
0.9 follow street across bridge. Steep climb for 1/3rd of a mile
1.3 Steep 1/4 mile climb following winding road to peak at 1.54 miles.
1.6 3-way intersection. Turn left across brook towards BSA Yaw Paw Scout Camp.
Note: Gravel road from Beak Swamp lake coming from straight ahead.
1.9 Go to far end of camp parking lot, bear left onto gravel road.
1.97 Left, up-hill onto dirt road, keeping Cannonball Lake on your right.
Note: Ignore driveways left and right which lead to various camp houses.
2.17 Intersection with Yellow and Cannonball trails at crest of ridge. Turn right onto red Cannonball trail.
2.5 Cross Keffer Memorial Dam. Follow trail half way around upper lake (lake on your left).
2.64 Follow red Cannonball trail downhill.
3.25 Cross dam of Bear Swamp Lake. Turn left onto partially asphalt road, following Blue trail half way around lake (lake on left).
3.68 Go straight at 3-way intersection with Red/Silver trail.
Notes: Red/Silver trail would lead to MacMillan Reservoir of Ramapo Reservation County Park (closed to bikes). NNW is Pierson Ridge of Ringwood State Park. You may hear distant gun shots from the Thunder Mountain Shooting Range.
4.29 Follow short section of Green trail.
4.41 Turn right onto gravel road parallel to Tennesse Pipeline.
4.75 Radio Tower at intersection of Alganquin and Tennessee Pipelines. Turn around.
Note: For slightly better view, push bikes up the steep hill to peak of Drag Hill at 1,074 ft.
5.1 Turn left onto Green trail, then pick up Blue trail again leading around lake (lake on your right).
6.21 Pass Bear Swamp Lake dam, stay on road.
6.95 Go straight at 3-way intersection onto asphalt road.
8.55 Return to parking.
 

 

© 1995-2000, Andy Schmidt. Usage of this site is subject to certain conditions.

This page was last updated on 11/06/00 01:32:48 PM -0500.