top of mountain in RRR, oakland, nj (Ringwood: buy, gated)

[brittalia]

Hello,
Does anyone know what is at the top of the mountain above RAmapo River Reserve in Oakland. The road is gated and I heard it was state land but wondered if anyone has more specific details. Also, how is the hiking trail up there? Do you need to worry about bears or anything like that??

[joe moving]

I don't know what that land is. To the left up Skyline drive, I think is Ringwood Manor state park. To the right is Ramapo Reservation. Somewhere in there is probably some PSE&G property as well as some private and county and state property. I have hiked from the top of Route 17 in in Mahwah to the top of Skyline drive on these roads. I also ride my bike up Skyline drive almost everyday and I have seen one bear in all of my life at the top of Skyline Drive in Oakland. I came within a few feet of it. I was on my bike and had just climbed up Skyline which goes up 600 feet in 1.4 miles (8% grade) so wasn't paying attention too much-- holy !!!!. It was not aggressive at all. At the bottom of Skyline drive is hiking, as well as at the top. Both of these are Oakland still.

[DessertRat]

Originally Posted by brittalia

Hello,
Does anyone know what is at the top of the mountain above RAmapo River Reserve in Oakland. The road is gated and I heard it was state land but wondered if anyone has more specific details. Also, how is the hiking trail up there? Do you need to worry about bears or anything like that??

I've hiked a lot in the area, although I'm not sure if I've been to the mountain you're referring to . . . if I have and there's something other than dirt, rocks, trees, etc. on the top of it, then I do not remember.

Re bears, if you hike a lot in Northern Jersey (or even live in a wooded area there) there's a good chance you're going to see a bear every once in a while--they're overpopulated at the moment, which is why the state has allowed hunting them again in recent years. I've seen bears plenty of times.

Normally, bears will try to avoid you, and when you see one, it's going to be in the distance, moving away from you. The exceptions are if you accidentally get too close to its cubs, and especially if you're between the bear and its cubs, and if you're camping and you do not take care of your food properly. If you're worried about them, making noise helps keep them away. Buy some bear bells to hike with, or just talk while you're hiking . . . although they can usually smell humans long before you get near them anyway.

. . . if you're hiking during hunting season, by the way, it's a good idea to wear orange--an orange vest, jacket, etc. My main hiking jacket is orange for that reason.