Ramapo Valley County Reservation
Managed by Bergen County
4,203 acres35.9 mi of trail
Halifax TrailRidge Loop TrailOld Guard TrailSchuber Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Photo: Daniellek0512 · CC BY-SA 3.0A+Outdoors
Outdoors in Mahwah Township
46% of Mahwah Township’s land is conserved: 7,433 acres
76 miles of mapped trail cross Mahwah Township, 3.0 per square mile of land. 6,736 acres are parks and preserves, 264 per 1,000 residents. The biggest trail networks: Ramapo Valley County Reservation (35.9 mi), Campgaw Mountain Reservation (16.1 mi), Ramapo Mountain State Forest (7.9 mi).
Ahead of 98% of U.S. towns · #31 of 468 in New Jersey. What drives it
Conserved land
46%
7,433 acres · of 25.4 sq mi of land
Trails
76 mi
3.0 per sq mi of land
Park land
6,736 ac
264 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
83%
of residents within ½ mile
Highest peak
1,152 ft
Bald Mountain
Lakes & rivers
16
What kind of outdoors town is Mahwah Township?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Mahwah Township have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Mahwah Township is ahead of 98% of U.S. towns, #31 of 468 in New Jersey. All four inputs are above most U.S. towns; conserved land ranks highest, the share of residents near a park lowest.
A+
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Mahwah Township’s overall grade.
Conserved land46% of the land · typical NJ town 11% · U.S. 4%A+Trails3.0 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (76 mi) · NJ 0.7 · U.S. 0.4A+Park land264 acres of park per 1,000 residents (6,736 acres) · NJ 25 · U.S. 13AParks close to home83% of residents within a half mile of a park · NJ 98% · U.S. 72%B+
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 98%
LessMore
New Jersey towns of 2,500+ (468)Ahead of 94%
New Jersey towns conserve more land than most (a typical one, 11%; the U.S., 4%), so Mahwah Township’s 46% is ahead of 96% of New Jersey towns, while its trails per square mile lead 96% of them.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would still be A+. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Ramapo Valley County Reservation, with 35.9 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Campgaw Mountain Reservation
Managed by Bergen County Department of Parks
1,012 acres16.1 mi of trail
Old Cedar TrailRocky Ridge TrailSilver TrailBackslope Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Nature preserve
1,080 acres7.9 mi of trail
Halifax TrailCannonball TrailOld Guard TrailMary Post Road/Schuber Trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Ringwood State Park
Managed by New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry
914 acres7.8 mi of trail
Hoeferlin Memorial TrailShore TrailPierson Ridge TrailCrossover Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Continental Soldiers Park
Park
62 acres1.6 mi of trail
Lake Henry Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Darlington County Park
Park
76 acres0.6 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto Darlington Playground Parking Lot
Who protects it
7,433 conserved acres
46% of Mahwah Township’s land. Who manages Mahwah Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
County6,567 ac
State natural resources1,047 ac
Town or city605 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits215 ac
Other or Unknown Local Government35 ac
Not recorded820 ac
Local Conservation Area · 5,315 acLocal Recreation Area · 1,834 acState Resource Management Area · 976 acAgricultural Easement · 592 acPrivate Recreation or Education · 181 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 183 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 2 of 59 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramapo Valley County Reservation Local Recreation Area | County | 5,128 | Open |
| Campgaw Mountain Reservation Local Conservation Area | County | 1,007 | Open |
| Ramapo Mountain State Forest State Resource Management Area | State natural resources | 976 | Open |
| Ramapo Mountain Local Conservation Area | County | 304 | Restricted |
| Mahwah Township Trail Local Recreation Area | Town or city | 290 | Open |
| Darlington County Park and Golf Course Local Recreation Area | County | 263 | Open |
| Camp Yaw Paw Private Recreation or Education | Land trusts & nonprofits | 181 | Closed |
| Mahwah Township Unknown Local Other or Unknown | Town or city | 88 | Open |
| Ringwood State Park State Park | State natural resources | 71 | Open |
| Ridge Road Park Local Other or Unknown | Town or city | 60 | Open |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
43 places to go in Mahwah Township
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Swimming spots in Mahwah Township
1 swimming spot without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Public pools in Mahwah Township
Mahwah Pool
DirectionsPlaygrounds in Mahwah Township
Basketball CourtIn Darlington County Park
DirectionsDarlington Play GroundIn Darlington County Park
DirectionsVolleyball CourtIn Darlington County Park
DirectionsPlus 7 playgrounds without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Waterfalls in Mahwah Township
MacMillan Brook FallsIn Ramapo Valley County Reservation
DirectionsPlus 2 waterfalls without a name on the map.
Scenic views in Mahwah Township
Alliger's LookoutIn Ramapo Valley County Reservation
DirectionsCactus LedgeIn Ramapo Valley County Reservation
DirectionsErskine LookoutIn Ringwood State Park
DirectionsHawk RockIn Ramapo Valley County Reservation
DirectionsIlgenstein RockIn Ringwood State Park
DirectionsMacMillan Reservoir OverlookIn Ramapo Valley County Reservation
DirectionsMiddle Valley LookoutIn Ramapo Valley County Reservation
DirectionsNorth LookoutIn Ramapo Valley County Reservation
Directions1 more scenic view
Ridge OverlookIn Ramapo Valley County Reservation
DirectionsPlus 4 scenic views without a name on the map.
Peaks in Mahwah Township
Bald Mountain1,152 ft elevation · In Ramapo Mountain State Forest
DirectionsHigh Mountain1,106 ft elevation · In Ringwood State Park
DirectionsNorth Cape1,089 ft elevation · In Ringwood State Park
DirectionsHerman Hill1,076 ft elevation · In Ramapo Mountain State Forest
DirectionsDrag Hill1,060 ft elevation · In Ringwood State Park
DirectionsRocky Mountain1,056 ft elevation · In Ringwood State Park
DirectionsTwin Hill997 ft elevation · In Ramapo Valley County Reservation
DirectionsStag Hill/Houvenkopf Mountain925 ft elevation · In Ramapo Valley County Reservation
Directions4 more peaks
Matty Price Hill915 ft elevation · In Ramapo Valley County Reservation
DirectionsMonroe Ridge860 ft elevation · In Ramapo Valley County Reservation
DirectionsGreen Hill814 ft elevation · In Ramapo Valley County Reservation
DirectionsCampgaw Mountain735 ft elevation · In Campgaw Mountain Reservation
DirectionsPicnic areas in Mahwah Township
1 picnic area without a name on the map.
Campgrounds in Mahwah Township
Camp Glen GrayFee · In Ramapo Valley County Reservation
DirectionsCamp Yaw PawNorthern New Jersey Council
DirectionsTrails & water
25 named trails and 16 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 14.0 miUnpaved · 49.8 mi
Halifax Trail3.6 mi
Ridge Loop Trail2.5 mi
Old Cedar Trail2.4 mi
Old Guard Trail2.4 mi
Schuber Trail2.3 mi
Hoeferlin Memorial Trail2.1 mi
Yellow-Silver Trail1.9 mi
Cannonball Trail1.9 mi
Yellow Trail1.5 mi
White Trail1.4 mi
15 more trails
Rocky Ridge Trail
1.4 miSilver Trail
1.3 miShore Trail
1.1 miBackslope Trail
1.1 miMarsh Loop Trail
1.1 miMillstone Trail
1.1 miVista Loop Trail
0.9 miLake Henry Trail
0.9 miRocky Mountain Connector
0.8 miVista Loop
0.8 miBear Swamp Trail
0.8 miDogwood Lane Trail
0.7 miHavemeyer Trail
0.7 miPierson Ridge Trail
0.7 miCrossover Trail
0.7 miBiking & sports
0.0 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
Courts & fields
34Tennis
11Baseball
8Basketball
4Pickleball
4Soccer
2Football
2Beach volleyball
1Skate park
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →10 places on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 7 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
Hopper-Van Horn HouseBuilding · listed 1973
About itJohn Bartholf HouseBuilding · listed 1983
About itAbraham Van Gelder HouseBuilding · listed 1983
About itGarret Garrison HouseBuilding · listed 1983
About itIsaac Bogert HouseBuilding · listed 1983
About itJohn Smith HouseBuilding · listed 1983
About itVanderbeck HouseBuilding · listed 1983
About itDutch Reformed Church at RomopockBuilding · listed 1985
About itCrocker-McMillin Mansion-Immaculate Conception SeminaryBuilding · listed 1997
About itDarlington SchoolhouseBuilding · listed 2008
About itWhen to get out
The best walking months in Mahwah Township: April to September
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.5 | 10.6 | 11.8 | 13.3 | 14.5 | 15.1 | 14.8 | 13.8 | 12.4 | 11.0 | 9.8 | 9.2 |
| High (°F) | 37 | 40 | 49 | 61 | 72 | 80 | 85 | 83 | 76 | 64 | 53 | 42 |
| Rain (in) | 3.3 | 2.7 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 3.7 | 4.2 |
February is the driest month (2.7 in) and July the warmest (highs of 85 °F). 4.6 inches fall in June, the wettest month. The climate in Mahwah Township →
Next door
Mahwah Township and its neighbors
Mahwah Township has the most mapped trails of the 7 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Mahwah Township76 miOakland24 miFranklin Lakes7.3 miAllendale5.7 miRamsey5.0 miWyckoff Township2.7 miUpper Saddle River0.0 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahwah Township | 46% | 3.0 | 264 | 83% | A+ |
| Ramsey | 9% | 0.9 | 23 | 99% | A |
| Allendale | 11% | 1.8 | 28 | 93% | A |
| Franklin Lakes | 9% | 0.8 | 54 | 74% | A− |
| Wyckoff Township | 4% | 0.4 | 9 | 82% | B |
| Upper Saddle River | 2% | under 0.1 | 11 | 70% | C |
| Oakland | 17% | 2.8 | 67 | 68% | A |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Mahwah Township
Where can I hike in Mahwah Township?
The longest trail networks: Ramapo Valley County Reservation, 35.9 miles; Campgaw Mountain Reservation, 16.1 miles; Ramapo Mountain State Forest, 7.9 miles; Ringwood State Park, 7.8 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Mahwah Township is conserved land?
46% of its land, against a typical 11% for a New Jersey town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on Mahwah Township’s trails?
Ramapo Valley County Reservation and Campgaw Mountain Reservation don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Mahwah Township?
105,836 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Mahwah Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 7,815 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does Mahwah Township have?
Ahead of 98% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #31 of 468 in New Jersey. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Mahwah Township neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →