Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Encyclopedia
Ramapo Mountain State Forest is a 4,200 acre (17 km²) state forest
in Bergen
and Passaic
Counties in New Jersey
. The park is operated and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry
.
The park offers hiking
, hunting
, canoeing
, fishing
(including ice fishing
), cross-country skiing
, horseback riding and mountain biking
. Several trails lead to views of the New York City
skyline. The 1,417 acre (5.7 km²) Ramapo Lake Natural Area within the park has several trails to excellent views from rock outcroppings and ledges. A 120 acre (0.4856232 km²) mountain lake provides fishing and birdwatching (but no swimming).
The forest borders the Ramapo Mountain Reservation
, a part of the Bergen County park system, and is part of a trail system which runs along the ridge of the Ramapo Mountains north to Mahwah, New Jersey.
In 1924, at the top of the mountain he built a granite
, brick
and stucco
manor house, designed by Mr. MacEvoy for his wife and his daughter. He named the estate RyeCliff after his wife's maiden name, Ryerson, and his first name, Clifford. Another mansion was also built on top of a hill overlooking Ramapo Lake, it was destroyed in a tragic fire one New Year's Eve many years later.
The house includes a screened in porch
, a large living room
as well as a family room
, each room with hand-hewn chestnut beams, a stone fireplace
--interesting in their craftsmanship—and breathtaking views of Ramapo Lake and the surrounding mountains (and sunsets) to the west.
At some point around 1920 - 1928 a tower was added to the top of the mountain. It was originally a water tower
erected on the site of what is now the Wanaque Reservoir, built in the early 1900s by Clifford MacEvoy. Mr. MacEvoy relocated the tower to Ryecliff and enclosed it in mountain stone so as to blend in with the house itself as well as the natural environment. The Observation Tower stands 65 feet (19.8 m) high at a ground elevation of 825 feet (251.5 m). Its five stories include two floors with toilet
and, on the fifth floor, the room contains a fireplace. A hatch on the fifth floor leads to a roof with incredible views of Ramapo Park and Lake, the Wanaque Reservoir, mountains to the west and to the east, New York City.
In 1976, the majority of Ryecliff's area was conveyed, by the trustee of the MacEvoy estate, to the State of New Jersey to become what is now the "Ramapo Mountain State Forest". The state forest built a network of hiking trails with the help of the New Jersey Youth Conservation Corps during in 1978, some of which are still in use today. The forest was unfortunately sliced in two by the controversial extension of Route 287 in the early 90's by the NJ Department of Transportation.
Nestled at the top of the mountain, however the private Ryecliff estate, complete with Tennis court, guest house, horse stable, private pond, and of course the Tower that can be seen for miles around. The Rycliff estate has recently been put up for sale.
State forest
A state forest is a forest that is administered or protected by some agency of a sovereign state.The precise application of the term varies by jurisdiction...
in Bergen
Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County is the most populous county of the state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 905,116. The county is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Hackensack...
and Passaic
Passaic County, New Jersey
Passaic County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 501,226. Its county seat is Paterson...
Counties in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. The park is operated and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry
New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry
The New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry is responsible for the management and operation of New Jersey's 42 parks, 11 forests and 3 recreation areas, as well as for the more than 50 historic sites and districts...
.
The park offers hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
, canoeing
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
(including ice fishing
Ice fishing
Ice fishing is the practice of catching fish with lines and fish hooks or spears through an opening in the ice on a frozen body of water. Ice anglers may sit on the stool in the open on a frozen lake, or in a heated cabin on the ice, some with bunks and amenities.-Locations:It is a popular pastime...
), cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
, horseback riding and mountain biking
Mountain biking
Mountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
. Several trails lead to views of the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
skyline. The 1,417 acre (5.7 km²) Ramapo Lake Natural Area within the park has several trails to excellent views from rock outcroppings and ledges. A 120 acre (0.4856232 km²) mountain lake provides fishing and birdwatching (but no swimming).
The forest borders the Ramapo Mountain Reservation
Ramapo Mountain Reservation
The Ramapo Valley Reservation is a 3000+acre county park located in Mahwah, New Jersey in Bergen County, bordering Ringwood State Park to the north and the Ramapo Mountain State Forest to the south. It is also known as the Ramapo Reservation and the Ramapo Valley County Reservation...
, a part of the Bergen County park system, and is part of a trail system which runs along the ridge of the Ramapo Mountains north to Mahwah, New Jersey.
History
In the 1920s Clifford MacEvoy began buying up property and deeds to form the Bergen Country Hunting and Fishing Club. At about this time, a small pond located on the property called "Roten" pond (Dutch for muskrat), was dammed up to form a 600+ acre lake now called Ramapo Lake, and some small parcels of land surrounding the lake were sold to private buyers for building lots, one including a television celebrity, lawyer and noted author.In 1924, at the top of the mountain he built a granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
, brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
and stucco
Stucco
Stucco or render is a material made of an aggregate, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as decorative coating for walls and ceilings and as a sculptural and artistic material in architecture...
manor house, designed by Mr. MacEvoy for his wife and his daughter. He named the estate RyeCliff after his wife's maiden name, Ryerson, and his first name, Clifford. Another mansion was also built on top of a hill overlooking Ramapo Lake, it was destroyed in a tragic fire one New Year's Eve many years later.
The house includes a screened in porch
Porch
A porch is external to the walls of the main building proper, but may be enclosed by screen, latticework, broad windows, or other light frame walls extending from the main structure.There are various styles of porches, all of which depend on the architectural tradition of its location...
, a large living room
Living room
A living room, also known as sitting room, lounge room or lounge , is a room for entertaining adult guests, reading, or other activities...
as well as a family room
Family room
A family room is an informal, all-purpose room in a house similar to a living room. The family room is designed to be a place where family and guests gather for group recreation like talking, reading, watching TV, and other family activities. Often, the family room is located adjacent to the...
, each room with hand-hewn chestnut beams, a stone fireplace
Fireplace
A fireplace is an architectural structure to contain a fire for heating and, especially historically, for cooking. A fire is contained in a firebox or firepit; a chimney or other flue allows gas and particulate exhaust to escape...
--interesting in their craftsmanship—and breathtaking views of Ramapo Lake and the surrounding mountains (and sunsets) to the west.
At some point around 1920 - 1928 a tower was added to the top of the mountain. It was originally a water tower
Water tower
A water tower or elevated water tower is a large elevated drinking water storage container constructed to hold a water supply at a height sufficient to pressurize a water distribution system....
erected on the site of what is now the Wanaque Reservoir, built in the early 1900s by Clifford MacEvoy. Mr. MacEvoy relocated the tower to Ryecliff and enclosed it in mountain stone so as to blend in with the house itself as well as the natural environment. The Observation Tower stands 65 feet (19.8 m) high at a ground elevation of 825 feet (251.5 m). Its five stories include two floors with toilet
Toilet
A toilet is a sanitation fixture used primarily for the disposal of human excrement, often found in a small room referred to as a toilet/bathroom/lavatory...
and, on the fifth floor, the room contains a fireplace. A hatch on the fifth floor leads to a roof with incredible views of Ramapo Park and Lake, the Wanaque Reservoir, mountains to the west and to the east, New York City.
In 1976, the majority of Ryecliff's area was conveyed, by the trustee of the MacEvoy estate, to the State of New Jersey to become what is now the "Ramapo Mountain State Forest". The state forest built a network of hiking trails with the help of the New Jersey Youth Conservation Corps during in 1978, some of which are still in use today. The forest was unfortunately sliced in two by the controversial extension of Route 287 in the early 90's by the NJ Department of Transportation.
Nestled at the top of the mountain, however the private Ryecliff estate, complete with Tennis court, guest house, horse stable, private pond, and of course the Tower that can be seen for miles around. The Rycliff estate has recently been put up for sale.
External links
- NJ Division of Parks and Forestry, Ramapo Mountain State Forest
- NY NJ CT Botany, Ramapo Mountain State Forest
- A good, but unofficial, page on the history of the area, with photographs
- NY-NJTC: Ramapo Mountain State Forest Trail Details and Info
See also
- List of New Jersey state forests
- List of New Jersey state parks