Our latest entry in The Best NJ Hiking Trails series mixes hiking with history. Ringwood State Park hangs below the New York State border in Passaic County. The park offers numerous hiking opportunities spread out across 4,444 acres. However, the trail we’re focusing on today is one of the most scenic, known as the Five Ponds Loop.
The Five Ponds Loop is a popular hike for beginner and intermediate hikers within Ringwood State Park. It’s a five-mile-long trail connecting some of the area’s most scenic ponds. The trail is mostly flat, but there are some rocky ways and rogue roots. A comfortable pair of hiking boots is ideal, however, sneakers will do the trick for an impromptu hike. (Just keep in mind it can stay muddy for a few days after rain.) The trail can also get hilly, though it always remains manageable for both young children and pets. Of course, if five miles sounds like a long hike, it’s always advisable to bring water and protein snacks. Better yet, bring five different small meals and enjoy one at the shore of every lake.
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Starting the Trail
There are a few parking options when planning for the Five Ponds Loop at Ringwood State Park. The hike begins just south of The Castle at Skylands Manor (aka Skylands Manor Historic District); so the first parking option (Parking Lot A) is on E Cottage Road, just after Skylands Manor. However, this is the farthest option of the three in the area. Parking Lot B is farther down the road and turns onto Maple Ave. Meanwhile, Parking Lot C is the closest to the Five Ponds Loop; it is the second parking lot further down Maple Ave after the road turns into Honeysuckle Lane, on your left.
We recommend Parking Lot C, as Five Ponds Trail (pink trail) leads directly into it. The trail splits either north or east, but both directions loop back to the lot in about five miles. This Ringwood State Park article focuses on the trail east, which is mostly long stretches; meanwhile, the return trip is zig-zaggy in more short bursts. If you take the trail east, you’ll quickly hit the Crossover Trail (white) and turn south. After about a half-mile in, there is a six-way intersection; make sure to stay along the pink trail. The white trail branches off and leads nearly five miles out of the way.
The Five Ponds
Prior to arriving at the first pond the trail introduces an incline, it’s nothing major but something to prepare for. The first pond on the trail is Gatum Pond, and the trail provides a nice viewpoint of the water. From Gatum Pond, keep to the pink trail heading south towards the second stop, Brushwood Pond. (It is near an open field.) Then, head north from Brushwood Pond to another intersection and remain on the pink trail, now heading northwest. Stop number three is Weyble Pond.
The pink trail continues north from Weyble Pond for under a mile before making a sharp left. The path, now leading south, heads to the largest of the five ponds, Glasmere Ponds. In fact, the path cuts right through two ponds, but provides a spectacular view of the northern pond. (And also serves as a great rest point for this Ringwood State Park hike.)
After stopping to enjoy Glasmere Ponds, continue west on the pink trail. The path will cross the Skylands Trail (blue) as well as the Ringwood-Ramapo Trail (red). After crossing the red trail, the pink Five Ponds Trail links back up with the white Crossover Trail from earlier. Now heading south this leads to the last of the five ponds, Swan Pond.
Heading Back from Ringwood State Park
Depart Swan Pond by following the Five Ponds Trail south west. This turns slightly left onto a gravel road and continues on a bridge over a stream, ending at Parking Lot C. To extend the trip, and also decompress after the hike, I recommend visiting the Skylands Manor Historic District. This area includes the New Jersey Botanical Garden.
Ringwood State Park offers over a dozen other trails that total nearly 40 miles. The opportunities to mix and match routes are nearly endless. Of course, the Five Ponds Loop is a nice hike for any experience level. The park also provides recreational opportunities such as swimming, boating, fishing, picnicking, and even sledding. It certainly earns its place among our list of The Best NJ Hiking Trails.
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All Photos: © Patrick Lombardi / Best of NJ
