Yep, the H Trail bypass and Yellow are more enjoyable to ride down than Cannonball. And I go up Cannonball to make it a loop.Thanks for the great detail Pete. I’ll definitely be giving this a try soon, maybe tomorrow.
So you prefer climbing up cannonball because it’s more fun to descend on yellow than cannonball? I’ll try to check them both out and see. Thanks!
Starting at TOS, I take H-Trail bypass down towards the lake and connect to Yellow.
I then go around the lake (Lake Shore Dr.) and up to the ruins on the fire road (Foxcroft Rd), boring.
At the end is the ruins of the Van Slyke Estate:
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/van-slyke-castle-ruins-2
Go around to the back of the ruins where it overlooks the lake, from there, ride up the steps, go around the ruins and look left, get on the trail that goes past the swimming pool and leads to the water tower. I think it is the White trail.
Past the water tower you will follow the White trail down to the gas line. Instead of following the White back down towards the lake, cut across the gas line. There is a single track drop that will lead you to Blue. Drop on this unmarked trail and go left on Blue where it intersects.
Blue in this direction will lead you back to the gas line where it intersects with Orange.
Go right on the gas line and look for Blue on the left side, about 200 feet.
Take Blue back towards the lake, it is a wide not often used fire road.
Before you hit the lake, keep an eye for the Cannonball trail on the left, it is single track.
Take Cannonball trail off of Blue and follow it. It will cross the Foxcroft Rd you already climbed, but then goes into single track again. You will cross and small stream and hit the Cannonball switchbacks. Climb to the top, cross the road and keep following Cannonball trail blaze. It will run into the Red/White diver down trail blaze. That will lead you back to the TOS.
This loop is about 5 miles.
This description is almost 5 miles.This loop is about 5 miles.
What you just described has been my normal ride for years, but in the past year cannonball from the 287 bridge to the lake has been a mess from quads.No issues parking on pool hollow Ave? What about starting there, going left around the lake, up cannonball, and then down H trail bypass/yellow and then back to pool hollow?
What you just described has been my normal ride for years, but in the past year cannonball from the 287 bridge to the lake has been a mess from quads.
There's about 5 parking spots on pool hollow. If you're going with a group, park at the boat launch off west Oakland ave, 1/2 mile north.
It all depends on what your pace is, what distance/time you want.
For me, the Cannonball switchbacks are something I do climbing. As a change of pace I do climb back up Yellow too.
I suggest using the trailforks app. Here is the map for this discussion:
https://www.trailforks.com/trails/map/?activitytype=1&z=13.9&lat=41.03805&lon=-74.26472
Starting at TOS, I take H-Trail bypass down towards the lake and connect to Yellow.
I then go around the lake (Lake Shore Dr.) and up to the ruins on the fire road (Foxcroft Rd), boring.
At the end is the ruins of the Van Slyke Estate:
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/van-slyke-castle-ruins-2
Go around to the back of the ruins where it overlooks the lake, from there, ride up the steps, go around the ruins and look left, get on the trail that goes past the swimming pool and leads to the water tower. I think it is the White trail.
Past the water tower you will follow the White trail down to the gas line. Instead of following the White back down towards the lake, cut across the gas line. There is a single track drop that will lead you to Blue. Drop on this unmarked trail and go left on Blue where it intersects.
Blue in this direction will lead you back to the gas line where it intersects with Orange.
Go right on the gas line and look for Blue on the left side, about 200 feet.
Take Blue back towards the lake, it is a wide not often used fire road.
Before you hit the lake, keep an eye for the Cannonball trail on the left, it is single track.
Take Cannonball trail off of Blue and follow it. It will cross the Foxcroft Rd you already climbed, but then goes into single track again. You will cross and small stream and hit the Cannonball switchbacks. Climb to the top, cross the road and keep following Cannonball trail blaze. It will run into the Red/White diver down trail blaze. That will lead you back to the TOS.
This loop is about 5 miles.
View attachment 96909
If you want longer, there is the Orange Training Loop which is 10 miles.
https://www.strava.com/segments/7770671?filter=overall
That adds Orange to something similar to what I just described and comes back around from the south part of the lake.
View attachment 96908
If you want 13 miles, start at Pool Hollow and go up from Yellow to Cannonball until you hit the lake and start there.
View attachment 96907
BTW, not to discourage you or others, but I believe that High Mountain has better flow and is only 5-10 minutes away.
@Mtbdog can probably give you better information on that trail system, as I have only scratched the surface and have enjoyed what little I know about it.
Hopefully this helps with Ramapo.
Pete
@sundaydoug do you know how many miles that comes out to?