Continental Soldiers Field

Park Overview:

A one-mile loop trail around a quiet lake fed by the Ramapo River. 
Trail Uses:Hiking
Dogs:Dogs on leash
Trail Miles:1 miles
Park Acreage:
City/County/
State:		Mahwah/Bergen/NJ
Buy Trail Map:North Jersey Trails Map
Park Description:

This multi-use park with a nice lake in the middle is owned by Mahwah Township. Ramapo Valley County Reservation and the Darlington School House, future headquarters for the Trail Conference, are nearby.
Trails Overview:

In back of the playing fields is a little known lake with a mile-long flat circular path around it, complete with two broad bridges over the Ramapo River. The hike is just long enough to clear a head or reduce blood pressure

  • Hurricane Irene washed out the southern most bridge.  A pleasant hike is still possible by hiking to one bank of the Ramapo River and then back around the lake to the other bank.  As of January, 2012 no word from the Mahwah DPW when the bridge will be replaced.

To extend the hike, an open field at the northern edge of the lake goes to another parking lot at Halifax Road, which leads to a mowed path paralleling the Ramapo River.

After heavy rains the pathway nearest Continental Soldiers Field can become very muddy.
Directions:

Take Ramapo Valley Road [US 202] about two miles south of NJ 17 in Mahwah, turn right into Continental Soldiers Park.. Ample parking is available at the playing fields.

A separate small dirt parking area is off Halifax Road just before crossing the Ramapo River. Halifax Road is north of the park off US 202.
Contact Information:Township of Mahwah, Department of Recreation
201-529-5757 x254
Region:Ramapo Mountains
Fees:None

Comments

Bridge washed away

On September 4th, 2011 Phil McLewin says:

The bridge located at the lower end of Lake Henry (it's a left turn on the trail  from the parking area at Continental Solders Field) is completely washed away.  The upper bridge survived, with what seems minor structural damage; it is missing a hand rail on one side of the stairs leading down from the bridge.

The driest pathway for now will be from the parking area off Halifax Road (see Directions above), then follow the Ramapo River downstream while hiking through an open field to the upper bridge.

Path from Continental Soldiers Park to Ramapo Valley Reservation

On October 26th, 2010 Dave A says:
Is there a path that leads from Continental Soldiers Park to Ramapo Valley County Reservation? The 2 bridges on the path around Lake Henry don't actually cross the main Ramapo river but the inlet and outlet of the lake. It looks like there should be a way (Scarlet Oak Pond is so close) but when I looked around the other day I could not find a way across the Ramapo river. Thanks.

No connecting path

On October 27th, 2010 Phil McLewin says:
I've explored for a similar path in the past -- but to no avail. There is a tantalizingly wide path [although now becoming overgrown] heading south near the southeastern end of Lake Henry. It dead-ends at a stream running towards the Ramapo River. Maybe it's for the best since The Reservation is so heavily used, and Lake Henry remains blissfully isolated.

Running

On March 8th, 2009 mtm1208 says:
This trail makes for a nice little run.. it has about two rolling hills as well. Right now its quite muddy though.