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Ramapo Water Tower Ruins
4.8 ★★★★★ 76 Google reviews · Running trail in Oakland, New Jersey · Open 24 hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Open 24 hours
Confirmed from Ramapo Water Tower Ruins' own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Ruined mansion atop a mountain, with hiking trails and a water tower.
What runners say about Ramapo Water Tower Ruins
“The tower is a nice picturesque spot, and during summertime you can see huge vultures hanging out on its top.”
It took us 3 and a half hours to hike to the lake, then walk around it. After that, we went further up to see the Estate ruins. I was not aware, but the group of Romanians we met on the beginning of the hike, and took us along with their group, took us up to the swimming pool.
PROS: This is one of the most structured ruins in the entire land. You're able to see the lightning rod still attached to it, the water pipe coming out of it, and you're capable of walking inside as it's still a 4 wall plus ceiling structure CONS: There's no clear path to it as we followed other people's footprints in…
Pleasant hike out to a creepy old burnt out estate. Interesting story backstory to the mansion and how it burnt down. Complete with scary old grown over swimming pool and tower. Trail head can be crowded on nice days so come early to get parking!
A solid climbing experience with options for a gentle walk and a good spot for spartan race training. Wear solid hiking sneakers and be prepared for some vertical climbing to get to the ruins.
Trail conditions & character
“The tower is a nice picturesque spot, and during summertime you can see huge vultures hanging out on its top.”
“Kind of crowded on the weekends and there are lots of unleashed dogs.”
“Quick steep ups and downs with a beautiful view at the end.”
Plan your run at Ramapo Water Tower Ruins
The practical stuff
- AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
Hours
| Monday | Open 24 hours |
| Tuesday | Open 24 hours |
| Wednesday | Open 24 hours |
| Thursday | Open 24 hours |
| Friday | Open 24 hours |
| Saturday | Open 24 hours |
| Sunday | Open 24 hours |
Running trails near Oakland
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
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