New York · Hiking

Shepard Lake Trail

0.6 mi
one way
117 ft
climb
789 ft
high point
Point to point
route
Apr–Oct
best months

Shepard Lake Trail is a short, easy hike in Ringwood State Park in New York, managed by the State Department of Natural Resources. The trail is 0.57 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 117 feet, and it rises from about 668 feet to about 789 feet. The climb is gentle overall, but the steepest stretch comes near the end, with a grade of about 22% at 0.51 miles. The trail is a point-to-point route, and it works well as a quick outing. It is also a practical choice for riders and riders of all kinds, as it is open to both bikes and horses. For comfortable weather, late spring and early fall are the best bets. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Wanaque Raymond Dam, New Jersey, show May highs around 71°F and September highs around 76°F, with July the warmest month at about 84°F. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the higher ground run cooler. Nearby, the Five Ponds Connector and Crossover Trail are both about a mile away, and the Cupsaw Brook Trail is about 1.3 miles off. Climbers can find Swamp Boulder about 2.6 miles away.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Apr–Oct

    Best time to visit Shepard Lake Trail

    Best months: April–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      38° / 20°

      10 wet

    2. Feb

      40° / 20°

      8 wet

    3. Mar

      48° / 29°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      59° / 39°

      11 wet

    5. May

      71° / 50°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      79° / 58°

      11 wet

    7. Jul

      84° / 64°

      10 wet

    8. Aug

      83° / 63°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      76° / 56°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      64° / 43°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      53° / 35°

      8 wet

    12. Dec

      43° / 27°

      9 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Wanaque Raymond Dam, NJ, 7.4 mi away at 245 ft. The station sits about 500 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors