Bear Swamp access

[tompg]

So I finally got out for a few minutes yesterday. I figured will all the rain lately my favorite local brookie stream would be a good distraction. Well there was almost no water. I've seen it lower but not much. I skipped the fishing.

I have a parking secret that allows me to access from 202 and Bear Swamp Road. Well the gate has some new locks and lots of new no trespassing signs. These nicely compliment all the no parking signs. The signs say "POSTED no trespassing. No hunting, fishing, hiking or parking.

Do you see any of these signs if you hike in from the reservation? Are you in trouble if you got there walking up the road but not if you hiked in from the North? What about walking down Bear Swamp Road from any number of access trails.

If the Boy Scouts really want it so private, I hope they're paying for all the road maintenance.

tom

 

[Pete]

I don't see an owner's name on that sign.... Is it near the gate?
If so, I doubt it belongs to the Scouts.

The county keeps buying more land, and expanding the park, so it's hard to keep track, but as I understand it....

• The land near the river, including some inside the gate, is privately owned, by Sun Valley Farms, and various residents of the Deerhaven community. They have a right to post.
  
  Up Bear Swamp Road, a little way past the Bridge, you enter county park land. This is/was normally only closed during emergencies, or when forest fires were a possibility, (vehicles for official use only).
  
  About 3/4 mile further, it became Boy Scout property (unless the county bought it by now). It was marked, but not as a "no trespassing" area.
  
  A few hundred feet past the side road to Cannon Ball Lake, as you approach Bear Swamp Lake, it becomes State Land, (The Bear Swamp section of Ringwood State Park.)

If you hike in from the County Park, using the marked trails, you'll get to the brook either on State or County land, depending on which trail you use. Where you go from there, depends on how far up or downstream you go.

Check with the park Ranger, and on the bulletin board for updates.

 

[Thursthouse]

I fished that little stream for the first time this year and my first attempt to fish it I saw all those signs and turned back. I then called and left a message at the NJ F&W. They called me back and told me there was access via bear swamp road and to just hike up - so I've fished it ever since with no one questioning me - I have been stopped and asked how the fishing was by some locals but nothing other than that.

 

[Pete]

I fished that little stream for the first time this year and my first attempt to fish it I saw all those signs and turned back. I then called and left a message at the NJ F&W. They called me back and told me there was access via bear swamp road and to just hike up - so I've fished it ever since with no one questioning me - I have been stopped and asked how the fishing was by some locals but nothing other than that.

I was pretty sure that the paved road was a "right of way" for County and State park employees, and the Scouts, but since they can use vehicles and we can't, I wasn't sure about the general public.

 

[tompg]

That sign is indeed at the gate. I ignored it and hiked up the stream a bit.

 

[Rusty Spinner]

Trivia question, how many Bear Swamps do we have in NJ? I actually don't know the answer, but know of at least 3.

 

[Pete]

Trivia question, how many Bear Swamps do we have in NJ? I actually don't know the answer, but know of at least 3.

A quick "google" reveals at least four.
In Cumberland County, Bergen County, Burlington County, and Sussex County.

 

[NJAngler]

That sign is indeed at the gate. I ignored it and hiked up the stream a bit.

Thats the spirit!

 

[Trout Nazi]

Get your bike, park your car in Ringwood State Park, and pedal your lazy asses over the mountain and down to Bear Swamp. Ain't no signs, and in 15 years I've only seen scouts in that place once. Actually, it looks like its all falling apart back there.

 

[briansnat]

Most of that road is either county or state park property. The no trespassing signs do not apply to the road itself, but probably to some small parcels of property along it near the bottom. Anybody is free to hike up it to fish. Of course there is no parking on Bear Swamp Rd itself, but there is a pullout on 202 you can use.

If anybody wants the combination to the gate, let me know. Of course there is a catch. I'm looking for a new trail maintainer in the area. If you are a NYNJTC member and are interested in maintaining a trail, I have a vacancy on a trail near Bear Swamp Lake and that position would come with the combination to the gate.

 

[tompg]

Brian,

I'd like to do the trail maintenance and sent you a PM with contact details. Let me know.

Thanks,
Tom

 

[briansnat]

PM responded to

 

[tompg]

still trying to get the trail assignment. I think the the conference does not want me.

 

[Thursthouse]

I was up there recently and saw this Posted sign alongside the creek.



It doesn't look new, but I've never seen it before.

Is it true a Posted sign needs to be signed? Reagardless, it was posted not too far up the river (definitely not by the Boy Scouts area) and I believe this area is owned by the County/State...

 

[tompg]

My guess is that some property owners on the Eastern side of the stream are trying to keep people out. there's a pretty big farm nestled in between the park, the creek, and the mighty Ramapoo. But the creek is totally accessible to the public.

 

[lol]

is it still accessible? lol

 

[Pete]

If you can get someone to drop you off and pick you up, you can walk in on Bear Swamp Road. Just make sure you stay on the road until you're past the land owned by the farm.

Otherwise you can park in Ramapo Reservation County park and hike. There are several trails you can use. My favorite brings you to the bridge between Bear Swamp Falls and the Upper Falls. Pack light, but bring water.