Every Lake
Ramapo Lake
Two miles of shoreline in the Ramapo Mountains, reachable only on foot.
- 8 ft · first step
- 15 ft
- 23 ft
- 30 ft
- 38 ft
- 45 ft · bottom
About Ramapo Lake
Ramapo Lake sits in the Ramapo Mountains of northern New Jersey, inside what is now Ramapo Mountain State Forest, a short drive from Paterson. The lake was formed as a reservoir, built by damming a mountain stream in the 19th century to supply water to a nearby estate and ironworks rather than for recreation. Older maps and local histories once referred to the body of water by a different, less flattering name before the dam enlarged it into its current footprint.
No public boat launch serves the lake, and motors are not allowed on the water, so it stays quiet compared to reservoirs with road access to the shoreline. A loop trail off Skyline Drive circles the lake past the stone ruins of an old estate house, drawing hikers, trail runners, and anglers fishing from the bank for bass and pickerel. Birders use the same loop, since the mix of open water and forest edge along the Ramapo Mountains draws raptors and waterfowl through the area on migration.
- 6 depth layers, each step engraved with its depth in feet
- Compass rose, title block with coordinates, max depth and area; keyhole hanger on the back
Turn it in your hands
Live 3D of the actual cut files — drag to orbit, pinch to zoom. Every road you see is engraved on the real thing.
Viewer not showing? Open it full screen.
Ramapo Lake depth chart, in wood
This is a Ramapo Lake depth chart you can hang: 6 stacked layers of birch, each one a depth contour — 8 ft, 15 ft, 23 ft, 30 ft, 38 ft and deeper, down to the deepest hole at about 45 ft. The lake covers about 0.1 square miles. The shape of the bottom is the real one from published soundings, so anglers recognise their drop-offs and points.
A Ramapo Lake map for the wall — or a gift
Most of these go to a cabin wall, a lake house entry, or a home office; a lot are gifts — the family that has been on Ramapo Lake for three generations, the retirement move, the first boat. The 12-inch is the desk-and-shelf size; the 24- and 30-inch boards read across a room. Add a line under the title and star your place on the shore, and it becomes the map of your Ramapo Lake.
Ramapo Lake map — the details
How big is the map?
Four sizes: 12, 17, 24 and 30 inches on the long side, from $149. Every size is cut from the same depth data of Ramapo Lake; the bigger boards carry more shoreline roads and place names.
Is it made from real depth data?
Yes. Ramapo Lake is cut layer by layer from published bathymetric soundings — each layer of birch is a depth contour, so the shape of the bottom is the real one, not decorative.
Can I add my own place on it?
Yes. At checkout you can add a line under the title (a family name, a cabin name, a year) and star the spot on the shore that matters to you.
How long does it take?
Made to order in Waterford, Pennsylvania and shipped in 7–10 days; shipping is free in the lower 48.
Can you make a lake that isn't listed?
Any lake in the United States — we hold depth data for 104,419 of them. Search for yours; if it isn't built yet we build it when you order.
- 6 depth layers down to 45 ft
- 0.1 square miles of water
- Title block, compass rose and depth markers
- Birch plywood, keyhole hanger, made in Waterford, PA
