[Journal entry for February 19, 2012; MacMillan Reservior] It's another absurdly warm day, sunny and with the temperature near 50F. Indeed, one might say that spring has already begun, for some of the beech trees are blooming and occasional clouds of midges can be seen. Dallas and I hike to MacMillan Reservoir, a small impoundment in the Hudson Highlands of New Jersey. We part at the Ramapo Reservation lot off of Route 202 in Mahwaw NJ, cross the footbridge over the Ramapo River, pass Scarlet Oak Pond, and walk uphill on the woods road that leads to the reservoir. It heads west and follows the outlet stream of the reservoir. We passed a largish waterfall and many small cascades where the stream falls through boulder fields. When the road forked, we took the southern branch, with the expectation that the segments led to opposite end of the dam (which proved to be the case). The dam is sbout 20 feet high, made of concrete and faced with stone, and is about 250 feet long. Only a thin sheet of water was pouring over the spillway, so we could have crosses it had we wanter to. Instead, we took a foot path that led around the lake shore. The reservoir was more or less ice free. Mallard ducks were swimming along its shores. The inlet stream is at the far end of the lake. We had lunch near where it flows itnto the lake. I set up a camping stove and made eggs and grits for lunch, and boiled water for hot chocolate. Several other people were picnicing along the lake shore, too. We enjoyed the sun and tehview of the lake for about a half hour, and the crossed the inlet stream by stepping from stone to stone. We passed a south-facing cliff face, off which numerous large boulders had fallen. We then bushwhached up to an overlook on the hill immediately to the north of the lake, passing a little boulder cave on the way. The overlook afforded a nice view of the reservoir, and of some large hills to its west. Some of these had bare summits; we resolved to visit them in summer when the vegetation was prettier. We found a footpath leading down the hill toward the dam. It connencted to the northern fork of the access road, which we took back to our car. About two and a half hours, in total.