Hike the Appalachian Trail to the highest elevation in NJ, climb an obelisk, enjoy vast views of NJ, PA, and NY, plus explore an Atlantic cedar swamp.
7.7 or 3.8 miles, total round trip. Varies between very rocky and smoother trail. Uphill climb towards the monument, back down later in the hike.
- Shorter: 3.8 miles – from the AT lot to the monument and back.
- Shorter variation, 3.5 miles – High Point Monument Loop.
- Same lot: Hike AT and Iris Loop from here too.
- Same park: Monument Loop via Steeny Kill Lake.
- Nearby, 20 min: Wallkill River NWR; Culvers Gap to Blue Mountain; Culvers Gap to Culver Fire Tower.
- Nearby, PA: Cliff Park, Milford Knob, Hackers Falls; Raymondskill Falls.
Hike Info:
Our two cents:
Located in the farthest northwest corner of NJ, this park packs in plenty of views even without doing a hike. This is a popular area so don’t expect solitude in the monument/lake areas.
In addition to the trail network, there is High Point Monument, a memorial to NJ veterans that also marks the highest elevation in the state of NJ, at 1803’.
The monument is hollow like the Washington Monument, and the obelisk’s 291 stairs can be climbed for a view of the surrounding areas (open seasonally, check the park site for dates/times).
There is also swimming at Lake Marcia in season.
Updated: 9/2022 – Minor edits, more photos; re-hiked. Older change log at page bottom.
Related: Best Fall Foliage Hikes in New Jersey
Map:
Pick up a trail map at the visitor center, or print from the park site. But you’d really be better off with the detailed Kittatinny Trails. Follow along on your smartphone with our Interactive Map link above.
Books:
This route now appears in Best Day Hikes in New Jersey. A nice short loop is in Hike of the Week, and another can be found in Hiking New Jersey (2023). Very short hike is in Best Day Hikes Near New York City. Trail details can be found in Kittatinny Trails and the The New Jersey Walk Book.
Parking: 41.302650, -74.667833
There are multiple parking lots at High Point. This route starts at the large “Appalachian Trail Hiker Parking” lot on Rt 23 once in the park, on the left, just after two stone pillars.
Just past the hiker lot on Rt 23 is the park office lot. This has a 2-hr parking limit so you can’t park there for hiking. Stop for info and restrooms and then return to the hiker lot.
Appalachian Trail Parking, Wantage, NJ 07461. Note: Google now shows multiple lots using this search term but this is the only street address available for the hiker lot.
Alternately, use the address for the park office which is a little PAST the turn off for the parking: 1480 NJ-23, Sussex, NJ 07461.
No fees at either of these lots; fees only if you continue into the park during the summer season.
Restrooms:
At the visitor center, just past the parking area. Times vary by season, check park site. Also, in the parking lot for the monument.
Hike Directions:
Overview: Connector (BLUE) – Iris (RED DOT on WHITE) – Appalachian Trail (“AT” – WHITE) – Monument (RED/GREEN) – Cedar Swamp (unblazed) – Monument (RED/GREEN) – Appalachian Trail (“AT” – WHITE) – Iris (RED DOT on WHITE) – Connector (BLUE)
This route follows The Appalachian Trail for about a mile before picking up the Monument Trail loop. Within that loop, it takes the Cedar Swamp Loop. So this hike is kind of like a lollipop loop within a lollipop loop.
0.0 – From the parking lot, follow the trail near the trail sign. BLUE blazes are visible a few steps in.
0.2 – Turn RIGHT to continue on Connector (BLUE), which is co-joined with Iris (RED DOT on WHITE).
0.3 – Turn RIGHT to now follow the Appalachian Trail (“AT” – WHITE) north. [AT South goes to the left, straight is Mashipacong (YELLOW)].
Follow the AT (WHITE) across the driveway for the visitor center and towards Rt. 23.
0.5 – Cross the park road to an AT sign at the edge of the road. Walk briefly across the grass to another AT sign at the edge of the woods. Continue following the AT (WHITE).
The rugged trail starts to climb through the woods, gradually then more steeply, over large rock slabs as well as the usual smaller pointy-jabby rocks.
Hike through a tunnel of vegetation. Eventually, the High Point Monument will pop into view. But in just a bit you’ll be at a raised spot with a better view.
1.5 – A raised observation platform along the trail offers panoramic views.
New Jersey’s Wallkill River Valley is to the east, the High Point Monument to the north, and Pennsylvania to the west.
If it’s clear enough the Catskills and Sam’s Point in New York can be seen to the north, in the far distance.
South is the Delaware Water Gap but trees blocked the view (pretty sure we could see south from here years ago).
Continue following the AT (WHITE) – just after the platform, ignore the side trail to the left (it goes to the park road). Continue ahead over rock slabs.
Soon arrive at a small open area with another nice view of the monument.
1.6 – Now follow the Monument Trail (RED/GREEN) straight. [The AT (WHITE) leaves to the right. Monument (RED/GREEN) comes in from the left – you will end up coming from there later.]
Monument (RED/GREEN) climbs up towards the Monument. Cross over the park road and continue steeply up the path.
1.9 – Arrive at the High Point Monument. There are fantastic 360° views from this point even if you don’t climb to the top.
Fun Facts: Anthony and Susie Dryden Kuser gifted the monument and 16,000 acres of land to create High Point State Park in 1923. Construction was started in 1928 and completed in 1930. The monument is 220′ tall and there are 291 steps inside to climb to the top. [Source: Park website]
It’s worth the climb up the monument – but it is many flights of steps after just pushing uphill. There are stone walls around the monument to take a break.
For those who aren’t keen on heights or climbing steps in towers, this is what you can expect:
The first short flight is a spiral stair with open grated steps that leads to a large landing; after that is a narrow staircase with closed steps. It can get warm inside the stairwell. Looking up:
The top of the monument is a small enclosed room, with 3 smallish windows that are a bit high to see out of (may need to lift the kids). You were probably expecting something fancier.
The thickness of the stone monument is obvious when looking out the windows. This is looking east over Lake Marcia into Pennsylvania.
Views from the top of the monument, south towards the Delaware Water Gap and over New Jersey with Lake Marcia within the park below. The prominent Kittatinny Ridge can be seen, this goes towards Mt. Tammany.
Looking west over New Jersey and into Pennsylvania, with the end of Lake Marcia visible.
Zoom into Lake Marcia from atop the monument:
To continue, walk away from the monument to the opposite end of the parking lot (passing restrooms on the left).
2.1 – Pick up the RED/GREEN Monument Trail again at the trail sign at the far end of the parking lot.
Looking back at the monument from the trail sign:
Continue on Monument (RED/GREEN), which is co-joined with Shawangunk Ridge (AQUA).
The trail is pleasant, easy and mostly level with some short paths to views on either side. The view from some of these side trails has become more limited over the years as vegetation and trees have grown.
View from a side path on the right, looking over New Jersey (taken Oct 2014):
View from a side path on the left, looking into Pennsylvania (also Oct 2014):
3.1 – Cross a small wooden bridge to continue on Monument (RED/GREEN).
[Left is Shawangunk Ridge (“SRT” – AQUA). This is an alternate way to Cedar Swamp, and it can be used to shorter this route some. Right is an unmarked trail blocked with branches. There are a few ORANGE markers for the Tubbs snowshoe trail here and there.]
3.6 – Turn LEFT at an unmarked intersection to now follow the Cedar Swamp (unblazed) loop. In a few steps there the back of a trail sign for Shawangunk Ridge (“SRT” – AQUA) and then a bench at a T-intersection.
At the T-intersection there are just markers indicating Shawangunk Ridge (“SRT” – AQUA) goes left. For this route, turn RIGHT and follow the woods road as skirts along the cedar bog.
The cedar bog is slowly drying out and there may not be much water around. There are many ferns and rhododendron thickets.
Fun Fact: This Atlantic white cedar swamp is at 1500’ and is the highest known swamp of this kind [Source: Park website]. The distinctive texture of the bark of a cedar tree:
4.2 – Follow the Cedar Swamp trail to the LEFT at the John Dryden Kuser plaque and when a woods road comes in from the right.
Fun Fact: The Cedar Swamp Trail is within the Dryden Kuser Natural Area, which is named for State Senator Dryden Kuser (son of the Kuser’s who donated the land for High Point). An avid birdwatcher, the cedar swamp was one of his favorite spots [Source: Cedar Swamp guide from the park website].
Cedar Swamp Trail is a wide, flat, gravel trail.
This is the stretch where we spotted multiple bobcats in August of 2022. These are seldom seen and it was just one of those “right place at the right time” moments. Be sure to pop over to the post and watch the video!
4.5 – Turn LEFT at the next junction and cross over the bog on a long boardwalk. [Shawangunk Ridge (“SRT” – AQUA) is co-joined with the boardwalk, but also goes straight ahead and back to the earlier junction].
4.7 – Complete the Cedar Swamp loop and turn RIGHT at the bench, where you came into the loop, walking a few steps back out to Monument (RED/GREEN).
Turn LEFT start following Monument (RED/GREEN) again. Head uphill and along a ridge, with views on the right of Port Jervis, NY and PA.
The trail is moderately rocky with minor elevation changes and lined with scrub oak (short little oak tree bushes).
4.8 – Continue on Monument (RED/GREEN). [Shawangunk Ridge (“SRT” – AQUA leaves to the right].
The trail heads downhill a bit as it leaves the ridge before curving to the right and going over a small bridge.
5.6 – Continue on Monument (RED/GREEN). [Steeny Kill (BLUE) is on the right]. The trail starts to head back uphill.
5.8 – Arrive at the park road near the Interpretive Center. Turn LEFT to follow Monument (RED/GREEN) along the park road toward Lake Marcia.
There is a bench at the end of the lake which makes a nice place to stop and enjoy the view.
Follow a gravel trail as it skirts the end of the lake and continues on the other side, unmarked.
More views of the monument from the Lake Marcia area.
6.1 – Monument (RED/GREEN) markers appear again, turn LEFT and re-enter the woods, heading uphill.
Cross the park road again, continuing on Monument (RED/GREEN).
6.2 – Junction with the Appalachian Trail from earlier today. Turn RIGHT onto AT (WHITE) and retrace the route back to the parking lot.
6.3 – Pass the viewing platform again.
7.2 – Leave the woods at the Appalachian Trail sign, cross the grass and Rt 23, continuing on (WHITE).
7.5 – Turn LEFT to now follow Connector (BLUE), which is co-joined with Iris (RED DOT on WHITE). [AT (WHITE) continues ahead, all the way to Georgia…]
In just a bit, turn LEFT again to follow Connector (BLUE) back to the lot.
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Hiked: 8/20/22.Trail Blog: “Spotting several bobcats in High Point State Park“
Hiked: 10/5/14.
Hiked: 5/31/09. Trail Blog: “High Point State Park – Monument Trail”
Updated: 8/2020 – Page refreshed, not re-hiked. 7/2018 – Changed link to the new map now on park site instead of our older scanned PDF. 10/6/14 – re-hiked, description, photos, and GPX updated.