Located in Sussex County, all the way up in the northwest corner of NJ, this park is worth a visit even without doing a hike.
7.1 miles roundtrip. This hike follows the AT north for about a mile, then picks up the Monument Trail up to the monument.
For detailed hike directions visit our main High Point State Park – Monument Trail page.
It also makes a loop within a loop by taking the Cedar Swamp trail through an Atlantic white cedar swamp (which looks more like the Pacific Northwest than NJ. At 1500’, it is the highest known swamp of this kind).
Return via the Monument Trail and the AT back to the lot. Lots of views along the AT and the ridge the Monument Trail follows.
This is a popular area – with good reason – so don’t expect solitude. It may be different on the trails however – we encountered few people on a beautiful sunny 70° day. (but we did get an early start, so we may have missed the crowds).
There are many views of NJ from the Appalachian Trail, plus a viewing platform along the route for 360° views.
The High Point Monument obelisk and Lake Marcia can be seen from the viewing platform.
We arrived at the monument at about 9:15am and there was no one there until we were almost down again, and even then it was just two guys.
The one time several years ago we were at the Monument it was still closed for renovations, but I recall the area being quite crowded.
The interior of the monument is open and 220 stairs can be climbed to the top. From inside the monument, the southern view shows Lake Marcia below and the Delaware Water Gap in the distance.
High Point Monument from the end of the parking lot where the Monument Trail enters the woods again.
Cedar Swamp trail is lush with ferns and a long boardwalk over the swamp.
View of Port Jervis, NY to the west, on the Monument Trail.
Lake Marcia with a beach that can be seen across the lake.
BONUS: Heading home on Rt. 23 in Sussex, there is a Dairy Queen on the left hand side. We recommend the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Blizzard.