This 3.7-mile moderate hike follows the Monument Trail as it loops around High Point State Park, in Sussex County, New Jersey, with panoramic views to the east and west. It includes a traverse of the unique Cedar Swamp and a climb to the High Point Monument, which marks the highest point in the State of New Jersey. The hike involves a gain in elevation of over 400 feet, and some of the trail sections are rocky. It should take about two-and-a-half hours to cover the entire loop. Dogs are permitted on leash.
To reach the trailhead, take NJ Route 4 West to NJ Route 208. At the end of NJ Route 208, continue onto I-287 South. (Although High Point State Park is further north, be sure to take I-287 South.) Take Exit 52A/B, bear right at the fork, and continue on NJ Route 23 North for about 35 miles. At the top of a steep upgrade, turn right at a sign for High Point State Park and follow the park road for 1.5 miles to its end at a large parking area just north of the High Point Monument. GPS address: 1480 NJ Route 23, Sussex, NJ 07461. The trailhead is about 60 miles from Teaneck, and it should take about one hour and 25 minutes to get there.
At the northern end of the parking area, you’ll notice, near a break in the guardrail, a brown sign marking the start of the Monument Trail. You will be following this trail, blazed with red/green-on-white markers, for most of the hike. The trail is also marked with the aqua blazes of the Shawangunk Ridge Trail, which you’ll follow for part of the way.
Proceed north along the Monument/Shawangunk Ridge Trail, which follows a relatively level footpath along the easternmost ridge of Kittatinny Mountain, passing through a mixed forest of pitch pines and deciduous trees. The trail was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, and you may see large stone blocks along the left side of the trail, placed there to prevent erosion and provide a stable surface for the trail. Soon, views appear through the trees—first to the left, then to the right.
In about half a mile, a short side trail to the left leads to a west-facing viewpoint over the Delaware River; Port Jervis, New York; and Matamoras, Pennsylvania. (The view is partially obscured by vegetation.) A short distance beyond, a side trail on the right leads to a partially-obstructed east-facing viewpoint from a rock ledge over the wide expanse of the Great Valley. Soon, another side trail on the right leads to a broader, unobstructed viewpoint over the Great Valley. After a level stretch, the Monument/Shawangunk Ridge Trail begins a steady descent.
About a mile from the start, at the base of the descent, the trail crosses a grassy woods road (just before reaching a wooden bridge over the outlet of Cedar Swamp). Turn left, leaving the Monument Trail, and follow the aqua blazes of the Shawangunk Ridge Trail, heading south on the grassy woods road through dense rhododendron thickets. In a third of a mile, you’ll reach a T-intersection. Here, you should turn right, continuing to follow the aqua blazes of the Shawangunk Ridge Trail.
You now begin to cross the Cedar Swamp—a bog where tall, straight Atlantic white cedar trees grow densely together. The Atlantic white cedar is normally found in coastal areas, and this wetland is believed to be the highest elevation in the world where this species is found. The trail crosses the wetland on a long boardwalk, with the cedar trees growing along and over the boardwalk. You’ll want to spend some time enjoying this very special setting!
At the end of the boardwalk, the trail curves to the left, then to the right. A short distance beyond, follow the aqua blazes of the Shawangunk Ridge Trail as they turn right at a bench, leaving the grassy woods road. In 150 feet, the Shawangunk Ridge Trail turns left onto a well-worn footpath, rejoining the Monument Trail. The two trails run jointly for only 500 feet. At the top of a short climb, the Shawangunk Ridge Trail leaves to the right, but you should continue ahead on the Monument Trail, which will be your route for the rest of the hike.
A short distance beyond this intersection, you’ll reach a broad west-facing viewpoint from a rock ledge to the right of the trail. Here, amid pitch pines, you can see the Delaware River; Port Jervis, New York; and Matamoras, Pennsylvania. Three states—New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania—can be seen from here.
After a level stretch, the trail begins another gentle climb, passing a limited west-facing viewpoint near the top of the rise. The trail then begins a steady descent. At the base of the descent, the trail crosses a wooden bridge over a stream. Just beyond, the blue-blazed Steeny Kill Trail (which leads in 0.7 mile to a parking area on Route 23 near Steeny Kill Lake) begins on the right.
The Monument Trail now begins a steady climb, utilizing stone steps built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps for part of the way. After a level stretch, it emerges on a paved road, with a stone building—the park’s Interpretive Center—just ahead. Follow the trail as it turns left, descends on the paved road, and crosses the park entrance road to reach the northern end of Lake Marcia.
The Monument Trail follows a wide gravel path along the shore of this beautiful lake (during the summer, swimming is permitted at a beach at the southern end of the lake). In 500 feet, the trail turns sharply left, leaving the lakeshore, and climbs on a rocky footpath to cross another paved road. A short distance beyond, you’ll reach a junction with the white-blazed Appalachian Trail, which proceeds straight ahead and to the right. Follow the Monument Trail, which turns sharply left, traverses a very rocky area, and once again crosses the park entrance road.
Just beyond the crossing of the paved road, the trail turns right on a wide gravel road and climbs rather steeply to reach the base of the High Point Monument. Built in 1930 on the highest point in New Jersey (1,803 feet), this 220-foot monument offers panoramic views in all directions. The interior of the monument is closed from Columbus Day to Memorial Day weekend, but the same views can be had from the wide platform at its base, where signs point out the various geographic features that may be seen from each side of the monument.
After taking in the views, return to the Monument Trail, turn right, and continue parallel to the paved road leading to the parking area. (Alternatively, you can just head down the paved road.) After passing concession and restroom buildings (open seasonally), the trail follows the western edge of the parking area to its terminus at its northern end, where the hike began.
This hiking article is provided by Daniel Chazin of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. The Trail Conference is a volunteer organization that builds and maintains over 2,000 miles of hiking trails and publishes a library of hiking maps and books. The Trail Conference’s office is at 600 Ramapo Valley Road (Route 202), Mahwah; (201) 512-9348; www.nynjtc.org. Daniel Chazin can be reached at [email protected].
