New Jersey: High Point State Park Visit

Visit New Jersey’s highest point for mountain views and see the 220-foot New Jersey Veterans’ Memorial monument at High Point State Park.

Entering the Park

The 16,000-acre state park is just a few miles from Port Jervis, New York. From the high point, you can see Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey, where the three states meet.

To reach the monument, drive Scenic Drive to the end of the park, then turn left onto Monument Drive, which leads uphill to a large parking lot.

Heading Up

We walked up the paved path toward the monolithic Veteran’s Memorial. On the right side of the monument are coin-operated binoculars for better views, but it was foggy today.

*My son standing just below the monument on the path to it.*

We arrived at the monument, which was enveloped in fog. When it is open, visitors can go inside and climb the 291 steps to the top. However, we were there off-season. The monument is open on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day weekend until Columbus Day, depending on staff availability and weather conditions, from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

About the High Point

The High Point, the summit of the Kittatinny Ridge, rises to 1,803 feet above sea level, making it the highest elevation in New Jersey.

Kittatinny Ridge resulted from continental collisions that crumpled the Earth’s crust, the grinding force of mile-high ice sheets, and centuries of erosion that washed soil and rock into the valleys.

*Information signs on what you can see from the high point.*

Walking Around

Around the monument, informational signs indicate nearby mountains, valleys, and other sites, but we could not see them due to the fog.

Then, I walked out from the monument along the rocky area and came to a cemented square. Standing here among the uplifted rock felt wilder than next to the memorial.

*Taking a short walk among the trees and bushes on the trail.*

A trail on the left leads down to the parking area, passing through some bushes alongside a few evergreens.

The fog lifted slightly, revealing glimpses of the countryside.

We might have to come back for that in the future.

The path comes out near some restrooms and the parking lot.

Final Thoughts

It would be great to return on a clear day, possibly in summer, to do more hiking. There is admission during the season, but we visited on a day when it was not charged.

More Information

This large park has much more to do than just see the monument. There are more trails, a lake for swimming, camping, boating, canoeing, kayaking, picnicking, and a cross-country ski center.

The park has more than 500 miles of trails in addition to 18 miles of the Appalachian Trail goes through the park.

DETAILS

Drive: High Point State Park is located along Interstate 84 between Scranton, PA, and the New York City area. Take exit 1 and head south on New Jersey Highway 23. The entrance to the park will be on the left.

Hours: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Admission: $5, weekdays, NJ resident; $10, non-resident, weekdays; $10, NJ resident, weekends/holidays; $20, weekends/holidays, non-resident; $3 walk-in/bicycle all; $5, NJ resident, motorcycle; $7, non-resident, motorcycle.

Entrance fees are charged per vehicle from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day.

Address: High Point Monument, Montague, NJ 07827

*Information about the park and falls near where we parked.*

Added Stop: Nay Aug Waterfall

About an hour from the high point is Nay Aug Park in Scranton, Pa. We stopped here briefly to see Nay Aug gorge and the waterfall on the way back home to Illinois.

The park is in the city of Scranton. You take a short hike on a rocky natural surface trail to the canyon, including the waterfall. First, you see it from a distance before descending the stairs.

As you get close to it, the surface becomes rocky and slippery.

Then you come to your first view of it.

Top photo-- closeup of the falls-- bottom photo-- me and my son by the falls — *Top photo– closeup of the falls– bottom photo– me and my son by the falls*

The view of the water shooting through the rocky surface is worth the walk back up.

In the distance, you can also see a railroad tunnel.

At the top by the parking lot, you can see more trails in the park. Down the road, there is a treetop lookout over the gorge.

DETAILS:

Drive: Take exit 184 off of Interstate 81 and make a left onto River Street, then make a right onto Stafford Avenue, then a left onto Moosic Street, then a right onto Mulberry Street.

Hours: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m., Daily

Address: 500 Arthur Ave, Scranton, PA 18510

Throwback Highest Point: Rhode Island

*My son Andrew when he was two on top of the rock at Jerimoth Hill in Rhode Island. He was picking up the sign-in paper for all those who made it at elevation 812 feet.*

We’ve gone to some of the other high points including Jerimoth Hill in Rhode Island. I did this with my son when he was a toddler and we were out on the East Coast.

Address:

Jerimoth Hill, Foster, RI 02825

MORE HIGH POINT VISITS

Indiana’s High Point: Hoosier Hill

Indiana’s high point is Hoosier Hill located 13 miles north of Richmond, Ind., and our stop on our drive along Interstate 70 going east. It is not that high, and you won’t get altitude sickness, but it is an easy way to mark off the list of the high points.