High Point State Park stands at the literal peak of New Jersey — the 1,803-foot summit in the Kittatinny Mountains marks the highest elevation in the state. Established in 1923, this 16,091-acre park stretches across Montague and Wantage Townships in Sussex County, offering sweeping views across three states from the iconic High Point Monument, a 220-foot obelisk built in 1930 that’s visible for miles.

The park’s terrain shifts from hardwood ridgelines to cedar swamps and glacial lakes, giving visitors a surprising range of landscapes within a single destination. Lake Marcia, a spring-fed swimming hole near the summit, is one of the highest freshwater lakes in the state — a perfect reward after a ridge hike on a summer afternoon.

Hikers can access a section of the Appalachian Trail that runs through the park, along with over 50 miles of marked trails ranging from easy lakeside loops to rugged ridgeline scrambles. In winter, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing take over the trail system. Fishing, picnicking, and birding round out the warmer months, with hawk migrations drawing dedicated birders each fall.

The park offers seasonal camping, though availability and site types can vary — check with the park office before planning an overnight trip.

Best time to visit: Late September through mid-October, when the hardwood canopy erupts in fall color and the views from the monument stretch endlessly across the painted ridgelines of Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey.

Explore Nearby

• US Highway 278 — Scenic Byway in South Carolina
• National Scenic Byways Program – Pennsylvania — Scenic Byway in Pennsylvania
• Cliff Ridge Hang Gliding Area — Public Land
• Stony Point Light — Lighthouse in New York
• Tarrytown Light — Lighthouse in New York