State Park · New Jersey
New Jersey's highest ground at 1,803 feet, capped by a 220-foot granite obelisk honoring veterans, with 15,827 acres of Kittatinny ridgeline, cedar bogs, lake swimming, and an Appalachian Trail traverse.
Field briefing
High Point State Park changes fast with season and elevation.
Before you go
The monument is the marquee stop, but the Dryden Kuser cedar bog and the long Appalachian Trail corridor make this a full hiking day rather than a viewpoint drive. The campground along Sawmill Lake opens a two-day loop: monument and bog on day one, AT ridge walking on day two. Fall is the undisputed sweet spot, when the foliage below the ridge is at peak and hawk watchers set up on the summit.
Weather, crowds, and what the season changes about the trip.
Variable with lingering cold snaps into May. The Dryden Kuser bog trail opens through a flooded Atlantic white cedar swamp still greening up.
Pack Waterproof boots for muddy trails, layers for the exposed ridge, and a check on monument tower hours before driving to the summit.
75-85F
Warm with afternoon thunderstorms possible, 75 to 85 F at the lake. Lake Marcia draws swimmers on hot weekends.
Pack Sunscreen for the exposed ridge, swimsuit for Lake Marcia, and water for the longer trail loops.
Crisp and clear, with peak foliage in mid-October visible from the monument and the ridgeline. The best hiking window of the year.
Pack Warm layer for ridge winds, grippy footwear for leaf-covered stone steps, and a binocular for hawk watching from the summit.
803F
Cold and snowy at 1,803 feet; the ridge can be icy and the road to the monument summit may close. Cross-country skiing is possible.
Pack Insulation, traction devices for icy trail sections, and a check on road and monument access before visiting.
Monument Trail to the High Point Obelisk
The signature hike: a climb on the Monument and Appalachian trails to the 220-foot obelisk at New Jersey's highest point, with 360-degree views into three states on a clear day.
Dryden Kuser Natural Area cedar bog loop
A 2.5-mile loop through a rare high-elevation Atlantic white cedar bog, the heart of the natural area donated by Anthony and Susie Dryden Kuser in 1923. The boardwalk section crosses a unique wetland ecosystem above 1,500 feet.
Appalachian Trail ridgeline through the park
The AT runs through the park along the Kittatinny Ridge, offering multi-mile ridge walks north and south of the summit with long views over the Pocono Plateau and Sussex County valleys.
Lake Marcia swimming and Sawmill Lake
Lake Marcia is the highest natural lake in New Jersey and the park's summer swimming hub, with a guarded beach near the park office. Sawmill Lake beside the campground offers fishing and quiet canoe access.
Put the access rule first: shuttle, parking, timed-entry, or reservation windows should decide the order of the day. For one day in High Point State Park, make Monument Trail to the High Point Obelisk the non-negotiable, add Dryden Kuser Natural Area cedar bog loop only if the first stop runs clean, and keep Appalachian Trail ridgeline through the park as the flexible finish.
Turn High Point's conditions into water, pack, and sleep-system decisions.
Build around conditions
Let season, elevation, and weather set the plan.
Plan your trip
4 quick tools, already seeded for High Point State Park. Tune the numbers around temperature swings, footing, layers, and how much margin the route needs.
Start with the gear decisions this park changes: footing, weather, camping, and water.
Kit Authority
High Point State Park packing list
0 of 25 packed. Check items as you pack, then take this list to the store, trailhead, or campsite.
Pack planning
Use this as a constraint check while you are still shaping the trip. The active checklist becomes useful once your route, dates, and sleep plan are set.
Checklist mode
25 items, grouped for the trip you are actually taking.
The buying guides that match what High Point asks of your kit, with our current top picks across budget and use case.
High Point has a state campground along Sawmill Lake with 50 family sites plus two lakeside cabins, all reservable through camping.nj.gov. For motel and inn options, the town of Sussex and the wider Sussex County area are the closest gateways, with more choices in Newton and Vernon Valley.
Camping reservations
High Point's campground runs along the southern shore of Sawmill Lake, mixing tent sites and small-trailer-capable sites in a forested ridge setting. Two furnished lakefront cabins (electricity, kitchen, three bedrooms) extend the season for non-campers.
Reviewed June 11, 2026
Booking window
Reservations open up to 11 months in advance through camping.nj.gov. A $5 non-refundable service fee applies per reservation.
Where to book or verify
Official portal for all NJ state park campsite and cabin bookings.
Trail maps, monument hours, lake swimming info, and current park conditions.
Check for federal campground, backcountry, tour, and permit inventory tied to this park.
Campgrounds to know
Plan the handoff from arrival to shuttle.
Parking, pedestrian entrances, and shuttle timing decide how calmly the first morning starts.
Getting there
Arrival note
High Point State Park is in the far northwestern corner of New Jersey on Route 23, about 7 miles north of Sussex and roughly 70 miles from Newark.
Car strategy
The summit road to the monument is inside the park on Route 23; a short drive leads to the parking area at the base of the obelisk.
Local movement
No public transit reaches the park.
Pair this with lodging: sleep where the park transfer is simple, especially if your route needs an early start.
Yes. A road inside the park leads to a parking area near the monument summit, and from there it is a short walk to the base of the obelisk. You can also hike up via the Monument Trail and Appalachian Trail from lower trailheads.
Yes. Lake Marcia near the park office has a guarded swimming beach open in summer, and it is the highest natural lake in New Jersey. There is a parking fee during peak season.
For summer and fall weekends, book as early as possible. New Jersey State Parks opens reservations up to 11 months in advance, and peak-season sites go quickly. Cabins especially sell out well ahead.
Yes. The AT runs along the Kittatinny Ridge through the park and past the monument summit area. Backpackers can string together multi-day ridge walks connecting High Point to other AT access points in the Stokes State Forest and beyond.