High Point Monument Trail Hiking Guide
High Point State Park holds the highest ground in New Jersey, 1,803 feet above sea level, crowned by a 220-foot obelisk honoring the state's war veterans. The red-and-green-blazed Monument Trail makes a 3.5-mile loop over the surrounding ridges, out toward the New York line and back past Lake Marcia, on rocky paths and stone stairs built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the late 1930s.
Permit: High Point State Park charges a daily parking fee from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day: NJ vehicles $5 weekdays / $10 weekends and holidays; out-of-state $10 / $20 (N.J.A.C. 7:2-17.1). No parking fee the rest of the year.
Where to Start
The park names three starting points: the interpretive center, the north end of Lake Marcia, and the monument parking area. The common mapped version ends with a walk along the shore of Lake Marcia. The state rates the loop moderate to difficult because of rocky stretches and steep climbs; mapping apps list it at about 3.4 miles with roughly 515 feet of gain and call it easier, with the climbing front-loaded and the rest rolling. Allow about two hours.
On the Ridge
The park says it offers some of the best views in High Point, from the mountain ridges out to the New York border. Watch for the Civilian Conservation Corps stonework: stair sets and stone borders that have held up for more than 80 years. Near where the Appalachian Trail meets the loop, the 71-mile Shawangunk Ridge Trail begins and shares the Monument Trail for a stretch before splitting off toward the Cedar Swamp boardwalk and New York.
The Monument
The obelisk stands on the summit at 1,803 feet. When the interior is open you can climb its 291 steps for views west to the Poconos, north to the Catskills and southeast over the Wallkill River valley. The state says the interior is open weekends and holidays from Labor Day to Columbus Day, subject to weather and staffing; in summer it is open more days. After mid-October, plan on the view from the base.
Fees, Dogs and Rules
From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, High Point charges a daily parking fee: $5 on weekdays and $10 on weekends for New Jersey plates, and $10 and $20 for out-of-state plates. Off season, parking is free. Dogs can hike the loop if leashed (six feet maximum), and their waste goes home with you. The park provides no trash cans on the trails, and ATVs, alcohol, drones and smoking outside your car are all banned.
Bears, Ticks and Weather
The park reminds visitors that black bears live throughout New Jersey: never feed one, never run, and call 1-877-WARN-DEP to report an aggressive bear. Ticks are active from spring through fall, so tuck in pants and check yourself afterward. The park lists the Monument Trail for snowshoeing in winter, but its rocky ledges are treacherous when icy. Bring orange in hunting season, since parts of the park are open to hunters.
Hiking tips for High Point Monument Trail
- Start from the interpretive center, Lake Marcia or the monument lot; all three are on the loop.
- Go after Labor Day to skip the parking fee, but before Columbus Day to climb the monument on a weekend.
- Count on rocky footing and stone stairs; this loop is rougher than its distance suggests.
- Keep dogs leashed on six feet or less and carry out their waste; there are no trash cans.
- Look for the Shawangunk Ridge Trail junction, where a 71-mile route north begins.
Nearby trails to explore
- Sunrise Mountain Loop (Stokes State Forest)
- Tillman Ravine Trail
- Buttermilk Falls Trail (Walpack, NJ)
Hike this trail with TrailMates
The Monument Trail circles the top of New Jersey, a great outing for a fall weekend. Use TrailMates to find hikers heading to High Point in the Delaware Water Gap. Download the TrailMates app to connect.