November 21, 2016

State of New Jersey, Department of Environmental Protection

Division of Parks and Forestry • State Park Service

njparksandforests.org

November 21, 2016

HIGH POINT STATE PARK

TRAILS OF HIGH POINT STATE PARK

There are thirteen named and marked trails in High Point State Park, and a stretch of the Appalachian

Trail also runs the length of the park. These trails are maintained for the enjoyment of all visitors. Some

trails are designated for hiking, snowshoeing, and/or cross-country skiing only, but a number of other

trails are multi-use and permit bikes and horses. In distance, the trails range from less than half a mile to

over four miles, take from half an hour to over two hours to walk at a moderate pace, and range from easy

walking for visitors of any age to difficult rocky terrain for experienced hikers.

TRAIL SENSE AND SAFETY

Trail Markings Official trails are marked with colored blazes on posts, trees, and rocks. One blaze means to

continue straight. Two blazes indicate that the trail makes a turn in the direction of the top blaze.

Be prepared Bring water with you, and you may want to have snacks, insect repellent, and sunscreen.

Check the weather before you go and dress appropriately. The weather at High Point is often cooler and

windier than elsewhere in the area so it is best to plan for extra layers.

Tick protection Insect repellent, long pants and light colored clothing can help prevent tick bites. It is a

good idea to check yourself periodically during your hike, when you're done, and more thoroughly when

you get home. Report trail issues to the park at (973) 875-4800.

Report emergencies by calling 1-877-WARN-DEP (1-877-927-6337), or 911

November 21, 2016

Appalachian Trail (AT)

White•9mileswithinHighPoint•Hiking•ModeratetoDifficult•Rockyunevenground

The 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail (AT)extendsfromSpringerMountain,GeorgiatoMountKatahdin,Maine.

NinemilesoftheATareinHighPoint,offeringchallenginghikesalongtheKittatinnyRidgewithmany

worthwhileviews.

Trailhead ATParkinglotonRoute23,0.5milessouthoftheParkOffice.TheAppalachian,Iris,and

MashipacongTrailsareallaccessiblefromhere.Fromthelot,followtheconnectortrail(blue)totheIris

Trail(red).TurnrightontheIrisTrailtoreachtheAppalachianandtheMashipacongTrailsorthePark

Office.TurnleftontheIrisTrailtogosouthtowardsDeckertownTurnpike.

To hike northbound on the AT(towardstheMonument),followdirectionsabove,turningrightwhentheIris

TrailintersectswiththeAT.In0.25miles,you’llemergeneartheParkOfficeandtheRoute23crossing.

FromtheATlot,youcanalsowalkupRoute23.ToreachHighPointMonument,followthetrailfor1.5miles

alongtheridgeuntilyoureachawoodenobservationplatform.Ashortdistancepasttheplatform,theAT

intersectswiththeMonumentTrail(redandgreen)andtheShawangunkRidgeTrail(mediumblue).The

ATbearsrightanddescendstheridge.TocontinuetotheMonument,staystraightandfollowthe

Monument/RidgeTrails.

To hike Southbound on the AT(towardstheDeckertownTurnpikeandStokesStateForest),followdirections

above,butturnleftwhentheIrisTrailintersectswiththeAT.BetweenRoute23andtheDeckertown

Turnpike,theATintersectswiththeIrisTrailtwicemakingshorterandlongerloophikespossible.

Other TrailheadsTheATcanalsobeaccessedviaasmallparkinglotontheDeckertownTurnpike/CR650

andapull-offonRoute519neartheNewYorkStateborder.

Iris Trail

Red•4.5miles•Multi-use•EasytoModerate•Rockyunevenground

Trailheads AppalachianTrailparkinglotorpull-offparkingalongDeckertownTurnpike.

Iris Trail (redblaze)windsalongmoderateterrainwithgentleslopes.Muchofthistrailwasbuiltbythe

CivilianConservationCorps,intendedasabridlepath,whilethestretchoftrailclosesttotheDeckertown

Turnpikewaspartofanetworkofwagonroadsthatconnectedsmallridgetopfarmsinthe1800andearly

1900s.AlmosteverytypeofvegetationthatgrowsintheforestsinthisareacanbeseenalongtheIris.

Severalspeciesofoak,hickory,andbirchshadethepath,andsassafras,witch-hazel,andvariouspinesgrow.

SomesmallAmericanchestnuts,oncecommoninEasternforests,canalsobefound.Thesetreeswere

infectedbyafungus,knownastheChestnutBlight,intheearly1900s.Today,thefewthatremainrarely

growtallerthantwentyfeet.Theundergrowthincludesvariousferns,numerouswildflowers,andinsome

placesisdominatedbyblueberriesandhuckleberries,ripeninginmidtolatesummer.TheIrisTrail

providesmanyopportunitiestoobservebirdsandotherwildlife,andalsopassesscenicLakeRutherford(a

privatelake-noswimmingpermitted).TheIrisTrailcrossestheAppalachianTrailtwice,makingshorter

andlongerloophikespossible.

Mashipacong Trail

Yellow•2.8miles•Multi-use•EasytoModerate•Variabletrailsurface

Trailheads AppalachianTrailparkinglotandthreepull-offparkingareasnearthetrailonSawmillandPark

RidgeRoads.

November 21, 2016

Mashipacong Trail’s (yellowblaze)southwesternsectionwaspartofoneofthefirstroutesovertheridge,

knownasthe“OldWallingRoad.”Manyremnantsofthesmallfarmsthatoncedottedtheridgetopcanbe

seenalongit.Formerfieldsarenowthicketsofhuckleberriesandblueberries.Twostonefoundations,the

remainsoftheColefarm,canbefoundoneithersideofthetrailbytheoldfieldsandfencerows.Oakand

maplearetheprimarytrees,withbirch,beech,andAmericanchestnutoccurringoftenaswell.Thetrail

crossesseveralsmallstreams,andfollowsanoldaccessroadtotheSawmillcampsites(nowclosedto

vehicles)foratime.Theremainingpartofthetrailclimbsoverarockyridgebeforeendingbehindthepark

office.Youmaychoosetohikeonlyapartofthetrailforapleasantwalk.Aloophikecanbemadeby

combiningthesouthernportionofthistrailwiththeAyersTrail,andwalkingshortdistancesalongSawmill

andParkRidgeRoads.

Ayers Trail

Black•1mile•Multiuse•Easy•Fairlylevel,ruttedwagonroad

Trailhead ParkoffParkRidgeRoadnearthetrailheadorattheSawmillLakeboatlaunchandwalka

quartermilealongSawmillRoadtothetrailhead.

Ayers Trail (blackblaze)offersaglimpseintotheKittatinnyRidge’sagriculturalpast.Bythemid-1800s

mostofthisRidge’sforestshadbeencutdownfortimber,firewood,andcharcoalandeventuallymorethan

adozensmallfarmscroppedupontheclearedridgetoponwhatisparklandtoday.Thistrailwasoncethe

roadthatledtoandfromtheAyersfarm–establishedaround1870.Asyouwalk,notetheimpressivestone

wallsthatonceoutlinedpastures.Theyillustrateoneofthegreatestdifficultiesfarmersfaced–therocky

soil.

Youwilltravelthroughforestsoak,hickory,maple,andash–typicalridgetopforesttreesthathaveregrown

sincetimberandagriculturalactivitiesceased.Ataboutthemid-point,thetrailopensupandyoucansee

pastures,whatmuchoftheridgetopusedtolooklike.Thisareahasbeenpreventedfromgrowingfrom

fieldtoforestbyannualprescribedburnsconductedbytheNJForestFireService.Maintainingthisareaof

grasslandprovidesvaluablehabitatforwildlifewhoneedopenspacesorwhothrivein“edge”habitats

wherefieldsandforestsmeet,andforplantsthatonlygrowinthesunandcannotoftenbefoundonmuch

ofthenow-forestedRidge.HereyoucanalsoseethestonefoundationsoftheAyers’barnsandmanyofthe

treesandplantstypicalofoldfarmsteads:lilacs,rosebushes,andnutandfruittrees.

AloophikecanbemadebycombiningthistrailwithaportionoftheMashipacongTrail,andwalkingshort

distancesalongSawmillandParkRidgeRoads.

Blue Dot Trail

DarkBlue•0.5miles•Hiking•Difficult•Wetareas,veryruggedsteepterrain

Trailhead Acrossfromcampsite15attheSawmillCampground.Whentheroadaroundthecampgroundis

closedseasonally,youcanalsoaccessthetrailbyparkingattheSawmillLakeboatlaunchandfollowingthe

lakesidetrailorcamproadonfoottothetrailhead.Thiswilladdaboutahalfmile(eachway)toyourhike.

Blue Dot Trail (darkblueblaze)isshort,butidealforanyonewhoenjoysthechallengeofruggedterrain.It

beginsacrossfromcampsitefifteenattheSawmillcampgroundandclimbsroughly350feettomeetwith

theAppalachianTrailatthetopoftheridge.Atfirst,thetrailpassesthroughashady,moistforestofmaple,

oak,andhemlock.Thewet,mossygroundisaremnantofthecedarbogthatonceexistedwherethelakeis

today.Asyoubegintoascendthetrail,thevegetationbecomessparserandshiftstoscruboak,birch,and

pitchpine.Onthewaytothetopyou’llclimboveranumberoflargerocksandcrossseveraloutwashes.The

summitprovidesabeautifuloverlookofSawmillLakeandthesurroundingmountains.Thetrailendsatthe

AppalachianTrail,ashortdistanceovertheridge.

November 21, 2016

Cedar Swamp Trail Purple•2mileloop•Hiking,cross-countryskiing•Easy•Mostlyflat,paved,gravel,andboardwalk

Trailhead Go to the end of the road in the Cedar Swamp Picnic Area and park. The trail begins at the yellow

gate.

Cedar Swamp Trail (purple blaze) follows an access road (no longer open to vehicles) into the Atlantic

white cedar bog in the Kuser Natural Area, then forks and circles around the perimeter of the bog. Along the

way you’ll travel through dense forests and across an open cut in the bog on a boardwalk. Most of the trail is

gravel-covered, but portions can be muddy after heavy rains. A trail guide that corresponds to numbered

stops along the trail can be obtained at the Park Office or the Interpretive Center, or can be downloaded

here.

Fuller Trail

Red&blue•0.85miles•Multiuse•EasytoModerate•Rocky,sometimesmuddy

Trailhead ParkintheWinterTrailsparkinglot.LimitedparkingonSawmillwherethetrailstarts/ends.

Fuller Trail (red&blueblaze)wasoncearoadusedbytheFullerfamilytotravelfromtheirfarm(nowthe

GroupCabinsite)tothecedarshakemilltheyoperatedintheareawhereSawmillLakeistoday.Thetrail

wandersthroughafairlyopenforestofhardwoodswithanundergrowthoffernsandgrasses.Partofthe

trailoverlapstheLifeTrailandthenbranchesofftomeetSawmillRoadattheintersectionwiththe

MashipacongTrail.Itmaybehardforyoutoimaginethatmostoftheforestthistrailpassesthroughwasat

onetimeclearedandusedforagriculture.Duetoitsthinsoil,thislandwas,atbest,onlymarginallysuited

foragriculture,andasfarmsbecamemechanized,thesefarmerscouldnotcompete.Onlythestonewalls

remaintodaytomarkthespiritoftheearlypioneers.

Life Trail

Brown•0.8miles•Multi-use•EasytoModerate•Mostlylevel,butrockytrailsurface

Trailhead ParkintheWinterTrailsparkinglot.

Life Trail(brownblaze)wasoncepartoftheFullerfamilyfarmwhichwaslocatedhereinthe1800sand

early1900s.Inthemid-1920s,thefarmbecameaGirlScoutCamp,andin1937thatcampbecameacamp

forblindchildren–thefirstofitskindinthestate-whereboysandgirlscouldenjoytheoutdoorsand

developasenseofcamaraderieandindependence.Thistrailisanicelocationforgrouphikingandcross-

countryskiing.Itisshort,butisfilledwithwintergreen,mountainlaurel,andvarioushardwoodtrees.

Old Trail

Brown&yellow•0.5miles•Multi-use•Easy•Gentlyslopingcarriageroad

Trailhead At far side of the picnic/parking area across from the beach parking lot.

Old Trail (brown & yellow blaze) was an entrance to the High Point Inn in the 1890s. It was used by the

horse-drawn stagecoaches that transported guests to the Inn from the train station in Port Jervis, NY.

Perfect for an easy, relaxing stroll, this trail follows the base of several outcrops of rock. Sweetfern and

huckleberries line the sides of the path, and wildflowers and grasses thrive along the intermittent stream

that runs parallel to it. The stream and the rocky outcrops that rise on the north side of the trail attract

wildlife, including mink, porcupine, and deer.

November 21, 2016

Monument Trail

Red&green•3.5-mileloop•Hiking&snowshoeing•ModeratetoDifficult•Rockytrail,steepclimbs

Trailhead This trail can be accessed by parking at/near the Interpretive Center, the north end of Lake

Marcia, or the Monument parking area.

Monument Trail(red&greenblaze)circlesthemountainridgesandentailsafairamountofuphill

walking.Theascentsareworthmaking,astheyprovideviewsofNewYork,NewJersey,andPennsylvania

thatcan’tbeseenfromtheMonument.Theforestalongthetrailisprimarilyoak,includingthedensescrub

oak,withavarietyofotherhardwoodsandpitchpine.Theundergrowthconsistsofferns,grasses,

huckleberriesandsweetfern.Thistrailwasconstructedinthelate1930sbytheCivilianConservation

Corps.Setsofcurvingstonestairsaretestamenttotheirworkmanshipandattentiontodetail.Ashort

portionofthetrailcrossesthroughtheCedarSwampNaturalArea,dedicatedtoformerNewJerseySenator,

DrydenKuser.AguidefortheNaturalArea,detailingtheuniqueecologyoftheswamp,canbeobtainedat

theparkofficeortheInterpretiveCenter.ParkateithertheInterpretiveCenterortheMonumenttohike

thiscirculartrail.

Parker Trail

LightGreen•2.5milesinHighPoint•Multiuse•Moderate•Rockytrailwithmuddyportions.

TrailheadPull-offparkingonParkRidgeRoadandtheDeckertownTurnpike,andoffCriggerRoadinStokes

StateForestwherethetrailoverlapspartoftheHowellTrail.

Parker Trail (lightgreenblaze)isafairlylevelpaththat windsthroughahardwoodforesttothe

DeckertownTurnpikeandcontinuesintoStokesStateForest.Theterrainalternatesfromrockyareasto

fieldsoffernsandgrasses.Thelargertreesaremostlyredoak,whiteoak,andredmaple,withsweetbirch

andAmericanbeechcomprisingthelowercanopy.Variouswildflowersareabundantintheundergrowthat

differenttimesoftheyear.CinquefoilandwildgeraniumaretwothatbloomduringMayandJune.Redefts,

ornewts,caneasilybespottedinmoistspots.

Shawangunk Ridge Trail

Mediumblue•3milesinHighPoint•Hiking•ModeratetoDifficult•Narrow,rockytrail

Trailhead WheretheAppalachianTrailintersectswiththeMonumentTrail.

The71-mile Shawangunk Ridge Trail (medium-blueblaze)beginshere,followingtheMonumentTrail

untilitbranchestofollowaportionoftheCedarSwampTrail.Aftercrossingtheboardwalk,thetrailagain

intersectsbrieflywiththeMonumentTrail,andthenheadstowardsNewYork,continuingalongtheridge

andendingintheMohonkPreserve.Detailedinformationaboutthissegmentofthetrailcanbefoundhere

here(NewYorkNewJerseyTrailConference.)

Steenykill Trail

LightBlue•0.7miles•Hiking•EasytoDifficult•Grassytrailendinginarockyclimb

Trailhead ParkattheSteenykillBoatLaunch.ThetopofthetrailcanalsobereachedviatheMonument

Trail.

November 21, 2016

Steenykill Trail (lightblueblaze),builtinthelate1930sbytheCivilianConservationCorps(CCC),beginsat

Route23,runsalongtheLakeSteenykilldam(alsobuiltbytheCCC),makesaleftturnatthespillway,

crossesastream,andthenclimbssteeplyuphilltojointheMonumentTrail.Ontheedgeofthelake,along

thedam,youcanseebirches,blueberries,andmanywildflowerspecies.Afterpassingthroughasmallpine

grove,thetrailleavesthelakeareaandpassesthroughatoweringhardwoodforestgrowingwithseveral

speciesofferns,includingthetallcinnamonfern.,andmanyyoungstripedmapletrees–uncommonasfar

southasNewJersey.