High Point (New Jersey)About High Point (New Jersey)
High Point is the highest natural elevation in the U.S. state of New Jersey, reaching 1,803 feet above sea level and marked by a prominent obelisk-shaped war memorial. The site is centred on a landscaped summit area within a state park and is a recognized landmark in the northern part of the state.
The summit area and monument provide panoramic viewpoints; trails and park facilities serve day visitors seeking ridge-top walks and viewpoints. The obelisk itself contains internal stairs leading to an upper viewing platform.
The monument was built as a war memorial in the early 20th century and stands on state park land that preserves the summit and surrounding ridgelines for recreation and conservation.
High Point sits in the far northwestern corner of New Jersey in Sussex County, close to the New York state border, and is accessible from nearby towns and park entrances.
- Elevation: Highest natural point in New Jersey at 1,803 feet above sea level.
- Monument: The 220-foot monument offers elevated panoramic views across three states on clear days and was constructed as a regional war memorial.
What to See#
- High Point Monument: High Point Monument is a 220-foot granite obelisk built as a war memorial and observation tower with internal stairs and an upper viewing platform.
- High Point State Park: High Point State Park encompasses the summit area, with hiking trails, picnic areas, and ridge-line viewpoints across the park lands.
Best Time to Visit High Point (New Jersey)
High Point (the High Point Monument in High Point State Park) is the highest elevation in New Jersey, crowned by a 220-foot obelisk memorial on a 1,803-foot summit-visited for the views and the monument's architecture.
Weather & Climate near High Point (New Jersey)
High Point (New Jersey)'s climate is classified as Warm-Summer Continental - Warm-Summer Continental climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -10°C to 26°C. Abundant rainfall (1268 mm/year), wettest in May, distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | -10° - 0° | -10° | 93 mm | - | - | 3.5 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | -9° - 1° | -9° | 85 mm | - | - | 3.7 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | -5° - 6° | -3° | 100 mm | - | - | 3.9 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 1° - 13° | 4° | 111 mm | - | - | 3.9 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 7° - 20° | 13° | 122 mm | - | - | 3.2 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 11° - 24° | 18° | 114 mm | - | - | 2.9 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 14° - 26° | 20° | 113 mm | - | - | 2.6 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 14° - 25° | 20° | 111 mm | - | - | 2.4 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 10° - 22° | 16° | 111 mm | - | - | 2.6 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 4° - 16° | 8° | 98 mm | - | - | 2.9 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | -1° - 9° | 1° | 110 mm | - | - | 3.3 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | -6° - 3° | -6° | 100 mm | - | - | 3.4 m/s | - | - |
How to Get to High Point (New Jersey)
High Point State Park is reached from Route 23 in northwestern New Jersey; from the Garden State Parkway and I-80 follow local signage toward Sussex County/Route 23. The park is roughly 1-1.5 hours from the New York metropolitan area depending on traffic.
Tips for Visiting High Point (New Jersey)
- Climb the obelisk early in the morning for unobstructed views of the ridge and sunrise over the valleys.
- If visiting in fall, park at the southern lot for easier access to the trail that leads directly to the monument-leaf-peeping is excellent from late September into October.
- Bring binoculars: on clear days the observation level gives views into three states and a close look at hawks and turkey vultures that ride the same thermals.