Hiking NJ: High Point State Park

 

High Point State Park

The High Point Monument sits on the summit of the Kittatinny Ridge (1803ft above the sea level), the highest point in New Jersey. 

There are many trails reaching the summit, long or short. The famous Appalachian Trail goes through  High Point State Park as well (check out the  Trail Map).  However, the easiest/laziest way to reach the monument is simply driving up there, which was what we did  in a cold cloudy autumn afternoon. 

        

                           View to the north is the summit parking, with the NY mountains background.

View to the south

The fall colors

The view to the west.

Hiking NY: bear mountain

 

Bear Mountain Loop Trail

The trail resides within the Bear Mountain State park (with $10 parking fee at weekends), and NYC is on the other side of Hudson River. We went there at a weekend, and the park was full of people enjoying the early October weather (it is one of the best places to enjoy fall foliage).

The loop is a 4 mile well-marked and heavily trafficked trail. The elevation gain is about 1100 ft, with difficult rock scrambling. There are big boulders everywhere.

It took us about two hours to reach the top (Perkins Memorial Tower; many people drove to the top as well). The view at the top was spectacular. It only took us 40 minutes to get down the mountain along the dirt trail and stairs.

Hessian Lake

Bear Mountain Inn

Rocky trail

Bear Mountain Bridge over Hudson River

On the trail

Rest at the mountain top

On the mountain top

Layers of mountains; beyond the mountains - NYC skyline

             foliage in Nov