Visit New Jersey's Highest Point At This Scenic State Park With Endless Outdoor Adventures

New Jersey is full of surprises. Did you know the Monopoly board is based on Atlantic City? Or that the first organized baseball game was held in Hoboken in 1846? Or that New Jersey — famous for its highways and strip malls — has more than 9,800 farms? This last fact really takes people by surprise: The Garden State really does have a lot of greenery, from wetlands to national parks, plus 130 miles of beaches. We may enjoy Kevin Smith movies and "Jersey Shore" episodes, but these entertainments hardly reveal the state in its full splendor. Traveling TV host Samantha Brown even describes this area as the perfect spring road trip.

One of the state's most stunning parks is also its highest point, which is literally named High Point State Park. The state is well known for its flatness, so few visitors know that Jersey has its own mountain range— the Kittattinny Mountains — and its tallest peak is High Point, at a respectable 1,800 feet above sea level. For reference, the tallest mountain in the Northeast — Mt. Washington in New Hampshire — is only 6,288 feet. Given that High Point is only about 60 miles from the Atlantic Ocean, that prominence is impressive.

High Point offers an impressive view of the surrounding highlands. This site is visible from miles away, thanks to the 220-foot-tall Veterans Memorial perched at the top. The tower is a massive obelisk built in honor of fallen servicemen and women, and it's open on holidays and weekends, allowing visitors to climb 291 steps to the top. Through the windows, you can look out on three different states: New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The mountains you see extend into the Poconos, Catskills, and Wallkill River Valley.

There are several ways to reach the top of High Point and its observation deck; the easiest is just to drive to the top, thanks to an access road. If you're looking for a more active route, there's a 3.5-mile hiking trail that makes a circle around the mountain. Nearby, there's an Interpretive Center on the edge of Lake Marcia, where you can learn about the park and its place in New Jersey history; the center is housed within a historic stone house. All of this makes High Point a must-visit American state park.

High Point State Park contains far more than one mountain. When one wealthy couple — Anthony and Susie Dryden Kuser — donated their property to the state in 1923, the people of New Jersey inherited 23,000 acres of public land. In addition to the walking path that encircles the mountain, hikers can explore 50 miles of trails throughout the park, including a segment of the Appalachian Trail. (If you spot some thru-hikers and are feeling inspired, you might review our ultimate first-timer's guide to the Appalachian Trail). In winter, many of these trails are open to cross-country skiers as well. Boaters and kayakers can put in at Sawmill Lake and Steenykill Lake, and swimming is permitted in Lake Marcia during the warmer months.

Note that there is an entry fee between Memorial Day and Labor Day, amounting to $5 for New Jersey residents, $10 for non-residents on weekdays, and $20 on weekends and holidays. Leashed pets are permitted in most places in the park, but smoking, drinking, and drone use are all prohibited.