High Point State Park is exactly what its name promises: the highest ground in New Jersey, 1,803 feet up on the crest of Kittatinny Mountain in the state's rural northwest corner, crowned by the 220-foot High Point Monument - a wind-scoured granite obelisk honoring the state's war veterans, visible for thirty miles in every direction. From the summit and the monument's observation windows the view sweeps across three states at once: the Pocono plateau in Pennsylvania, the Catskills in New York, and the farms and ridges of the Wallkill Valley rolling away below. It is the single most dramatic overlook in New Jersey, and it comes with 16,000 acres of hemlock ravines, cedar swamp, blueberry-fringed ridgeline, and the Appalachian Trail running straight through the middle.
What makes the roof of New Jersey a reunion venue rather than just a viewpoint is Lake Marcia - the state's highest lake, spring-fed and startlingly clear, with a guarded sandy swimming beach, bathhouse, and picnic groves in sight of the monument. Families claim tables and grills under the oaks, rotate between the beach and the summit, and walk sections of the Appalachian Trail long enough to say they did and short enough for a seven-year-old. The Sawmill Lake campground down the ridge puts tents inside the park at mountain-air prices; the Cedar Swamp Trail through the Dryden Kuser Natural Area - one of the highest-elevation Atlantic white cedar swamps anywhere - gives the group a boardwalk nature walk that feels transplanted from somewhere far wilder; and in winter, the park runs one of New Jersey's only cross-country ski centers.
The location works better than the map suggests. High Point sits 90 minutes from the George Washington Bridge and under two hours from most of North Jersey and the lower Hudson Valley, with Port Jervis, New York - and its hotels and diners - ten minutes down the mountain. Pair it with the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area twenty minutes south, and a High Point reunion becomes a full mountain week: summit photos at the monument, lake mornings, river afternoons, and sunsets that go a hundred miles. For families who assume they must drive to New England for mountain-reunion scenery, New Jersey's own rooftop is the closer, cheaper correction.
Where it is
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Things to do (with the family)
Hand-curated. Every entry links to its official source so you can plan without guessing.
Climb to the High Point Monument
The 220-foot granite obelisk on New Jersey's summit honors the state's war veterans - climb the interior stairs (open seasonally) or simply stand at its base for the three-state panorama over the Poconos, Catskills, and Wallkill Valley.
Official source ↗Swim in Lake Marcia
New Jersey's highest lake - spring-fed, clear, and cool - has a guarded sandy beach in summer with a bathhouse and food concession, all within sight of the monument. Mountain-lake swimming 1,600 feet up.
Official source ↗Hike a family stretch of the Appalachian Trail
The AT crosses the park on its Georgia-to-Maine run - walk an out-and-back ridge section from the park office and the kids can claim they hiked the most famous trail in America before lunch.
Official source ↗Walk the Cedar Swamp boardwalk
The Dryden Kuser Natural Area's loop trail circles one of the highest-elevation Atlantic white cedar swamps in the world - a cool, dark, boardwalked bog that feels airlifted from Maine. The park's best all-ages nature walk.
Official source ↗Picnic in the summit groves
Picnic areas with tables and grills spread beneath the oaks between Lake Marcia and the monument - claim a cluster, and the beach, summit, and trailheads all sit within a ten-minute walk of the potato salad.
Official source ↗Camp at Sawmill Lake
Tent sites ring quiet Sawmill Lake below the ridge - a classic, no-frills mountain campground inside the park with fishing off the shoreline and some of the darkest skies in New Jersey overhead.
Official source ↗Catch sunset from the Kittatinny ridge
The summit area faces west over the Delaware Valley - on clear evenings the sun drops behind the Poconos in a hundred-mile light show, and the monument glows gold. The mandatory reunion-evening gathering.
Official source ↗Fish Sawmill and Steenykill Lakes
Both park lakes hold bass, pickerel, and stocked trout in season, with easy shoreline access and a boat launch at Steenykill - unhurried mornings for the family anglers while the ridge hikers climb. NJ license required.
Official source ↗Watch the fall hawk migration
The Kittatinny ridge is one of the East's great raptor flyways - September and October send thousands of hawks, falcons, and eagles past the summit at eye level. Bring binoculars and a thermos; the show is free.
Official source ↗Mountain bike and horseback the multi-use trails
Miles of old woods roads and multi-use trails loop the park's lower elevations - honest climbs, flowy descents, and fall-color payoffs for the teen-and-uncle riding pack.
Official source ↗Cross-country ski the winter trail network
The High Point Cross Country Ski Center grooms park trails and rents gear in winter - one of New Jersey's only true XC ski operations, and the seed of a great off-season family gathering.
Official source ↗Day-trip to the Delaware Water Gap
Twenty minutes south, the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area adds river tubing, waterfalls, and the Gap's famous cliffs to a High Point week - the natural second act for a mountain reunion.
Official source ↗Explore neighboring Stokes State Forest
Stokes adjoins High Point down the ridge with Tillman Ravine's hemlock gorge and the Sunrise Mountain overlook - two parks, one continuous mountain, and an easy add-on day without moving camp.
Official source ↗Find more things to do for your High Point State Park, New Jersey reunion
The picks above are general. Inside the Reunly app, Rosi tailors local activities, meals, and printables to your actual dates, group size, ages, and budget - and saves them straight to your reunion plan.
Where to hold your reunion near High Point State Park, New Jersey
Outdoor pavilions, county parks, fairgrounds, and event grounds within driving distance - places where your group can actually gather, not just visit.
High Point State Park - Summit Picnic Groves + Lake Marcia Beach
🏞 State ParkTables and grills under the oaks between the swimming beach and the monument - the natural reunion base camp, with the park office coordinating larger group use. Arrive early on summer Saturdays.
Reserve / info ↗Sawmill Lake Campground
⛺ CampgroundThe park's quiet lakeside tent campground keeps the campfire branch inside the park under some of New Jersey's darkest skies - small, reservable, and quick to fill for summer weekends.
Reserve / info ↗Stokes State Forest - Group Cabins + Campsites
🏞 State ParkThe adjoining forest's rental cabins at Lake Ocquittunk and its group campsites expand High Point's limited overnight capacity - two parks on one mountain functioning as a single reunion venue.
Reserve / info ↗Port Jervis / Matamoras Hotels
🏛 Event CenterThe tri-state railroad town at the mountain's foot supplies affordable room blocks, diners, and modest banquet space - the fly-in and non-camper base for a High Point gathering.
Reserve / info ↗Sussex County Lake-House Rentals (Culver/Highland Lakes)
📍 VenueLakefront houses across Sussex County's lake communities sleep the extended family with docks and firepits - the comfortable anchor lodging that pairs with monument-and-beach days up the ridge.
Reserve / info ↗Delaware Water Gap NRA - Group Picnic Areas
🏔 National ParkThe national recreation area's riverside picnic grounds, beaches, and waterfall trails make the ready-made second venue of a two-day mountain reunion - federal lands completing the state park's menu.
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Good for
- Mountain-view reunions without the New England drive
- Summit-photo collectors - the highest point in New Jersey
- Appalachian Trail bucket-listers of all ages
- Lake-swim-plus-ridge-hike variety seekers
- Fall foliage and hawk-migration gatherings
- Budget mountain camping with a monument backdrop
Practical logistics
- Closest Airports
- Newark Liberty (EWR) is about 1.25 hours southeast; Stewart International (SWF) near Newburgh, NY is about 50 minutes northeast with budget carriers; LaGuardia/JFK run 1.75-2 hours. Everyone drives the last stretch - Route 23 climbs straight to the park.
- Drive Times
- Port Jervis, NY 10 min · Sussex/Wantage 15 min · Delaware Water Gap 25 min · Morristown 1 hr · George Washington Bridge 1.5 hr · Philadelphia 2.25 hr · Albany 2 hr. Route 23 crests the state at the park entrance.
- Group Lodging
- Inside the park: Sawmill Lake's tent campground and group sites. Outside: Port Jervis and Matamoras (PA) hotels 10-15 minutes down the mountain, farm B&Bs across Sussex County, and lake-house rentals around Culver and Highland Lakes 20-30 minutes away.
- Rental Companies
- Vrbo and Airbnb list farmhouses and lake houses across Sussex County and the nearby Poconos fringe sleeping 8-16 - book the Culver Lake and Wantage-area houses early for summer and October weekends.
- House Size
- Area hotels run $110-180/night; Sussex County farm and lake rentals run $250-500/night for 3-4 BR and $500-900/night for large houses sleeping 12+. Campsites at Sawmill Lake run around $25-30/night - mountain lodging at flatland prices.
- Peak Season
- July-August for Lake Marcia swimming and monument-climb season; summer weekends bring steady but rarely overwhelming crowds, and the ridge breeze knocks 5-10 degrees off lowland heat.
- Shoulder Season
- Late September-mid October is the park's signature stretch: peak foliage over three states, hawk migration past the summit, and crisp picnic weather. May-June offers blooming laurel and empty trails; winter belongs to the ski center.
- Restaurants
- A seasonal concession at the Lake Marcia beach; otherwise grill at the groves. Port Jervis and the Route 23 corridor supply diners, pizza, and groceries within 15 minutes - provision on the way up the mountain.
- Kid Friendly
- Very - a guarded mountain lake, a monument to climb, boardwalk bog trails, campfire camping, and the bragging rights of standing on top of New Jersey. Distances between attractions are short, which keeps young legs and old knees equally happy.
- Accessibility
- The summit area, monument base, and its viewing plaza are reachable by car with accessible parking; the Lake Marcia beach and main picnic areas are accessible. The monument stairs and most trails are not; the Cedar Swamp loop is natural surface with boardwalk sections.
- Weather Window
- Mid-June through September for swimming - the ridge runs cooler than the lowlands, with 75-85°F summer days and cool nights. October is crisp and clear; winter is genuinely snowy (the ski center depends on it), and the summit wind always means one extra layer.
- Park Fee
- A per-vehicle day-use fee applies Memorial Day-Labor Day at the Lake Marcia area (around $5-10 NJ / $10-20 non-resident by day of week); the park is free off-season. Monument access and camping carry small separate fees.
- Official Site
- https://dep.nj.gov/parksandforests/parks/high-point-state-park/
When to go
July and August deliver the full menu - Lake Marcia swimming, monument access, and warm ridge evenings - with temperatures reliably cooler than the cities below. But if your family can gather in early October, do it: peak foliage rolls across the three-state view, hawks stream past the summit, and the picnic groves sit half-empty in perfect sweater weather. For summer reunions, aim for weekdays or arrive before 10 AM on weekends, since the Lake Marcia lots are the park's one pinch point. Winter gatherings work too - the cross-country ski center makes a novel January reunion.
Best for your group size
Small group · 10–25
Groups of 10-25 can hold the reunion entirely at the summit complex - a claimed cluster of picnic tables, the beach, the monument, and a Sawmill Lake campsite loop for the overnighters.
Medium group · 25–60
Groups of 25-60 should combine early-claimed grove tables (or coordinate group use with the park office), a block of Sawmill Lake sites, and Port Jervis hotel rooms, with a two-track day plan: lake-and-monument for most, a longer AT or Cedar Swamp hike for the restless.
Large group · 60+
Groups of 60+ should treat High Point as the flagship day of a Sussex County weekend - big-house rentals around Culver and Highland Lakes plus a Port Jervis hotel block, a catered cookout at the groves, and the monument photo as the all-hands moment. Banquet space lives down the mountain in Port Jervis and Sussex.
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Sample 3-day High Point mountain family reunion
A starter agenda you can copy into Reunly's Schedule and customize for your group.
Day 1 - Arrival + summit welcome
- Afternoon check-in: Sawmill Lake campsites, Port Jervis hotels, lake-house rentals
- 4:30 PM all-hands gathering at the High Point Monument - opening group photo over three states
- 6:00 PM welcome cookout at the picnic groves near Lake Marcia
- 8:15 PM first sunset ritual at the western overlook
Day 2 - Lake and ridge day (main event)
- 9:00 AM claim the grove tables; coffee and campfire pancakes for the campers
- 10:00 AM Lake Marcia swimming for the kids; monument stair climb for the hardy
- 12:30 PM main cookout at the groves - the anchor meal of the reunion
- 2:00 PM split up: family AT ridge walk, Cedar Swamp boardwalk loop, or fishing at Sawmill Lake
- 5:30 PM family awards and horseshoes at the grove
- 8:00 PM sunset finale and s'mores at the campground
Day 3 - Water Gap morning + farewell
- 9:00 AM option one: Delaware Water Gap drive for waterfalls and river views
- 9:00 AM option two: final swim at Lake Marcia and camp breakdown
- 12:30 PM farewell diner lunch in Port Jervis
- 2:00 PM departures - North Jersey and Hudson Valley crews home by late afternoon
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Reunion organizer tips
Start the reunion at the top: gather everyone at the High Point Monument for the opening group photo - three states behind you, monument above you, and the weekend officially begun. Check seasonal stair-climb hours if the kids want the summit windows.
Claim picnic tables in the groves between Lake Marcia and the summit early on summer weekends - that spot is the whole reunion infrastructure: beach below, monument above, trailheads all around.
Book Sawmill Lake campsites for the tent branch the day reservations open - the campground is small, quiet, and the only way to sleep inside the park; Port Jervis hotels catch everyone else ten minutes away.
Walk the Appalachian Trail as a family event - even a one-mile out-and-back on the ridge counts, and an aunt with a printout of the Georgia-to-Maine map turns it into the day's best story.
Save the Cedar Swamp boardwalk for the hot afternoon - the bog runs ten degrees cooler than the beach, and the boardwalk loop suits every knee in the family.
Schedule sunset on the western overlooks and make it the nightly ritual - the hundred-mile light show over the Poconos costs nothing and outperforms any planned entertainment.
Pack layers even in July - the summit is 1,800 feet up and the ridge wind is real; the beach can be balmy while the monument plaza is blustery.
Time an October reunion to the hawk flight: assign one cousin the binocular station at the summit and a tally sheet - thousand-raptor days happen, and the count becomes a family record to break next year.
Split one day south to the Delaware Water Gap - river tubing and waterfall walks twenty minutes away give the teenagers a second headline without moving lodging.
Provision in Port Jervis or on Route 23 before the final climb - there is nothing commercial at the summit but the seasonal beach concession, and the drive back down for forgotten ice is twenty wasted minutes.
Reserve the monument moment for a clear morning - haze builds by afternoon in summer; the three-state view is sharpest before noon, which is why the group photo opens the reunion rather than closing it.
Run the weekend in Reunly - campsite assignments, grove meeting point, AT walk time, sunset ritual, and the Water Gap day roster in one shared link, so the family summits together instead of scattering across 16,000 acres.
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Drop in any spreadsheet - Rosi (our AI) reads multi-sheet, color-coded family groups, even handwritten exports. RSVP, dietary, T-shirt, paid status all in one row.
Open in Reunly →Public RSVP link
Share one link with the whole family. They RSVP per event (Friday BBQ, Saturday dinner) without making an account. You see live counts.
Open in Reunly →Budget that adds up
Track estimated vs. actual, who paid, who still owes. Auto-creates per-guest fee rows from your registration cost.
Open in Reunly →Day-by-day schedule
Friday welcome BBQ, Saturday photo, Sunday brunch - with location, meal flag, and per-event RSVPs.
Open in Reunly →Name tags + printables
Avery 5160 sheets color-coded by family, programs, welcome packets, packing lists - auto-filled from your data.
Open in Reunly →Rosi the AI helper
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Open in Reunly →Plan your High Point State Park, New Jersey reunion with Reunly
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Frequently asked
What is the highest point in New Jersey?
The summit of Kittatinny Mountain inside High Point State Park, at 1,803 feet - marked by the 220-foot High Point Monument, a granite obelisk dedicated in 1930 to New Jersey's war veterans. On clear days the view spans Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey at once.
Can you climb the High Point Monument?
Yes, seasonally - the monument's interior staircase (291 steps) opens on a posted schedule, typically weekends and summer periods, leading to observation windows at the top. The base plaza and its three-state panorama are open whenever the park is, no climb required.
Can you swim at High Point State Park?
Yes - Lake Marcia, the highest lake in New Jersey, has a lifeguarded sandy beach in summer with a bathhouse and concession. The spring-fed water is clear and refreshingly cool even in August - a genuine mountain-lake swim 90 minutes from the George Washington Bridge.
Does the Appalachian Trail go through High Point State Park?
Yes - the AT runs along the Kittatinny ridge through the park, and the park office area is a common access point. Families can walk an easy out-and-back section for the bragging rights; through-hikers passing in summer add to the trailside color.
Is there camping at High Point State Park?
Yes - the Sawmill Lake campground offers tent sites around a quiet lake below the ridge, reservable through the New Jersey state park system. It is small and beloved, so summer and October weekends book early. Cabins and larger group facilities are nearby at neighboring Stokes State Forest.
How far is High Point State Park from New York City?
About 1.5 hours from the George Washington Bridge via Route 23 through Sussex County. Port Jervis, New York - with hotels, diners, and a Metro-North terminus - sits ten minutes from the park entrance, making High Point one of the most accessible true mountain summits in the metro area.
When is fall foliage at High Point State Park?
Typically late September through mid-October at the summit elevations, a week or so ahead of the lowlands - and the three-state view means the color rolls out to the horizon. The same window brings the Kittatinny ridge's famous hawk migration past the monument.
What is there to do at High Point in winter?
The High Point Cross Country Ski Center grooms park trails and rents skis and snowshoes when snow allows - one of New Jersey's only XC operations - and the monument plaza offers stark, spectacular winter views. Sledding and winter hiking round out an off-season family gathering.
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