Sussex County Highpoint Trip Report
High Point (1,803 ft)
Date: September 12, 2004
Author: Dan Case
If you're interested in making a short hike out of this instead of just another drive-up, or you want to avoid
the parking fee, park at the Appalachian Trail parking area just south of the park entrance and follow the AT
across 23 and north back into the woods.
For the first 0.75 mile, it stays relatively level in second-growth woods, with a gently undulating ascent,
and near the end of that stretch passes a gorgeous open view out over the Wallkill Valley toward the Hudson.
Then it begins to climb to and then over a series of knobs with scrubbier woods and panoramic views toward
the monument (one has an observation tower) and in all directions.
After it descends, it gets close to the main park road and the red-and-green blazed Monument Trail comes in
from the west. You want to take the second junction, where the AT starts to bend downhill and off the
ridge to where it follows the NY/NJ state line west-southwest for the next 30 miles or so.
The Monument Trail heads uphill across the road and then more steeply up a gravel route that joins another
narrow road up to the monument. At this time it was closed off for renovation but should be open again soon.