High Point State Park Fall Foliage Guide: Monument Views and Ridge Trails

Looking for High Point State Park fall foliage in Sussex County? Our team puts New Jersey’s highest peak, the 1,803-foot High Point Monument, and the park’s ridge trails at the top of the list for October color drives and hikes in Wantage and Montague.

High Point State Park sits at 1480 State Route 23, Wantage, NJ 07461. Details below come from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s current High Point State Park and High Point Monument pages. For more leaf-peeping loops across the county, see our guide to best fall foliage hikes in Sussex County, and check things to do in Sussex County this weekend before you head out.

Why High Point shines in fall

The New Jersey Veterans’ Memorial monument marks the state’s highest elevation at 1,803 feet, with wide views across Sussex County toward neighboring ridges. Oaks, scrub oak, pitch pine and hardwoods line the ridges, so the park’s color show is one of the clearest overlooks in the north. Lake Marcia, a spring-fed 20-acre lake near the day-use area, sits below the monument and makes an easy photo stop even if you are not hiking far.

Hours, fees and when the monument is open

NJDEP lists park gates open 8 a.m. to sunset from April 1 through November 30. The monument exterior follows those gate hours. The monument interior, when staffing allows, is open weekends and holidays from Labor Day through Columbus Day, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (the monument page also notes 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. on those weekend and holiday openings).

Entrance fees are charged per vehicle only from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. From Labor Day to Memorial Day weekend, NJDEP lists entrance as free, so a mid-October foliage visit does not carry a summer day-use fee. Park office hours are listed as 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call the park at 973-875-4800 for staffing updates on the monument climb.

Best foliage hike: Monument Trail

The park’s Monument Trail is a 3.5-mile red-and-green-blazed loop rated moderate to difficult, with rocky footing and steep climbs. NJDEP’s trail materials say the loop offers some of the best views in the park, including looks toward the New York border, and that Civilian Conservation Corps stone stairs from the late 1930s still mark parts of the route. Trailheads include parking at or near the Interpretive Center, the north end of Lake Marcia, or the monument parking area.

A shorter option is the marked yellow monument walking path from the Monument Trail/Interpretive Center lot (about 1 mile round trip) or from the Lake Marcia Beach parking lot (about 1.5 miles round trip). NJDEP notes those paths mix grass and gravel, end with a steep climb, and are not stroller friendly.

Appalachian Trail and other ridge options

About 18 miles of the Appalachian Trail follow the Kittatinny Mountain ridge through High Point State Park. White blazes mark the AT, which is hiking only. The Dryden Kuser Natural Area includes an Atlantic white cedar bog and the high-elevation ridgetop around High Point; Cedar Swamp Trail, Monument Trail and Steenykill Trail reach different portions of that natural area. Overall the park lists more than 50 miles of trails for hiking and other designated uses.

Practical tips for an October visit

Wear sturdy shoes for rocky ridge trails, and bring layers for wind at the monument. Stay on marked walking paths rather than narrow park roads when walking to the monument, especially on busy weekends. Boats, kayaks and paddleboards are not permitted in Lake Marcia. Trail maps and natural-area guides are available at the park office or Interpretive Center per NJDEP materials.

Primary sources for this guide: NJDEP High Point State Park and High Point Monument.