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TRANSCRIPT
November 21, 2016
State of New Jersey, Department of Environmental Protection
Division of Parks and Forestry • State Park Service
njparksandforests.org
November 21, 2016
HIGH POINT STATE PARK
TRAILS OF HIGH POINT STATE PARK
There are thirteen named and marked trails in High Point State Park, and a stretch of the Appalachian
Trail also runs the length of the park. These trails are maintained for the enjoyment of all visitors. Some
trails are designated for hiking, snowshoeing, and/or cross-country skiing only, but a number of other
trails are multi-use and permit bikes and horses. In distance, the trails range from less than half a mile to
over four miles, take from half an hour to over two hours to walk at a moderate pace, and range from easy
walking for visitors of any age to difficult rocky terrain for experienced hikers.
TRAIL SENSE AND SAFETY
Trail Markings Official trails are marked with colored blazes on posts, trees, and rocks. One blaze means to
continue straight. Two blazes indicate that the trail makes a turn in the direction of the top blaze.
Be prepared Bring water with you, and you may want to have snacks, insect repellent, and sunscreen.
Check the weather before you go and dress appropriately. The weather at High Point is often cooler and
windier than elsewhere in the area so it is best to plan for extra layers.
Tick protection Insect repellent, long pants and light colored clothing can help prevent tick bites. It is a
good idea to check yourself periodically during your hike, when you're done, and more thoroughly when
you get home. Report trail issues to the park at (973) 875-4800.
Report emergencies by calling 1-877-WARN-DEP (1-877-927-6337), or 911
November 21, 2016
Appalachian Trail (AT)
White•9mileswithinHighPoint•Hiking•ModeratetoDifficult•Rockyunevenground
The 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail (AT)extendsfromSpringerMountain,GeorgiatoMountKatahdin,Maine.
NinemilesoftheATareinHighPoint,offeringchallenginghikesalongtheKittatinnyRidgewithmany
worthwhileviews.
Trailhead ATParkinglotonRoute23,0.5milessouthoftheParkOffice.TheAppalachian,Iris,and
MashipacongTrailsareallaccessiblefromhere.Fromthelot,followtheconnectortrail(blue)totheIris
Trail(red).TurnrightontheIrisTrailtoreachtheAppalachianandtheMashipacongTrailsorthePark
Office.TurnleftontheIrisTrailtogosouthtowardsDeckertownTurnpike.
To hike northbound on the AT(towardstheMonument),followdirectionsabove,turningrightwhentheIris
TrailintersectswiththeAT.In0.25miles,you’llemergeneartheParkOfficeandtheRoute23crossing.
FromtheATlot,youcanalsowalkupRoute23.ToreachHighPointMonument,followthetrailfor1.5miles
alongtheridgeuntilyoureachawoodenobservationplatform.Ashortdistancepasttheplatform,theAT
intersectswiththeMonumentTrail(redandgreen)andtheShawangunkRidgeTrail(mediumblue).The
ATbearsrightanddescendstheridge.TocontinuetotheMonument,staystraightandfollowthe
Monument/RidgeTrails.
To hike Southbound on the AT(towardstheDeckertownTurnpikeandStokesStateForest),followdirections
above,butturnleftwhentheIrisTrailintersectswiththeAT.BetweenRoute23andtheDeckertown
Turnpike,theATintersectswiththeIrisTrailtwicemakingshorterandlongerloophikespossible.
Other TrailheadsTheATcanalsobeaccessedviaasmallparkinglotontheDeckertownTurnpike/CR650
andapull-offonRoute519neartheNewYorkStateborder.
Iris Trail
Red•4.5miles•Multi-use•EasytoModerate•Rockyunevenground
Trailheads AppalachianTrailparkinglotorpull-offparkingalongDeckertownTurnpike.
Iris Trail (redblaze)windsalongmoderateterrainwithgentleslopes.Muchofthistrailwasbuiltbythe
CivilianConservationCorps,intendedasabridlepath,whilethestretchoftrailclosesttotheDeckertown
Turnpikewaspartofanetworkofwagonroadsthatconnectedsmallridgetopfarmsinthe1800andearly
1900s.AlmosteverytypeofvegetationthatgrowsintheforestsinthisareacanbeseenalongtheIris.
Severalspeciesofoak,hickory,andbirchshadethepath,andsassafras,witch-hazel,andvariouspinesgrow.
SomesmallAmericanchestnuts,oncecommoninEasternforests,canalsobefound.Thesetreeswere
infectedbyafungus,knownastheChestnutBlight,intheearly1900s.Today,thefewthatremainrarely
growtallerthantwentyfeet.Theundergrowthincludesvariousferns,numerouswildflowers,andinsome
placesisdominatedbyblueberriesandhuckleberries,ripeninginmidtolatesummer.TheIrisTrail
providesmanyopportunitiestoobservebirdsandotherwildlife,andalsopassesscenicLakeRutherford(a
privatelake-noswimmingpermitted).TheIrisTrailcrossestheAppalachianTrailtwice,makingshorter
andlongerloophikespossible.
Mashipacong Trail
Yellow•2.8miles•Multi-use•EasytoModerate•Variabletrailsurface
Trailheads AppalachianTrailparkinglotandthreepull-offparkingareasnearthetrailonSawmillandPark
RidgeRoads.
November 21, 2016
Mashipacong Trail’s (yellowblaze)southwesternsectionwaspartofoneofthefirstroutesovertheridge,
knownasthe“OldWallingRoad.”Manyremnantsofthesmallfarmsthatoncedottedtheridgetopcanbe
seenalongit.Formerfieldsarenowthicketsofhuckleberriesandblueberries.Twostonefoundations,the
remainsoftheColefarm,canbefoundoneithersideofthetrailbytheoldfieldsandfencerows.Oakand
maplearetheprimarytrees,withbirch,beech,andAmericanchestnutoccurringoftenaswell.Thetrail
crossesseveralsmallstreams,andfollowsanoldaccessroadtotheSawmillcampsites(nowclosedto
vehicles)foratime.Theremainingpartofthetrailclimbsoverarockyridgebeforeendingbehindthepark
office.Youmaychoosetohikeonlyapartofthetrailforapleasantwalk.Aloophikecanbemadeby
combiningthesouthernportionofthistrailwiththeAyersTrail,andwalkingshortdistancesalongSawmill
andParkRidgeRoads.
Ayers Trail
Black•1mile•Multiuse•Easy•Fairlylevel,ruttedwagonroad
Trailhead ParkoffParkRidgeRoadnearthetrailheadorattheSawmillLakeboatlaunchandwalka
quartermilealongSawmillRoadtothetrailhead.
Ayers Trail (blackblaze)offersaglimpseintotheKittatinnyRidge’sagriculturalpast.Bythemid-1800s
mostofthisRidge’sforestshadbeencutdownfortimber,firewood,andcharcoalandeventuallymorethan
adozensmallfarmscroppedupontheclearedridgetoponwhatisparklandtoday.Thistrailwasoncethe
roadthatledtoandfromtheAyersfarm–establishedaround1870.Asyouwalk,notetheimpressivestone
wallsthatonceoutlinedpastures.Theyillustrateoneofthegreatestdifficultiesfarmersfaced–therocky
soil.
Youwilltravelthroughforestsoak,hickory,maple,andash–typicalridgetopforesttreesthathaveregrown
sincetimberandagriculturalactivitiesceased.Ataboutthemid-point,thetrailopensupandyoucansee
pastures,whatmuchoftheridgetopusedtolooklike.Thisareahasbeenpreventedfromgrowingfrom
fieldtoforestbyannualprescribedburnsconductedbytheNJForestFireService.Maintainingthisareaof
grasslandprovidesvaluablehabitatforwildlifewhoneedopenspacesorwhothrivein“edge”habitats
wherefieldsandforestsmeet,andforplantsthatonlygrowinthesunandcannotoftenbefoundonmuch
ofthenow-forestedRidge.HereyoucanalsoseethestonefoundationsoftheAyers’barnsandmanyofthe
treesandplantstypicalofoldfarmsteads:lilacs,rosebushes,andnutandfruittrees.
AloophikecanbemadebycombiningthistrailwithaportionoftheMashipacongTrail,andwalkingshort
distancesalongSawmillandParkRidgeRoads.
Blue Dot Trail
DarkBlue•0.5miles•Hiking•Difficult•Wetareas,veryruggedsteepterrain
Trailhead Acrossfromcampsite15attheSawmillCampground.Whentheroadaroundthecampgroundis
closedseasonally,youcanalsoaccessthetrailbyparkingattheSawmillLakeboatlaunchandfollowingthe
lakesidetrailorcamproadonfoottothetrailhead.Thiswilladdaboutahalfmile(eachway)toyourhike.
Blue Dot Trail (darkblueblaze)isshort,butidealforanyonewhoenjoysthechallengeofruggedterrain.It
beginsacrossfromcampsitefifteenattheSawmillcampgroundandclimbsroughly350feettomeetwith
theAppalachianTrailatthetopoftheridge.Atfirst,thetrailpassesthroughashady,moistforestofmaple,
oak,andhemlock.Thewet,mossygroundisaremnantofthecedarbogthatonceexistedwherethelakeis
today.Asyoubegintoascendthetrail,thevegetationbecomessparserandshiftstoscruboak,birch,and
pitchpine.Onthewaytothetopyou’llclimboveranumberoflargerocksandcrossseveraloutwashes.The
summitprovidesabeautifuloverlookofSawmillLakeandthesurroundingmountains.Thetrailendsatthe
AppalachianTrail,ashortdistanceovertheridge.
November 21, 2016
Cedar Swamp Trail Purple•2mileloop•Hiking,cross-countryskiing•Easy•Mostlyflat,paved,gravel,andboardwalk
Trailhead Go to the end of the road in the Cedar Swamp Picnic Area and park. The trail begins at the yellow
gate.
Cedar Swamp Trail (purple blaze) follows an access road (no longer open to vehicles) into the Atlantic
white cedar bog in the Kuser Natural Area, then forks and circles around the perimeter of the bog. Along the
way you’ll travel through dense forests and across an open cut in the bog on a boardwalk. Most of the trail is
gravel-covered, but portions can be muddy after heavy rains. A trail guide that corresponds to numbered
stops along the trail can be obtained at the Park Office or the Interpretive Center, or can be downloaded
here.
Fuller Trail
Red&blue•0.85miles•Multiuse•EasytoModerate•Rocky,sometimesmuddy
Trailhead ParkintheWinterTrailsparkinglot.LimitedparkingonSawmillwherethetrailstarts/ends.
Fuller Trail (red&blueblaze)wasoncearoadusedbytheFullerfamilytotravelfromtheirfarm(nowthe
GroupCabinsite)tothecedarshakemilltheyoperatedintheareawhereSawmillLakeistoday.Thetrail
wandersthroughafairlyopenforestofhardwoodswithanundergrowthoffernsandgrasses.Partofthe
trailoverlapstheLifeTrailandthenbranchesofftomeetSawmillRoadattheintersectionwiththe
MashipacongTrail.Itmaybehardforyoutoimaginethatmostoftheforestthistrailpassesthroughwasat
onetimeclearedandusedforagriculture.Duetoitsthinsoil,thislandwas,atbest,onlymarginallysuited
foragriculture,andasfarmsbecamemechanized,thesefarmerscouldnotcompete.Onlythestonewalls
remaintodaytomarkthespiritoftheearlypioneers.
Life Trail
Brown•0.8miles•Multi-use•EasytoModerate•Mostlylevel,butrockytrailsurface
Trailhead ParkintheWinterTrailsparkinglot.
Life Trail(brownblaze)wasoncepartoftheFullerfamilyfarmwhichwaslocatedhereinthe1800sand
early1900s.Inthemid-1920s,thefarmbecameaGirlScoutCamp,andin1937thatcampbecameacamp
forblindchildren–thefirstofitskindinthestate-whereboysandgirlscouldenjoytheoutdoorsand
developasenseofcamaraderieandindependence.Thistrailisanicelocationforgrouphikingandcross-
countryskiing.Itisshort,butisfilledwithwintergreen,mountainlaurel,andvarioushardwoodtrees.
Old Trail
Brown&yellow•0.5miles•Multi-use•Easy•Gentlyslopingcarriageroad
Trailhead At far side of the picnic/parking area across from the beach parking lot.
Old Trail (brown & yellow blaze) was an entrance to the High Point Inn in the 1890s. It was used by the
horse-drawn stagecoaches that transported guests to the Inn from the train station in Port Jervis, NY.
Perfect for an easy, relaxing stroll, this trail follows the base of several outcrops of rock. Sweetfern and
huckleberries line the sides of the path, and wildflowers and grasses thrive along the intermittent stream
that runs parallel to it. The stream and the rocky outcrops that rise on the north side of the trail attract
wildlife, including mink, porcupine, and deer.
November 21, 2016
Monument Trail
Red&green•3.5-mileloop•Hiking&snowshoeing•ModeratetoDifficult•Rockytrail,steepclimbs
Trailhead This trail can be accessed by parking at/near the Interpretive Center, the north end of Lake
Marcia, or the Monument parking area.
Monument Trail(red&greenblaze)circlesthemountainridgesandentailsafairamountofuphill
walking.Theascentsareworthmaking,astheyprovideviewsofNewYork,NewJersey,andPennsylvania
thatcan’tbeseenfromtheMonument.Theforestalongthetrailisprimarilyoak,includingthedensescrub
oak,withavarietyofotherhardwoodsandpitchpine.Theundergrowthconsistsofferns,grasses,
huckleberriesandsweetfern.Thistrailwasconstructedinthelate1930sbytheCivilianConservation
Corps.Setsofcurvingstonestairsaretestamenttotheirworkmanshipandattentiontodetail.Ashort
portionofthetrailcrossesthroughtheCedarSwampNaturalArea,dedicatedtoformerNewJerseySenator,
DrydenKuser.AguidefortheNaturalArea,detailingtheuniqueecologyoftheswamp,canbeobtainedat
theparkofficeortheInterpretiveCenter.ParkateithertheInterpretiveCenterortheMonumenttohike
thiscirculartrail.
Parker Trail
LightGreen•2.5milesinHighPoint•Multiuse•Moderate•Rockytrailwithmuddyportions.
TrailheadPull-offparkingonParkRidgeRoadandtheDeckertownTurnpike,andoffCriggerRoadinStokes
StateForestwherethetrailoverlapspartoftheHowellTrail.
Parker Trail (lightgreenblaze)isafairlylevelpaththat windsthroughahardwoodforesttothe
DeckertownTurnpikeandcontinuesintoStokesStateForest.Theterrainalternatesfromrockyareasto
fieldsoffernsandgrasses.Thelargertreesaremostlyredoak,whiteoak,andredmaple,withsweetbirch
andAmericanbeechcomprisingthelowercanopy.Variouswildflowersareabundantintheundergrowthat
differenttimesoftheyear.CinquefoilandwildgeraniumaretwothatbloomduringMayandJune.Redefts,
ornewts,caneasilybespottedinmoistspots.
Shawangunk Ridge Trail
Mediumblue•3milesinHighPoint•Hiking•ModeratetoDifficult•Narrow,rockytrail
Trailhead WheretheAppalachianTrailintersectswiththeMonumentTrail.
The71-mile Shawangunk Ridge Trail (medium-blueblaze)beginshere,followingtheMonumentTrail
untilitbranchestofollowaportionoftheCedarSwampTrail.Aftercrossingtheboardwalk,thetrailagain
intersectsbrieflywiththeMonumentTrail,andthenheadstowardsNewYork,continuingalongtheridge
andendingintheMohonkPreserve.Detailedinformationaboutthissegmentofthetrailcanbefoundhere
here(NewYorkNewJerseyTrailConference.)
Steenykill Trail
LightBlue•0.7miles•Hiking•EasytoDifficult•Grassytrailendinginarockyclimb
Trailhead ParkattheSteenykillBoatLaunch.ThetopofthetrailcanalsobereachedviatheMonument
Trail.
November 21, 2016
Steenykill Trail (lightblueblaze),builtinthelate1930sbytheCivilianConservationCorps(CCC),beginsat
Route23,runsalongtheLakeSteenykilldam(alsobuiltbytheCCC),makesaleftturnatthespillway,
crossesastream,andthenclimbssteeplyuphilltojointheMonumentTrail.Ontheedgeofthelake,along
thedam,youcanseebirches,blueberries,andmanywildflowerspecies.Afterpassingthroughasmallpine
grove,thetrailleavesthelakeareaandpassesthroughatoweringhardwoodforestgrowingwithseveral
speciesofferns,includingthetallcinnamonfern.,andmanyyoungstripedmapletrees–uncommonasfar
southasNewJersey.