HikerHigh Point Monument Trail Loop: a New Jersey ridge walk
High Point makes a natural first stop when you want to connect your New Jersey hiking days with the Shawangunks. Choose the Monument Trail loop for a defined outing, rather than treating every path around the monument as the same hike.
- Route type
- Loop
- Distance
- 3.5 mi
- Cumulative ascent
- Not verified
NJ State Park Service lists a 3.5-mile Monument loop. Extra approaches and side trips add distance. Cumulative ascent has not been verified for this outing. A source’s elevation change or summit height is not used as total climbing.
Sources reviewed 2026-10-13 · Independent HikerQuests planning guide
Start here
Choose a designated Monument Trail access on the current park map. Confirm which lot is open before setting the meeting point.
Terrain & what to see
Plan for a mountain trail rather than a paved monument visit. Leave time for uneven footing and the return to your chosen entrance.
The memorial and surrounding ridge provide a different focus from a lake walk. Pause at established viewpoints without blocking the trail.
Before hiking
Check the park advisory and monument opening arrangements separately. A hike around the grounds does not guarantee entry into the monument. Download the map before driving up.
Landscape & trail notes
The monument honors New Jersey veterans. Nearby, the Shawangunk Ridge Trail meets the Appalachian Trail: that junction connects a local day walk to a much longer regional trail story.
After the hike
Use Sussex, Wantage or Montague as a planning base according to your drive. In your trip post, name the starting lot and any added Cedar Swamp or AT mileage.
More ways to plan the day
- Compare loops and out-and-back hikes
- Browse towns and regional guides
- NY, NJ & PA Hiking Trails: Ridge, River and Lake Guides
- Northern New Jersey Hiking: High Point, Stokes & the Water Gap
- High Point & Stokes Hikes near Sussex, Montague and Branchville
- High Point to the Shawangunks: SRT & Kittatinny Hiking Connections