High Mountain Park is a hidden gem located in the heart of New Jersey in Wayne and Passaic Counties, New Jersey. It is a 1,260-acre preserve with a number of hiking trails that wind through the woods and offer stunning views of the surrounding area..

We visited High Mountain Park and were amazed by how peaceful and beautiful it was. There is a trail map at near the parking lot on University Drive and the park has 11.5 miles of trails that range from easy to moderate. We decided to follow the red-blazed Summit Trail, which is about 4 miles round-trip and leads to the highest point in the park. There was a little surprise for us in a star of hope that looks out over the valley. It was beautiful and exciting.

The trail starts off gently, winding through woodlands and wetlands. We saw some deer, birds and chipmunks along the way. The trail then climbs steadily, passing some rocky outcrops and a small waterfall. The summit is marked by a large cairn of stones, and offers a stunning view of New York City and northern New Jersey on a clear day. You could see the skyscrapers of Manhattan, the George Washington Bridge and even the Statue of Liberty. It was an amazing sight!

We spent some time at the summit, enjoying the breeze and taking pictures before continuing on. The whole hike took about 2 hours, but you can make it longer or shorter depending on your pace and how much time you want to spend at the viewpoints. If you’re looking for a more challenging hike, try the Clove Trail. This trail is 4.5 miles round trip and takes you through a deep, wooded gorge..

We hope you enjoyed this blog post and that it inspired you to visit High Mountain Park. If you do, let us know in the comments how you liked it. And if you have any other suggestions for places to hike in New Jersey, we’d love to hear them. Thanks for reading!

Also, if you’d like to get a feel for what to expect before visiting, check out our video below!