High Point Monument Overlook

The summit of the Kittatinny Ridge sits at 1,803 feet above sea level, making it the highest elevation in New Jersey. At the top stands the High Point Monument, a 220-foot obelisk completed in 1930 and dedicated to New Jersey's veterans of all wars. The structure was built through the generosity of Colonel Anthony R. and Susie Dryden Kuser, who also donated the land for High Point State Park. Route 23 skirts the park and is the primary access road; CR-519 feeds into it from the south, so riders running northwest New Jersey loops pass through naturally.

From the overlook, the sightlines reach into three states: the ridges of the Pocono Mountains to the west, the Catskill Mountains to the north, and the Wallkill River Valley to the southeast. The monument is open to visitors during regular park hours; winter road access can depend on conditions. The monument's interior staircase—291 steps to the top—is open seasonally, so check the park's current schedule before making that the goal of your stop. There is a per-vehicle entrance fee during the summer season, typically from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend; off-season access is generally free.

Bears are present in the area, so riders who stop to walk around should follow standard wildlife awareness practices—don't leave food unattended on the bike. Weather at the ridge top can shift quickly; the elevation means temperatures run noticeably cooler than the valleys below, which is welcome in summer but worth keeping in mind on shoulder-season rides.