G1. High Point State Park to US Route 6

Features: High Point, Cedar Swamp
Distance: 8.20 miles
USGS Map Quads: Port Jervis South, Unionville, Otisville
Trail Conference Maps: Online SRT map (pdf file) at
http://www.nynjtc.org/files/2008SRTmap1.pdf

General Description

The Shawangunk Ridge Trail begins where the Appalachian Trail heads east
from the Kittatinny Ridge in High Point State Park in New Jersey. After leaving
the Appalachian Trail, the Shawangunk Ridge Trail passes the highest point
in New Jersey, where there is a spectacular view. The trail then continues through
High Point State Park. A highlight of the trail is Cedar Swamp, which is a
mountaintop cedar bog. In High Point there are three separate ridges; the
trail uses all three. Past Cedar Swamp the trail ascends and crosses the border
into New York, where it attains the westernmost ridge. The trail then follows
the western ridge to Greenville Turnpike, and after a short walk on the Greenville
Turnpike heads into the woods again. The trail follows public roads to pass
underneath Interstate 84.

Access

Take Interstate 80 west to NJ Route 23 in Wayne. Take NJ Route 23 west to
High Point State Park in northwestern New Jersey. Follow the park roads to
the High Point Monument.

Parking

0.30 High Point Monument parking lot. (Unlocated)
4.55 Greenville Turnpike (limited). (18T 528895E 4578397N)
8.20 Hathorn Boulevard and US Route 6 (limited parking here; more parking
available 0.35 miles into next section at the end of Lake Shore Drive). (18T
531563E 4580348N)

Camping

Camping is allowed on DEC lands, at least 150 ft away from open water and
the trail. DEC land can be found in Huckleberry Ridge State Forest from
mile 4.95 to mile 6.00 and mile 6.25 to 7.30

Trail Description

0.00 The Shawangunk Ridge Trail begins in High Point State Park, where
the Appalachian Trail intersects the Monument Trail. The Appalachian Trail
turns right at this point and descends east off the Kittatinny Ridge. The
Shawangunk Ridge Trail is co-aligned part of the way with the Monument
Trail, which is marked with red and green squares on a white background.
After leaving the AT, the Shawangunk Ridge Trail ascends through the
woods, passing through a rocky area. The trail crosses the High Point
Monument Road, turns right and climbs steeply on a gravel path to the High
Point Monument.
0.30 The trail reaches the High Point Monument, the highest point in New
Jersey. From this vantage point there is a spectacular 360-degree view. To the
south you can see down the Kittatinnies across the Delaware Water Gap into
Pennsylvania. To the west you can see across the Delaware River into the
Poconos. To the northwest is the city of Port Jervis, with the Delaware River
beyond. The Catskill Mountains are visible to the north, 70 miles distant, and
to the northeast is a view all the way up the Shawangunks to Mohonk. To the
east you can see into the Wallkill Valley, with the Taconics and the Hudson
Highlands in the distance. The highlands of western New Jersey are visible to
the southeast. You can take a trip up to the top of the High Point Monument,
but it is not necessary for the view. Past the monument, the trail descends
gradually to the parking lot. As it descends, the trail passes a park bench with
a view across the escarpment to Port Jervis and the Delaware River. The trail
passes a concession area with picnic tables. Beyond the picnic area is a public
restroom with water fountains. After the restrooms, the trail reaches the parking
lot and follows the western edge of the lot in a grassy area.

High Point Monument [JAKOB FRANKE]

0.45 The trail reaches the end of the parking lot, goes around the end of the
barricade, passes a picnic table and enters the woods between two boulders.
The trail follows the ridge north through the woods.
0.95 A side path leads left where there is a view west toward Port Jervis and
the Delaware River. Shortly, there is a path to the right to a rock outcropping
with a view southeast toward northwestern New Jersey. The trail passes another
view to the right and then begins a gradual descent to Cedar Swamp.
1.50 The trail reaches the northeast corner of Cedar Swamp. The Monument
Trail continues straight ahead, crossing the outlet of Cedar Swamp. The
Shawangunk Ridge Trail turns left and parallels the eastern edge of Cedar
Swamp on a woods road. The aqua Long Path blazes begin here.
1.85 The trail turns right and crosses Cedar Swamp on a boardwalk. Cedar
Swamp is a magnificent mountaintop bog that is filled with cedar, wild
rhododendron and hemlock. Part of the Dryden Kuser Natural Area, Cedar
Swamp is the most inland example of Atlantic white cedar, normally a coastal
plain evergreen tree. It was named for New Jersey State Senator Dryden
Kuser, a leading conservationist and the son of Colonel Anthony Kuser, who
donated the land for High Point State Park to New Jersey in 1923. In New
Jersey, a natural area has the same protection as a New York wilderness area
has. Normally a natural area is designated only in an ecologically significant
area. After crossing Cedar Swamp, the trail continues along a woods road on
the western side of the swamp.
2.05 The trail turns right off the gravel road at a park bench and ascends to
the Monument Trail on the western side of Cedar Swamp. It then turns left
onto the Monument Trail, which it follows to the top of a small knob. Atop
the knob, the trail turns right, leaves the Monument Trail, then passes a view
toward the Delaware River and descends off the knob. The trail continues
north along the central of three ridges of Kittatinny Mountain through an
understory of blueberry.
2.70 The trail turns left and descends on an old woods road toward a stream
crossing in a col. After the stream crossing the trail makes a gradual ascent
toward the New York border.
3.10 The trail leaves High Point State Park and crosses into New York by a
border monument. After crossing into New York the trail is on private land.
Please be respectful. The trail climbs up to the westernmost ridge and
heads north along the ridge. Once in New York, the name of the mountain
range changes from Kittatinny to Shawangunk.
3.25 The trail reaches a viewpoint west over Port Jervis and the Delaware
River. The trail then heads north along the slab with a view north toward the
Catskills. Shortly, the trail descends into the woods and then follows the
ridge north. It climbs back up to an area of scrub oak and pitch pine, and
then turns back north.
3.75 To the left, through the trees, is a view of the Delaware River and Port
Jervis. The trail then begins a gradual descent off the ridge, crosses a woods
road, descends to a small stream and levels out.
4.55 Turn right and follow Greenville Turnpike uphill.
4.95 Turn left off the Greenville Turnpike onto an old woods road, on lands
owned by the Trail Conference. The trail passes between two houses and
passes to the left of a blazed rock, then turns right. Not long after crossing
a woods road, the trail enters DEC land (part of Huckleberry Ridge State
Forest).
5.60 Turn left on an old woods road, then soon turn right off it.
5.85 The trail reaches an open cliff with views of the Delaware River and
the mountains of Pennsylvania beyond it. The trail starts descending.
6.00 The trail crosses a powerline, and soon passes near a parking area
off I-84 and begins ascending.
6.40 The trail reaches another fine viewpoint. Except for the highway noise,
which depends on the wind direction, this section of the trail is very nice.
The trail keeps ascending to the summit of a low peak, then descends
into a valley.
6.80 Cross a seasonal stream. The trail passes by several stone walls
and old woods roads, then climbs another summit (Minisink) before 
descending again.
7.30 After a final steep descent reach Old Mountain Road; turn left.
7.70 The trail turns left on US Route 6 and crosses under Interstate 84.
8.20 The trail reaches Hathorn Boulevard, where this section ends. To
continue, turn right on Hathorn Boulevard.