High Point is the highest place in New Jersey, a fact that surprises people who think of the state as a flat belt of turnpikes and refineries. It sits on the Kittatinny Ridge, a long, straight line of old rock that runs from the Delaware Water Gap in the south-west up toward the New York border, and at 1,803 feet above sea level, it is a modest summit by Western standards but a real one. A stone obelisk, 220 feet tall and built in 1930, crowns the top, and from its platform on a clear day you can see three states: New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York. The Delaware River winds silver below, and the green farmland of the valley stretches out on every side.
The park around the monument is a protected stretch of forest, lakes and cedar swamp, with trails, picnic areas and the Appalachian Trail, which passes within a short distance. The ridge is a major migration route for hawks and eagles in autumn, and birdwatchers gather here in September and October to count them as they ride the updrafts. In summer the woods are full of warblers, in spring the dogwoods bloom, and in winter the ridge is a quiet white hush.
The road up to the monument is a climbing curve through hardwood forest, with a good surface and little traffic outside the weekends. It is not a challenging road, but it is a pretty one, and the ride along the ridge on Route 23 offers long views of the valley. The weather at the top can be cooler and windier than below, and in winter the road can be icy. The monument and the park roads are closed at times, so check the opening hours before you go.
Port Jervis, about seven kilometres away, has fuel, food and everything else you need. Matamoras, on the Pennsylvania side of the river, is closer and has a few shops and cafes. A bag of sandwiches and a thermos at the base of the monument, with the whole valley spread out beneath you, makes a fine lunch. Be careful of black bears, which live in these woods, and keep food out of sight when you leave the bike.