New Jersey campgrounds?

[poison ivy]

Can anyone recommend a campground in New Jersey that's relatively close to the state's highpoint? I'm not at all familiar with what's in the area.

I promised my hubby we'd do at least one car camping trip this year and we still need to pick up the New Jersey highpoint so combining the two would be ideal if there' s a decent campground in the area.

Thanks so much!

- Ivy

 

[Tuco]

My initial reaction is to say snowshoes backyard

But really, try this right in high point SP. Haven't been there myself (but a friend said they enjoyed it there):

Sawmill Lake

Enjoy NJ.....

 

[Jay H]

Does it have to be car camping, there is a leanto on the AT right past the high point monument. It's actually called the "High Point Leanto" and there is another leanto further south at Lake Rutherford

Yeah, there's the car camping place at Saw Mill Lake, that would be good. There is also a couple of private campgrounds near the Monument itself.

High Point Monument

I just did a hike there this past weekend.

The actual monument is now fenced off, you can't go inside or even to the viewing platform at the base of the monument!

Jay

 

[poison ivy]

Thanks Tuco & JayH for your super quick replies. I'll definitely check out Sawmill Lake. I'm bummed about the monument being closed off... maybe it's worth holding off on that one for another year.

It does have to be a car camping... Dave wants to have one trip where he doesn't have to haul all his luxuries in on his back.

Thanks again!

- Ivy
- Ivy

 

[Rick]

Hi Poision -
I would definitely send Snowshoe (Shawn) a PM - He is a Park Ranger, if not at High Point, then at a state park in the area, IIRC. He was very helpful when I led an ADK Backpack trip there this past spring. As for Sawmill, I haven't stayed there, but drove through twice and it looked like a very nice campground with an easy ramble over to the Tower.
Good Luck

 

[Jay H]

Yeah, send Shawn (the newly proud father) an email, he has "connections"

Saw Mill wouldn't even really be a hike to the monument, you could literally walk up the park road to the monument. But the AT goes through there as well as the Shawungunk Ridge Trail as well as a lot of short trails. I was on the Monument Ridge Trail for a bit which is a short and easy hike.

For a more secluded hike, take the AT either south across Rt 23 or north towards Wawayanda. Anyway, Shawn's your man, he'll know more about the area, I'm about 40 minutes SE of high point.

As far as waiting til the monument is open... don't hold your breath! But I do believe it has received funding and it is in the process of being worked on. I think in the late 90s, the monument was simply closed and it just sat there. Then somebody stole the old iron(?) doors that was on the monument.....

Jay

 

[poison ivy]

Thanks everyone! It's not the monument that I'm worried about so much as the actual highpoint marker being fenced off. I've already missed the NJ highpoint once (due to an ice storm) and don't want to head over there again to find out I can't check this one off my highpoint list.

I'll definitely send Shawn a pm and see if he knows more.

- Ivy

 

[Mohamed Ellozy]

I'll definitely send Shawn a pm and see if he knows more.

Please share what he tells you with us. I am thinking of a four day trip to bag a few county highpoints in the tri-state area.

 

[Jay H]

High Point would be the Sussex County. I know that the high points in Morris County is in Mahlon Dickerson, which you can moutain bike to or hike to. Monmouth County high point is in Hartshorne woods which you can hike too (it's slightly off trail, but you can bike that too).

Passaic County's high point needs a permit but is a hiking highpoint.

I'm not a highpointer by any means but I happen to pass by alot of them. I know the one in Morris County is actually marked as the highest point in Morris County.

Not sure where Bergen County's highpoint is though, I'm sure that cohp.com can show that too...

Jay

 

[snowshoe]

Sawmill is the way to go. All the private ones are no good. The campsites are very nice and far apart. You can get sites on the lake or away from everyone. All the sites are wooded and some have platforms. They suround the lake and have only flush toilets. If you want showers you need to go to the beach area. But that is open from labor day to mem day. The fee is $15 night and you can reserve but it has to be for 2 nights. If you go during the week no need to reserve. Weekends reserve a week before because they do fill up quick. I think sawmill campsites are the one of the best campsites around and I am not saying that because I work at the park There are also campsites next door to High Point SP at Stokes SF but you want get a remote feeling like you would at High Point.

When do you plan on going? I will be working at Highpoint until the end of Aug and then I will be at Vorhees SP. Maybe if I am off that day or working I can show you some great hikes. Especially since I live 5 minutes away. The monument itself is closed for restoration but you can still bag the peak. As long as you stand at th base of the monument where there is no fence you will be on the highest point. If you go on the rocks You will see a BM in the rocks that is really the only marker other than the monument itself. By the way the monument will be open next Spring but work will be done by fall. I personally think the views from the top of the monument are no good due to the very small dirty windows you have to look out at. They limit you view. The base is the best area to view because you get a 360 degree view.

As far as hiking you can start at the campsites. Go to the Blue dot trail by site 15. Take this up to the AT. Then make a left on the AT and take that to park office and across rt 23. Eventually you will come to the observation patform. Just past this you will hook up with the red/green marked monument trail. Take this straight and head up to the Monument. From there you can do the monument loop and then head back the same way. Another option and shorter is to start on the monument trail and do this loop but add the cedar swamp trail loop with it. It is the highest elavation swamp of its kind because it has White cedar trees and Spruce in it and the cedar trees are very rare for this area. If you have time visite Stokes SF next door. They have some grat hiking as well. Hope this helps some. Send me an e-mail if you need more info.
SHawn

 

[poison ivy]

Thanks so much for all the information Shawn!

- Ivy