New Jersey's Best State Parks

High Point State Park (Sussex)
Located in the extreme northwest corner of New Jersey, High Point State Park lies along the Kittatinny Mountains in Sussex County and extends to the New York state line, joining Stokes State Forest to the south. The surrounding rugged terrain of the Kittatinny Mountains and the colder temperatures make High Point State Park an ideal place for winter activities. Cross country skiing, snowmobiling and dogsledding are common on weekends. High Point also offers superb trails, including the section of the Appalachian Trail, for hikers of various skill levels and quiet spots for campers and fishermen.

The historic High Point Monument, at 1,803 feet above sea level, dominates the park’s summit. The monument stands as a memorial to New Jersey’s wartime heroes and, from its 220-foot height, you can take in an amazing panoramic view of this more than 14,000-acre park, including the surrounding mountains and countrysides of three states. The park’s natural beauty includes the clear waters of Lake Marcia, winding trails, rich forestland and the more than 800 acres of the Dryden Kuser Natural Area.

The Dryden Kuser Natural Area was dedicated in 1965 and named for New Jersey state senator and conservationist Dryden Kuser. The natural area includes a distinctive bog. A hiking trail along a ridge overlooking the cedar swamp circles the area, which is rich with mature hemlocks, white pine and an unusual stand of mature southern white-cedar not normally found at the 1,500-foot elevation of the bog.

The land for High Point State Park, donated by Colonel Anthony R. and Susie Dryden Kuser, was dedicated as a park in 1923. The landscaping was designed by the Olmsted Brothers of Boston, a prominent landscape architectural firm of that time. The brothers were the sons of Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed Central Park.

High Point Monument—The monument was built through the generosity of the Kusers. Construction was started in 1928 and completed in 1930. At the top of the 220-foot structure, observers have a breathtaking view of the ridges of the Pocono Mountains toward the west, the Catskill Mountains to the north and the Wallkill River Valley in the southeast.

Lake Marcia—The spring-fed, 20-acre natural lake is a cool and refreshing for swimmers. The beach is protected by lifeguards and there is a bathhouse and food concession adjacent to the beach.

High Point Cross-Country Ski Center—Winter months find cross-country skiers on the 15 kilometers of groomed trails in the park. Half of the trails are covered by artificial snow. Cross-country skis and other winter equipment are available for rent. A fireplace, hot soup and other hearty food greet visitors at the center on Lake Marcia.

Location: High Point State Park is located northwest of the town of Sussex, where it is readily accessible from Rt. 23.

Island Beach State Park (Seaside Park)
Island Beach State Park is one of the few remaining undeveloped barrier beaches on the North Atlantic. Shaped by storms and tides, the park stretches 9 ½ miles between the Atlantic Ocean and Barnegat Bay. Although the park is a popular swimming and sunbathing spot, you’d miss quite a lot without venturing more than a few yards from the beach. While most visitors are familiar with the designated swimming areas centrally located in the park, Island Beach State Park also offers opportunities to explore sand dune, saltwater marsh, and freshwater bog habitats, as well as observe their respective plant and animal communities.

The best place to start exploring these natural areas is at the new park interpretive center, which is housed in a renovated historic Coast Guard building. Exhibits on the park’s history, wildlife, vegetation and maritime cycles are displayed, as well as a hands-on herbarium, which contains a complete set of flowers and plant life found throughout the park. In the summer, the staff conducts a variety of nature-related tours and activities, including bird walks; beach nature walks; seining demonstrations; and theme tours focusing on geology, history, plants and birds. Naturalist guided canoe and kayak trips take participants through tidal marsh where they can observe a wide variety of wildlife.

A quarter-mile walk from parking area A-20 takes you to Spizzle Creek Bird Blind. The blind overlooks a saltwater marsh. Artificial nesting platforms here and elsewhere in the state have helped the osprey population rebound form its former endangered species status. In total, Island Beach State Park has 22 nesting towers that support the largest concentration of active osprey nesting sites in New Jersey. Other birds you’re likely to spot here are the great blue heron, great egret, green heron, glossy ibis, black skimmer and cormorant.

Recreation Area—Nearly 10 miles of white sand beach afford swimmers sunbathers, fisherman and surfers a perfect place to recreate. Modern bathhouses, beach access ramps, historic buildings, bike and walking trails, a maritime interpretive facility and accessibility to the disabled are just a few of the park’s attributes that make it a popular site. The bay side of the island is a nutrient-rich feeding ground for birds, fish and other wildlife.

Island Beach Northern Natural Area and Southern Natural Area-With rolling sand dunes, salt-sculptured trees, lush green salt marshes and a rare dune woodland, these two natural areas encompass one of the few remaining barrier beaches in the northeast United States.

Location: Island Beach State Park is located off Exit 82 east of the Garden State Parkway. Take State 37 east, cross the bridge over Barnegat Bay, remaining in the right lanes, and follow signs to Island Beach State Park.

Wharton State Forest (Atlantic, Burlington and Camden Counties)
Wharton State Forest, which contains more than 110,000 acres located in the nationally-recognized Pine Barrens, offers visitors an opportunity to explore 500 miles of sandy roads and trails and canoe some the most popular rivers in this ecologically diverse area. Located in the western section of Wharton State Forest, Atsion Recreation Area is especially popular with families during the summer. It is one of two developed camping areas within the forest, which offers lake swimming, picnic facilities, a playground and more opportunities to explore Pine Barrens trails. Nine cabins, accommodating from four to eight people, are situated along the northern shore of the lake. A total of 50 tent and trailer sites are located within the park.

Wharton State Forest is well known to New Jersey residents, especially students and history buffs, as the home of Batsto Village, a former bog iron and glassmaking industrial center, which operated from 1766 to 1867. It features 33 historic building and structures, including Batsto Mansion, gristmill, sawmill, general store, workers’ homes and post office. The village interpretation reflects the agricultural and commercial enterprises of the late 19^th Century.

Joseph Wharton, a Philadelphia industrialist, purchased Batsto in 1876 and developed it into a gentleman’s farm. He continued to purchase properties in south Jersey with the intent of damming the rivers and streams and selling the water to Camden and Philadelphia, but his goal was never realized. Upon his death in 1909, the state purchased his landholdings, which totaled 96,000 acres.

Batona Trail—This 50-mile trail connects Wharton State Forest with Lebanon and Bass River State Forests. Bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, osprey, great blue heron, owls are just a few bird species that visitors can observed along the trail. Beaver, river otter, fox and deer are other wildlife that may also be seen.

Batsto Natural Area—This natural area is composed of two sections bordering the Batsto and Mullica rivers and contains several forest communities that are representative of the New Jersey Pine Barrens.

Oswego River Natural Area—Extensive white-cedar and pitch pine forests border the Oswego River. This freshwater wetlands is home to the rare bog asphodel, Pine Barrens boneset, curly grass fern and the Pine Barrens treefrog.

Location: Wharton State Forest is located about 20 miles northwest of Atlantic City and is accessible from the Atlantic City Expressway, the Garden State Parkway, and Rt. 30 and Rt. 206.

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