The highest point in New Jersey is a mere 1803 feet high...and is marked with an obelisk in a beautiful park with lake and campgrounds. The Appalachian Trail has a trailhead adjacent to the Park's Ranger Station. About 1/4 mile down the road is a parking lot for hikers... and there is a short trail there that also leads to the Appalachian Trail. No long-term parking at the Ranger Station!
See the Park's website at (
visit link) which informs us:
"Appalachian Trail
To the south, the Appalachian Trail follows a rocky ridge which offers many scenic views of the valleys and mountains surrounding the area. To the north, the trail drops off the ridge through hemlock gorges into former agricultural fields with a view of the surrounding countryside and the High Point Monument in the distance."
This website about the Appalachian Trail in New Jersey (
visit link) has a map of this length of the trail and shows it passing the High Point Monument.
The entire length of the Appalachian Trail is 2,179 miles, 72.2 miles of it in New Jersey.
Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a lot of information online about cross-country skiing on the trail. The sign for the trailhead shows that cross-country skiing is one of the three permitted uses including hiking and wildlife viewing. The High Point Park's website (
visit link) does indicate that...
"With over 50 miles of trails, High Point State Park offers visitors a variety of trail options throughout the year, Designated multiple-use trails are available for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, dogsledding and snowmobiling." and
"Winter months find cross-country skiers on the 15 km of groomed trails in the park. Half of the trails are covered by artificial snow. Cross-country skis and other winter sports equipment are available for rent. A blazing fire, hot soup and other hearty food greet visitors at the center on Lake Marcia. For information, call (973) 702-1222."
But those are not necessarily just on the Appalachian Trail.
This website (
visit link) informs us that the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) organizes hiking and cross country ski outings, and that the organiztion "... has been around since 1876, now maintains and protects more than 1,500 miles of trails in the Northeast, including 350 miles of the Appalachian Trail. The AMC offers more than 8,000 trips a year -- including some free guided hikes -- has nearly 90,000 members in 12 chapters, and 20,00 volunteers who help maintain and protect the trails that flow through America's Northeastern mountains and alongside rivers."
Coordinates below for parking are actually for this waymark... parking is available about 1/4 mile before reaching this trailhead. (Unfortunately I did not get parking coordinates.) Also, trail difficulty is unknown..ignore the 3 below.