Historic Happenings Blog

Earth Day Celebration Apr 25 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm Come celebrate Earth Day at High Point State Park on Saturday, April 25 10:00-11:15 am Yoga on the Mountain (indoors: rain or shine) 11:30 am- 2:00 pm Poetry Walk (outdoors: cancelled in case of rain) Come enjoy the beautiful views of High Point State Park while reading poetry outside. What a great way to celebrate Earth Day! Nature related poems, by various famous poets, will be posted around the trees outside the Park Interpretive Center. Poetry for children will be placed on blankets for families to sit and enjoy together. Read as many or as few poems as you want, and at your own pace.

Saturday, January 25 - Montague Township, Sussex County Winter Festival Bring the whole family for a day of winter fun at High Point State Park. Activities will include winter-themed crafts, a story corner, guided winter hike, sing-along, hot cocoa and cookies by the fire, winter weather program, sled dogs, curling, snowshoeing, and ice-fishing demonstrations (conditions permitting). Please park in the gravel lot and walk up to the Interpretive Center. The New Jersey Dog Sled Club will attend and present an education program and sled dog demonstration. The Plainfield Curling club will share their love of curling on Lake Marcia so be sure to stop by for a demonstration and to try out the sport for yourself.    Interpretive Center: Bird Feeder & Winter Themed Crafts for Children Cookies, Hot Cocoa, and Beignets by the Fireplace Storytime & Sing-Along Guided Winter Hike Winter Weather Talk with Nick Stefano Snowshoeing* New Jersey Sled Dog Club Education Program ...

Thursday Trekkers: Iris Trail WHEN: November 14, 2019 @ 10:30 am – 12:30 pm WHERE: High Point State Park 1480 NJ-23 Sussex, NJ 07461 USA COST: Suggested Donation of $5 per Participant CONTACT: Friends of High Point State Park 973-875-1471 The Friends of High Point State Park invites you to join Volunteer April Oleksy to hike & explore the Iris Trail. The trail itself is approximately 4.5 miles long down and back, but we will be hiking to Lake Rutherford and back making it approximately a 3 1/2 mile hike that will take about 2 hours. The trail consists of rocky uneven ground and is a multi-use trail. Hike may be cancelled in the event of inclement weather. Parking is available at the Appalachian Trail parking lot. Meet at the trail head and don’t forget to bring water. If you have any questions please call the park office @ 973-875-4800. This hike is Sponsored by the Friends of High Point State Park *Suggested Donation of $5 per Participant Appreciated

Open Hearth Cooking Demonstration WHEN: October 26, 2019 @ 11:00 am – 3:00 pm WHERE: High Point State Park 1480 NJ-23 Sussex, NJ 07461 USA COST: $5 donation or more per family appreciated CONTACT: Friends of High Point State Park 973-875-1471 Join the Friends of High Point State Park for a demonstration of open-hearth cooking on the Interpretive Center fireplace. Autumn is a beautiful season to be at High Point State Park.  Enjoy a walk on your favorite trail and then come sample some delicious soups, and sweet desserts all cooked on the fire.

Fall Into Autumn Bicycle Ride WHEN: October 13, 2019 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 pm WHERE: High Point State Park 1480 NJ-23 Sussex, NJ 07461 USA COST: Donation of $5 per participant appreciated CONTACT:  Rob Oleksy, Friends of High Point State Park  973-875-1471 Fall Into Autumn Bicycle Tour with Friends of High Point State Park volunteer Rob Oleksy. Come enjoy the beauty of autumn at High Point State Park. Bring your own bicycle for a lovely ride to view emerging fall foliage. Our route will take us on an 8-mile loop along Sawmill and Park Ridge roads. We will make a few shorts stops along the way to view points of interest and to enjoy a quick snack. The bike ride is suitable for ages 14 – adult. Helmets are required. Please bring your own bicycle, helmet, snacks, and water. Meet at the Sawmill Lake parking area on Sawmill Lake Road. Please email Rob at rthawk@ptd.net for more information. Donation of $5 per participant greatly appreciated.

Thursday Trekkers: Monument Trail WHEN: October 10, 2019 @ 10:30 am – 12:30 pm WHERE: High Point State Park 1480 NJ-23 Sussex, NJ 07461 USA COST: Suggested Donation of $5 per Participant CONTACT: Friends of High Point State Park 973-875-1471 The Friends of High Point State Park invites you to join Volunteer April Oleksy to hike & explore The Monument Trail. This trail offers some of the best views in the park, extending along top of the mountain ridges almost to the New York border. Constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the late 1930’s, sets of stone stairs and borders display their workmanship. This will be a loop hike covering about 3.5 miles round-trip on the red & green trails. The terrain ranges from moderate to difficult and the trail surface at times is rocky, uneven, and has some steep climbs so sturdy footwear is recommended. We will be meeting at the Interpretive Center Parking Area make sure you bring water. Hike may be cancelled in the event of inclement...

Yoga on the Mountain WHEN: October 5, 2019 @ 10:45 am – 12:00 pm WHERE: High Point State Park 1480 NJ-23 Sussex, NJ 07461 USA COST: $5 donation appreciated CONTACT: Friends of High Point State Park 973-875-1471 YogaOnTheMountainCome enjoy the beautiful view, and restore your body and mind, while connecting with nature. Adults and mature teens, ages 14 and older, with all levels of experience are invited to participate. Bring your own yoga mat, and reusable bottle of water. A suggested donation of $5 or more per yoga class participant is appreciated. Registration is recommended, but walk-ins are welcome. Please call 973-702-0488 for additional information and to register.

Yoga on the Mountain – Chair Yoga WHEN: September 14, 2019 @ 11:00 am – 12:15 pm WHERE: High Point State Park 1480 NJ-23 Sussex, NJ 07461 USA COST: $5 donation appreciated CONTACT: Friends of High Point State Park 973-875-1471 Come enjoy the beautiful view, and restore your body and mind, while connecting with nature. Adults and mature teens, ages 14 and older, with all levels of experience, are invited to participate. Bring your own yoga mat, and a reusable bottle of water. A suggested donation of $5 or more per yoga class participant is appreciated. Registration is recommended, but walk-ins are welcome. Please call 973-702-0488 for additional information and to register. This event may be outside if the weather is nice.  It will be held inside if the weather doesn’t cooperate.

Thursday Trekkers: Shawangunk Ridge Trail WHEN: September 12, 2019 @ 10:30 am – 12:30 pm WHERE: High Point State Park 1480 NJ-23 Sussex, NJ 07461 USA COST: Suggested Donation of $5 per Participant CONTACT: Friends of High Point State Park 973-875-1471 The Friends of High Point State Park invites you to join Volunteer April Oleksy to hike & explore The Shawangunk Ridge Trail. This is a moderate to difficult trail with variable rocky, steep & narrow trail surfaces so sturdy footwear is recommended. The 71-mile Shawangunk Ridge Trail begins at the Monument Trail, branches off to meet a portion of the Cedar Swamp Trail, intersects again briefly with the Monument Trail, and then heads towards to New York, continuing along the ridge and ending in the Mohonk Preserve.  We will be meeting at the Interpretive Center Parking Area make sure you bring water. We will be hiking parts of the Monument Trail & the  Cedar Swamp Trail as well looping around hiking for approximately a...

Saturday, September 7 – Sussex County Bait and Boat Festival  is coming on Saturday, September 7th from 1:00-5:00. (There is no rain date.) All the lakes at High Point State Park are safe and free of the algae bloom. Hurray! Below is the schedule for the day. We always greatly appreciate those of you who offer others the use of your boats! The park supplies the fire ring, firewood, 2 tables, 6 chairs, and water for boat washing.  You may want to bring food and drinks for yourself, and your own cozy camp chair, if you have a favorite. The concession stand was not open for the concerts and may not be again. We hope you can come to enjoy the fun! See you on the mountain!  Bait and Boat Festival  Saturday, Sept. 7th     1:00 Fishing Contest, Crafts, Sand Castle Contest, and Boating begins 2:00 Boat Race 3:00 Pond Study or Paddle by Park Interpreter 4:00 Campfire begins and Crafts End 4:30 Boating, fishing, sandcastle cont...

Saturday, May 4 – Sussex County Annual Lake Clean Up, Saturday, May 4 from 1-4PM     This year we're sending out a special call for volunteers! The Township of Montague will be sponsoring our Annual Lake Marcia Clean Up event at High Point State Park through the NJ Clean Communities program.  This program will turn our annual event into a fundraiser! The Township will pay the Friends $12 per person, per hour. If 25 volunteers clean-up for 4 hours, it will generate $1200 for the Friends of High Point State Park! It is funds like this that help pay for our concerts, yoga instructors, and other activities throughout the year.      All are welcome to come help raise money for the Friends of High Point State Park by joining us for this event.  Meet on the Beach of Lake Marcia at High Point State Park. Wear waterproof boots or waders if you have them and clothes that can get dirty. We will be cleaning around the perimeter of the 3 lakes w...

Saturday, January 26 – Sussex County @ 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm (snow date: Sunday, January 27) Winter Festival      Join us in celebrating winter with such activities as snowshoeing, hiking, crafts for kids, sing along and storytelling by the fire, and a weather presentation. Demonstrations of ice fishing on the lake, dog sled team, and curling. Refreshments will be served.     A donation of $5.00 per person is suggested to help cover the costs associated with running these events. High Point State Park, 1480 NJ-23, Sussex, NJ 07461. Friends of High Point State Park 973-875-1471