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.

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...

Monday, May 20 – Sussex County    DAR Chinkchewunska Chapter presents "Maple Madness" on Monday, May 20 at 6 p.m. at DAR VanBunschooten Museum, 1097 Route 23, Wantage.      Members of the public are invited to a free program, "Maple Madness" at the DAR Van Bunschooten Museum in Wantage. Come learn from Frank Henion about how the Native Americans first learned about sugar in maple sap and how they then taught early settlers. Then he moves on to the American Revolution when Maple Sugaring became popular in the North because of the ports blocked by the British. He comes to more recent times with his family's first attempt in 1956, followed up with how Lusscroft Farm produces maple syrup on a historic farm today.   Refreshments will be served after the program.  The museum is open on the 2nd & 4th Sunday of each month (May - October) from 1-4. 

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