The most
prominent geographical features of Northern New Jersey are the Kittatinny Mountains, and its foothills of the NJ
Highlands, composed of the Pohchuck, Wawayanda, Bearfort, and Ramapo Ridges. These mountains are home to some of the most
dense hardwood forests North America. Between the Kittatinny Mountains and the Highlands lies the Kittatinny Valley.
The Ridge and Valley region are also called the NJ Skylands. The area is known for its many rivers, horse ranches, dairy farms,
and ski resorts.
In the central north part of the state are the Watchung Mountains composed of three separate ridges
called the Orange Ridge, the Prekness Ridge, and the Long Hill Ridge. The Palisades ridge that overlooks the Hudson River
is located at the very most Northeast border of the state.
Seventy-two miles of the Appalachian Trail lay in the Northwest
corner of New Jersey. The trail enters the state as it crosses the Delaware Water Gap, near Dunnfield Creek and Mt. Tammany.
On its way along the Kittatinny Ridge, it runs through Worthington State Forest, where it passes by Sunfish Pond and Crater
Lake. It then goes through Stokes State Forest as it crosses through Sunrise Mountain and continues upward and northeast along
the Kittatinny Ridge for about 40 miles. The Kittatinny Valley (also called the Limestone Valley) lies almost directly to
the east of the trail while the Delaware Water Gap lies to its west.
At High Point State Park (1803 feet), the Appalachian
Trail turns eastward and runs through the Kittatinnny Valley, the Pohchuck, Wawayanda, and Bearfort Ridges as it roughly parallels
the NY State boundary. It goes northward into NY near Greenwood Lake.
Many hikers along the trail have commented that
the New Jersey portion was one of the most scenic parts, and one of the few times they encountered a black bear. This section
of the state is dotted with many lake towns that include Budd Lake, Lake Mohawk, Lake Hiawatha, Swartswood Lake, and Lake
Hopatcong. Avid hikers who are new to the area can find houses for sale and apartments for rent in New Jersey near the Appalachian
Trail for great hiking opportunities.
