One
of the most prominent geographical features of Northern New Jersey are the Kittatinny Mountains part of the famed Appalachian
Chain. Its foothills are called the NJ Highlands, composed of the Pohchuck, Wawayanda, Bearfort, and Ramapo Ridges. The Ramapo
Ridge is home to the densest forests in North America. Between the Kittatinny Mountains and the Highlands lies the Kittatinny
Valley.
The Ridge and Valley region are also called the NJ Skylands. This
section of the state is dotted with many lake towns that include Budd Lake, Lake Mohawk, Lake Hiawatha, Swartswood Lake, and
Lake Hopatcong, which is the largest. The area is also known for its many rivers, horse ranches, dairy farms, and ski resorts.
In the Northeast 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 very most Northeast border of the state is bounded
by the Palisades ridge that overlooks the Hudson River.
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 it is the most scenic parts, and
one of the few times they encountered a black bear.
