High Mountain Wilderness Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

High Mountain Wilderness Park is a 1,260-acre natural area located in Wayne, New Jersey.


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Summary

It offers visitors a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and explore a serene and beautiful natural habitat. The park has a lot to offer, including hiking trails, scenic views, and wildlife viewing opportunities.

One of the main reasons to visit High Mountain Wilderness Park is to hike the many trails that wind through the park. There are over 10 miles of trails that range in difficulty from easy to moderate. Some of the more popular trails include the Red Trail, which takes hikers to the top of High Mountain, and the Yellow Trail, which offers scenic views of the surrounding area.

In addition to hiking, High Mountain Wilderness Park is also a great place to go birdwatching and wildlife spotting. The park is home to a variety of species, including red-tailed hawks, woodpeckers, and wild turkeys. Visitors may also see deer and other small mammals as they explore the park.

Interesting facts about High Mountain Wilderness Park include that it was originally part of the Pompton Plains Moraine, a large glacial deposit that covers much of northern New Jersey. The park is also home to several historic sites, including the Van Orden House, which dates back to the late 1700s.

The best time of year to visit High Mountain Wilderness Park is in the spring, summer, and fall when the weather is mild and the foliage is at its most vibrant. Visitors should also be aware that the park is closed during the winter months due to snow and ice.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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