High Mountain Park Preserve
Encyclopedia
High Mountain Park Preserve is a protected area of the Preakness Range
of the Watchung Mountains
in Wayne, New Jersey
, United States. Established in 1993, it comprises 1153 acres (5 km²) of woodlands and wetlands owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy
.
It is one of the largest tracts of conserved land in northern New Jersey. It serves to protect nine ecological communities harboring 380 plant species, 18 of which are rare. Some of the globally imperiled plants found in the area include Torrey's mountain mint (Pycnanthemum torrei) and basil-leaved mountain mint (Pycnanthemum clinopodioides), which, along with narrow-leaved vervain (Verbena simplex), are also classified as endangered by the state. Hazel dodder (Cuscuta coryli), declared imperiled by the state, has been recorded as well.
The preserve contains geological points of interest, including a rare traprock basalt
glade and rock shelters which have been determined to be sites of prehistoric human habitation. During the American Revolution
, high points along the ridge were used as signaling posts. Hiking trails are maintained by the New York - New Jersey Trail Conference
. The summit of High Mountain provides a spectacular view of New York City
.
High Mountain Park Preserve welcomes visitors but prohibits fishing, hunting, trapping, collecting, motor vehicles, aircraft, horses and unleashed pets, camping, fires, firearms, rock climbing, spelunking
, and feeding of wild animals.
Preakness Range
The Preakness Range is a range of the trap rock Watchung Mountains on the western edge of the Newark Basin in northern New Jersey. A large portion of this range is included in High Mountain Park Preserve, offering miles of hiking trails with vistas overlooking New Jersey and New York City...
of the Watchung Mountains
Watchung Mountains
The Watchung Mountains are a group of three long low ridges of volcanic origin, between 400 ft. and 500 ft. high, lying parallel to each other in northern New Jersey in the United States...
in Wayne, New Jersey
Wayne, New Jersey
Wayne is a Township in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States, located less than from midtown Manhattan. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township had a total population of 54,069....
, United States. Established in 1993, it comprises 1153 acres (5 km²) of woodlands and wetlands owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is a US charitable environmental organization that works to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive....
.
It is one of the largest tracts of conserved land in northern New Jersey. It serves to protect nine ecological communities harboring 380 plant species, 18 of which are rare. Some of the globally imperiled plants found in the area include Torrey's mountain mint (Pycnanthemum torrei) and basil-leaved mountain mint (Pycnanthemum clinopodioides), which, along with narrow-leaved vervain (Verbena simplex), are also classified as endangered by the state. Hazel dodder (Cuscuta coryli), declared imperiled by the state, has been recorded as well.
The preserve contains geological points of interest, including a rare traprock basalt
Basalt
Basalt is a common extrusive volcanic rock. It is usually grey to black and fine-grained due to rapid cooling of lava at the surface of a planet. It may be porphyritic containing larger crystals in a fine matrix, or vesicular, or frothy scoria. Unweathered basalt is black or grey...
glade and rock shelters which have been determined to be sites of prehistoric human habitation. During the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, high points along the ridge were used as signaling posts. Hiking trails are maintained by the New York - New Jersey Trail Conference
New York - New Jersey Trail Conference
The New York – New Jersey Trail Conference is a federation of approximately 10,000 individual members and about 100 member organizations...
. The summit of High Mountain provides a spectacular view of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
High Mountain Park Preserve welcomes visitors but prohibits fishing, hunting, trapping, collecting, motor vehicles, aircraft, horses and unleashed pets, camping, fires, firearms, rock climbing, spelunking
Caving
Caving—also occasionally known as spelunking in the United States and potholing in the United Kingdom—is the recreational pastime of exploring wild cave systems...
, and feeding of wild animals.