New Jersey's Most Scenic Drive: The Skylands Loop Through Mountains, Valleys, and History

The Skylands Region (NW New Jersey) offers the state's most spectacular driving tour. A curated 150-mile loop:

Sussex County – High Point & Kittatinny Ridge

• High Point State Park – NJ's highest elevation (1,803 ft); monument, lake, Appalachian Trail access.
• Stokes State Forest – Tillman Ravine, Sunrise Mountain vistas.

Warren County – Delaware River Valley

• Delaware Water Gap NRA – River, waterfalls (Buttermilk Falls), hiking.
• Phillipsburg & Belvidere – Historic river towns; RR museums.
• Worthington State Forest – Campsites, river access.

Morris County – Highlands & History

• Great Falls of Paterson – 77-ft urban waterfall; industrial history (S.U.M.).
• Morristown – Washington's HQ, Ford Mansion, charming green.
• Mendham/Chester – Quaint villages, antique shops, farms.

Hunterdon County – Rolling Hills & Hamlets

• Sourland Mountain Preserve – Hiking, bouldering, vistas.
• Flemington – County seat; historic courthouse, outlet shopping.
• Round Valley Reservoir – Deep, clear; fishing, kayaking.

Best seasons: October (foliage), May (wildflowers), December (holiday lights in towns). Avoid summer weekends (traffic). Use NJ 23, 94, 57, 513, 519, 523—scenic byways, not interstates.