| Many of you may have never heard of the | | | | with other rail lines. The Lehigh Valley Railroad |
| Highlands before. It is that beautiful, breathtaking | | | | transported anthracite coal – cleaner, |
| part of New Jersey that lies about an hour from | | | | "smoke-free" soft coal – from Pennsylvania to |
| Philadelphia and about 40 minutes from New York | | | | the New York harbor markets. This coal became |
| City. It stretches from Phillipsburg New Jersey on | | | | the new railroad fuel as well as the fuel for New |
| the Delaware River to beautiful Mahwah, Bergen | | | | Jersey's growing industries in Paterson and |
| County. | | | | Newark. |
| You may have even driven through it on you | | | | |
| way to Philadelphia or New York City or New | | | | Different Types of People Pass Through |
| York State. I guess it shouldn't surprise those that | | | | From the native Americans to early Dutch |
| live in this rural, historic and pristine part of New | | | | settlers |
| Jersey – it seems like everything else passes | | | | The Lenni-Lenape inhabited New Jersey long |
| through! | | | | before the first settlers arrived. They lived off |
| | | | | the land and therefore traveled with the seasons. |
| Mother Nature Passes Throughpassing through | | | | In the spring they planted gardens around their |
| with the Appalachian Trail, the Highlands and the | | | | permanent settlements. In the summer, they |
| Atlantic Flyway. | | | | went to the shore to catch oysters and clams. In |
| Our location on the Atlantic flyway makes the | | | | the fall, they would move back to their village and |
| Highlands one of the best wildlife viewing areas in | | | | harvest their crops. In the winter, they hunted |
| the State of New Jersey. In general New Jersey | | | | deer and other animals. The Lenni-Lenape were |
| boasts the highest density of wildlife per square | | | | organized into three subtribes. In the north, the |
| mile of any state in the nation. New Jersey, the | | | | subtribe was known as Minsi "the people of the |
| fourth smallest state, hosts over 325 birds | | | | stony country". Many of the trails established by |
| species, 90 mammal species, 79 reptile and | | | | the Lenni Lenape to travel back and forth would |
| amphibian species and over 400 species of fish in | | | | become the early highway system for the |
| its 8,722 square miles. | | | | settlers. |
| The Appalachian Trail goes through 14 states, | | | | Other historic roads include Old Mine Road which |
| from Georgia to Maine. In New Jersey 74 miles of | | | | runs from New Jersey to New York and thought |
| the trail passes through – from the Delaware | | | | to be the oldest continuously-used road in the |
| Water Gap, passing Sunfish Pond, following the | | | | United States. At a length of 104 miles, it |
| Kittatinny Ridge and then passing through High | | | | stretches from the Delaware Water Gap National |
| Point and Wawayanda State Parks. | | | | Recreation Area to Kingston, New York. The road |
| Part of the Appalachian Trail is the Highlands | | | | follows the Delaware River through the western |
| Region – 88 municipalities and nearly 860,000 | | | | edge of Sussex and Warren Counties. |
| acres of forested ridges, rolling farmlands, diverse | | | | It is believed that Dutch miners began |
| recreation, abundant wildlife and historic treasures. | | | | construction of the road in the 1600s in order to |
| | | | | transport copper ore from mines along the |
| History Passes Through | | | | Delaware River to Esopus (now Kingston) along |
| From the soldiers that fought in the revolution to | | | | the Hudson River in Dutch colony of New |
| the transportation methods that fueled the | | | | Amsterdam. Starting in the late 1600s, Dutch |
| industrial revolution! | | | | settlement began along the course of the road. |
| Hessians and the Continental army scurried back | | | | The road exists today, in New Jersey is largely |
| and forth across the counties and what has | | | | undeveloped. As it travels through the Delaware |
| become known as the Crossroads of the | | | | Water Gap National Recreation Area, it still retains |
| American Revolution. Washington's troops spent | | | | much of its historical and rural charm. |
| two harsh winters in the hills of Morristown. The | | | | Old York Road (the King's Highway) was built in |
| strategic location afforded him proximity to New | | | | the 18th century to connect Philadelphia, |
| York City, defensible terrain, important | | | | Pennsylvania with New York City, New York. By |
| communication routes and access to critical | | | | stage coach one could make it from one city to |
| resources. | | | | the other in two days. Old York Road began at |
| Iron ore found in the region fueled the army with | | | | Coryell's Ferry in Lambertville. The original route |
| ammunition during the Revolution War. After the | | | | followed Main Street to York Street and briefly |
| war the mining of iron ore spurred growth of | | | | joined up with Route 179, the modern Old York |
| many towns. While mining began in the early | | | | Road. From there it traveled to Centerville, |
| 1700's, after the Revolutionary War it flourished. | | | | Hunterdon County, so named because of its |
| As markets opened ways to transport the iron | | | | position between Philadelphia and New York, which |
| ore developed. | | | | made it a resting place for the coaches. Old York |
| In 1820 Morristown businessman George P. | | | | road also travels through Somerville, Bridgewater |
| McCullough conceived the idea of the Morris Canal. | | | | and Bound Brook in the Highlands. |
| The canal went from Phillipsburg to Jersey City, | | | | |
| transporting coal from Pennsylvania as well as iron | | | | Traveling Through Today |
| ore and other goods across northern New Jersey | | | | Plan your trip to the Highlands Region today and |
| through a series of water turbine powered inclined | | | | enjoy some of the following activities. |
| plane, locks and aqueducts. The Morris Canal | | | | Explore the NJ Audubon Skylands Wildlife Viewing |
| stretched 102 miles overcoming an elevation | | | | Trails which include Hunterdon, Warren and |
| change of 914 feet, powered by water from | | | | Sussex Counties. For more information visit and |
| Lake Hopatcong and Greenwood Lake. | | | | click on Skylands Trails. |
| In 1830 the D&R Canal was constructed. | | | | Take the Wine Trail from Sussex to Warren, |
| This traveled from Bordentown to New | | | | including stops at Four Sisters' Winery, Alba |
| Brunswick, passing through what is today | | | | Vineyard and New Jerseys' only organic vineyard, |
| Somerset County. The canal operated until 1932, | | | | - Villa Milagro Vineyard. |
| being overcome by the speed with which the | | | | Visit some of the old furnaces and museums |
| railroads could transport goods. | | | | related to the Iron Ore industry. Franklin Mineral |
| During the time of the Morris Canal and the | | | | Museum, Sterling Mining Museum and Oxford |
| Railroads Phillipsburg was a transportation hub. Five | | | | Furnace and Shippen Manor are great places to |
| lines ran to or through Phillipsburg as well as three | | | | visit if you are a history buff or a teacher with |
| canals converging on the Delaware River – the | | | | a group of children eager to learn, or just see |
| Morris Canal on the New Jersey side and two | | | | some really cool stuff! |
| other canals across from it's riverbank in Easton, | | | | Learn about the Morris Canal. Visit some stops on |
| PA. | | | | the Warren County Morris Canal Greenway, or |
| The Central Railroad of New Jersey's main line ran | | | | McCullough Hall in Morristown, home of George P. |
| from Jersey City west through Phillipsburg and | | | | McCullough |
| across the Delaware River to Scranton, | | | | |
| Pennsylvania. Branches also stretched into | | | | Hiking and Biking Trails |
| southern New Jersey to Delaware Bay. The | | | | Lastly, maybe you want to skirt the Highlands as |
| Lehigh and Hudson River Railway ran | | | | opposed to driving to or driving through. Perhaps |
| northeast-southwest across northwestern New | | | | by another type of vehicle than a car. You can |
| Jersey, connecting the line to the Poughkeepsie | | | | raft, tube, kayak or canoe down the Delaware. |
| Bridge, NY with Easton, PA, where it interchanged | | | | |