Western Highlands Scenic Byway

Story of the Byway

The Western Highlands Byway is a destination that anyone can visit no matter what time of year and are able to have a wonderful time. Since is it only 23 miles long, this Byway is able to be traveled in a short period of time while also allowing visitors to experience all that it has to offer. Visitors have the chance to experience the peace and tranquility of the area along this Byway. With plenty of hiking trails and parks along the way, the list of activities and sights to see are truly endless along this beautiful roadway. If Winter is your favorite season, this Byway can accommodate you in just as many ways! There are beautiful hiking trails still available in the winter and plenty of skiing options.

This Byway crosses directly through six miles of uninterrupted forest and and has some of the most gorgeous views of the Western Highlands. Visitors can experience these sights to their fullest potential by climbing Wawayanda Mountain on the “Stairway to Heaven” which brings you to one of the best views in the entire state, Pinwheel Vista. There are also plenty of campsites along the Byway, where visitors have the opportunity to hike, bike, fish, and much more. Wawayanda State Park is a highlight of the area which covers over 30,000 acres of land. Here visitors can experience activities galore with so many opportunities to enjoy nature in its purest form. Birding is also a very common activity at some of the locations along this Byway, with some of the most unique and beautiful birds and hawks that are present in the area.

The nature of the area would be enough to take a trip along this Scenic Byway, but there is plenty of history and culture that can be experienced here as well. There are many layers to the history of the area, with both Native Americans and the original European settlers having a presence in the area at some point. This history and culture can be captured through some of the many farms located along the Byway such as the Van Dokkenburg Farm which dates back all the way to 1820. Farming was a very important part of the economy of the area in the past, and to see some of the farms still intact from that long ago is truly a fascinating sight to see. What makes this land so historic and meaningful is how well it has been conserved and preserved throughout the years. Preservation dates to the 1890s when the area along the Byway was preserved with the creation of Wildlife Management Areas.

There truly is something for everybody along the Western Highlands Byway. Visitors have the opportunity to see the most beautiful sights of the Western Highlands in New Jersey. With recreational activities filling the area and history wove throughout, this Byway is the perfect place to spend a day or weekend with the family, or whomever, since there is something for everybody.