Sussex & Warren Counties
New Jersey Conservation Foundation's Kittatinny Ridge project area, about 60 miles west of New
York City, can be found in the Appalachian Ridge and Valley region
of New Jersey, an extension of the larger Shenandoah Valley area
extending from Alabama to New York.
The Kittatinny Ridge and Wallkill
Valley appeared hundreds of millions of years ago when soft limestone
and shale eroded from large mountains, leaving the hard quartz of
the Kittatinny Ridge above fertile valleys. The largely undeveloped
mountains, forest, meadows and wetlands range from New York’s Shawangunk
Mountains to the Delaware River. Stretching across the state’s northwest
border, the Kittatinny Ridge includes the highest elevation in New
Jersey at High Point State Park.
At 1803 feet above sea level, this spectacular view to the southeast
overlooks the rolling hills and fertile farmland of the Wallkill
A study in contrasts, the Kittatinny’s forested ridges provide
critical wildlife and plant habitat and fertile limestone soils
support productive farms. Limestone valleys, sandstone ridges and
shale hills have been created over the years. The U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service has recognized the region for its unusually diverse
plant communities, rich biodiversity and its role as an important
migratory corridor for bald eagles, peregrine falcons, bobcat, hummingbirds,
osprey, wood ducks, kingfishers and all owls, hawks and swallows.
Our work in the region has included the preservation of an 850-acre property which had been under intense
development pressure for 15 years. The project helped to expand
Swamp Wildlife Management Area. Other preservation projects
have preserved 55 acres of land along the Paulinskill River, enhanced
public trails and a protected greenway, and created a 272-acre nature
preserve in Hardwick Township.
In addition to valuable natural resource treasures, the region
offers spectacular views and unparalleled opportunities for hiking,
camping, swimming, hunting, fishing, skiing and more. Just a few
of the areas in the region worth exploring are the
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Stokes
State Forest and numerous New
Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife wildlife management areas.
To learn more about our preservation efforts in the Kittatinny
Ridge, please contact Ingrid Vandegaer, Regional Manager, at
or call 1-888-LAND-SAVE (1-888-526-3728).