High Point

5.6 miles, 1,539 ft of climbing, 5.2% average grade.

The season opens at the top of New Jersey. The High Point Hill Climb runs up Route 23 through High Point State Park to the foot of the state's highest summit, a rolling, punchy opener where the grade never settles into a rhythm and the short steep pitches sting more than the profile suggests.

Highlights

• The first points of the BUMPS season
• Rolling grade with short, sharp pitches, nothing like a steady grind
• Long views into New York and Pennsylvania near the top
• The High Point Monument, a 220-foot war-memorial obelisk, marks the summit above the finish

Must Know

• It's early May in the mountains of New Jersey: start-line temperatures can be anywhere from frost to summer.
• The course rolls, pace it like a time trial, not a wall.
• Registration is through Skylands Cycling; check their site for the current signup link.

Lodging

Montague itself is small. Port Jervis, NY (10 minutes) has the closest motels and food; Milford, PA (15 minutes) is the charming option across the Delaware.

Food & Views

• Milford, PA's small-town main street is the best post-race meal nearby
• The summit monument grounds make a good picnic spot if the weather cooperates
• Views: the obelisk observation deck, when open, sees three states

Nearby Routes

• Road: Old Mine Road along the Delaware River is one of the oldest roads in the country and nearly car-free
• Gravel: Stokes State Forest and the ridge roads south of the park
• Hike: The Appalachian Trail crosses Route 23 at the park entrance
• MTB: High Point's cross-country ski network opens to bikes in summer

Resources

• PJAMM climb profile
• Skylands Cycling, the organizing club