The rural hills where Warren County meet Hunterdon County
Here is the secret to a great backroads drive:
When the road gives you a choice, head up.
Up, toward the hill crest is where the pavement curves and narrows and switches back, winding its way to the top.
Up is where the scenic vistas are, the valleys below and the neighboring mountains.
Up is where natures thrives, in parks and farms, and the sun brings out the verdant greens of spring and summer, the abundant colors of fall, and the harsh gray outlines of barren winter.
New Jersey is the land of the Palisdades, the Watchungs, the Kittattinnys, Sourland Mountain, itself a long ridge.
Some names come from Native tongues. Allamuchy. Wawayanda. Some come from the ancient book. Mount Bethel. Mount Hebron.
They are part of our vernacular, and part of our history, ready to be explored.
Today's photos come from just a small piece of our mountainous geography, a place where Warren County meets Hunterdon, a place where Point Mountain rises above the Musconetcong Valley, and Mount Lebanon climbs just to south.
It's the New Jersey only those willing to get lost can find.
Mark Di Ionno may be reached at mdiionno@starledger.com. Follow The Star-Ledger on Twitter @StarLedger and find us on Facebook.