Lakes in Rockaway Township and Rockaway Borough: Public Lakes and Private Lake Communities

Rockaway Township is lake country. Its neighborhoods grew up around lakes and ponds, from White Meadow Lake and Lake Telemark to Green Pond on the Township’s northern edge, while Park Lake sits right on the line with Rockaway Borough. But not every lake in Rockaway NJ is open to the public. Some are Township parks anyone can visit, some are state land, some are private lake communities for members only, and two sit behind the fence at Picatinny Arsenal.

This guide sorts the lakes in Rockaway NJ by who can use them. Rules, fees and seasons change, so check with the lake’s manager before you go. For more on why the lakes matter, see our Lakes Appreciation Month story.

Public lakes in Rockaway NJ

Park Lake (shared by the Borough and Township)

Park Lake is jointly owned and maintained by Rockaway Township and Rockaway Borough. The Township side, off Mount Hope Road, has Lombardo Park, the Rotary Memorial Gazebo and a 0.7-mile paved walking path; the gazebo hosts free summer concerts. The Borough side, at 165 Lakeside Drive, has docks, a lighted walking path, a playground and picnic tables. The beach is maintained by the Borough and open to members in summer, and Township residents can buy memberships through Rockaway Borough Recreation. Shoreline fishing is allowed outside the beach area, boats are not permitted on the Township side, ice fishing is not allowed, and the lake is monitored for public ice skating when conditions permit.

Mount Hope Pond (Rockaway Township)

Mount Hope Pond, on Burnt House Garden Road, is Rockaway Township’s resident swimming beach, with a parking area, picnic tables and seasonal beach badges for Township residents. Boating and shoreline fishing are allowed outside the beach area, and the Township says the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection stocks the pond. Badge prices, swim season dates and hours are in our Mount Hope Pond guide, which we update each spring.

Lake Ames (Rockaway Township)

Lake Ames is a Township park on Snake Hill Road, with parking and trails off that road, a walking trail around the lake and picnic tables. Boating, fishing and ice fishing are allowed. Swimming is not.

Egbert’s Lake Park (Rockaway Township)

Egbert’s Lake Park, 864 Green Pond Road, is a 72-acre open space park the Township opened in 2006 on the site of a former lake resort. A gravel path circles the lake, with benches and picnic shelters. Boating and fishing are allowed; swimming is not. The Township has held community walks there, like Move With The Mayor.

Splitrock Reservoir (state land)

Splitrock Reservoir, reached from 420 Splitrock Road, and the land around it are owned by the State of New Jersey. The public may fish and kayak only from the access area near the dam. Only car-top boats are allowed, with no gas motors, shoreline fishing is not permitted, and hiking is limited to marked trails. Neighboring Farny State Park has trails through mature oak forest along the reservoir. See our Split Rock Reservoir and Farny State Park guides for details.

Private lake communities: members only

Several of the Township’s best-known lakes are run by private associations. Their beaches, docks and clubhouses are for members, residents and their guests, not the general public.

White Meadow Lake

White Meadow Lake is the Township’s most populous lake community, with 8,710 residents in the 2020 Census. The lake is managed by the White Meadow Lake Property Owners Association, and its rules say no one may boat or swim without a current POA membership badge; guests must be accompanied by the member they are visiting. The community’s biggest summer event is White Meadow Lake Festival Days.

Lake Telemark

Lake Telemark is a lake community of about 1,172 residents in the 2020 Census. The lake, beach and clubhouse are run by the Lake Telemark Community Club, a member-based, volunteer-run organization at 38 Telemark Road. The club offers memberships to residents, including an associate category. The Township’s Telemark Park, at 1 Meggins Road, is a public park with a roller hockey rink and playground.

Green Pond

Green Pond is a private lakeside community in the northern part of Rockaway Township, with a Newfoundland mailing address. It is managed by two private corporations, Green Pond Corporation and Lake End Corporation, and lake access is limited to the community. Green Pond Road (County Route 513), the public road that runs past it, connects to Route 23.

Restricted: Picatinny Arsenal lakes

Lake Denmark, a roughly 242-acre lake, and nearby Picatinny Lake are inside Picatinny Arsenal, the U.S. Army installation in Rockaway Township. They are not open to the public. Picatinny’s Outdoor Recreation office, 973-724-4484, handles Lake Denmark rentals and outdoor programs for eligible installation patrons.

Hibernia, Beaver Lake and Lake Swannanoa

• Hibernia: The Hibernia section of the Township is best known for its historic library and for Wildcat Ridge Wildlife Management Area off Upper Hibernia Road, with trails and a hawk watch lookout. We could not verify a public lake in Hibernia itself.
• Beaver Lake: We could not verify a lake by that name in Rockaway Township.
• Lake Swannanoa: Lake Swannanoa is not in Rockaway Township. It is a private residential lake community in neighboring Jefferson Township, run by the Lake Swannanoa Homeowners Association.

Fishing, boating and ice rules

• Anglers 16 and older generally need a New Jersey fishing license. The Township links to NJ Fish and Wildlife licenses and permits from its outdoor recreation page.
• Rockaway Township has a boating ordinance and posts nonmotorized boating best practices. Gas motors are banned at Splitrock Reservoir.
• Ice fishing is allowed at Lake Ames but not at Park Lake. Only skate at Park Lake when posted signs say conditions are acceptable.
• Swimming is allowed only at designated beaches, such as Mount Hope Pond for Township residents and members-only lake community beaches. Swimming is not permitted at Lake Ames or Egbert’s Lake.

For more parks, trails and outings in both towns, see our guide to things to do in Rockaway NJ, and our Rockaway Township guide for Township offices. Township Recreation can be reached at 973-983-2841.

Lakes in Rockaway NJ: FAQ

What lakes are in Rockaway NJ?

Rockaway Township lakes include Mount Hope Pond, Lake Ames, Egbert’s Lake, Splitrock Reservoir, White Meadow Lake, Lake Telemark, Green Pond, and Lake Denmark and Picatinny Lake inside Picatinny Arsenal. Park Lake is shared by Rockaway Township and Rockaway Borough.

Which lakes in Rockaway NJ are open to the public?

Lake Ames, Egbert’s Lake and the Township side of Park Lake are open Township parks, and Splitrock Reservoir is state land with limited access near the dam. Mount Hope Pond’s beach is for Township residents with badges.

Is White Meadow Lake private?

Yes. White Meadow Lake is managed by the White Meadow Lake Property Owners Association, and boating and swimming require a current POA membership badge.

Can you swim in lakes in Rockaway NJ?

Only at designated beaches. Mount Hope Pond is the Township’s resident beach, the Park Lake beach is for members, with memberships sold through Rockaway Borough Recreation, and private lake communities have members-only beaches. Swimming is not allowed at Lake Ames or Egbert’s Lake.

Can you fish at Mount Hope Pond?

Yes. The Township allows fishing outside the beach area and says the pond is stocked by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Anglers 16 and older generally need a New Jersey fishing license.

Top photo: Sunset over Green Pond, a private lake community in Rockaway Township. Photo: KevyMulchers / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.