Split Rock Reservoir in Rockaway Township: Hiking, Fishing, Boating and Parking

Split Rock Reservoir, also spelled Splitrock Reservoir, is a long, island-dotted reservoir in the woods of Rockaway Township, on the border with Kinnelon in Morris County. It is one of the quietest places to paddle, fish and hike near Rockaway, and it sits next to Farny State Park. Here is what to know before you go, from parking and boating rules to the old Split Rock Furnace below the dam.

Split Rock Reservoir at a glance

• Address: 420 Split Rock Road, Rockaway, NJ 07866 (the address the state uses for Farny State Park).
• Town: Rockaway Township, along the Kinnelon border, in Morris County.
• Size: a reservoir of more than 600 acres, about three miles end to end with many large islands, surrounded by roughly 1,500 acres of protected woods.
• Owner: the State of New Jersey owns the reservoir and surrounding land; Jersey City keeps its water rights and owns the dam.
• Hours: state park gates are open sunrise to sunset. There is no entrance fee.
• Activities: car-top boating, boat fishing, hiking on marked trails, birdwatching and, in season, hunting in designated areas.

Where Split Rock Reservoir is and how to get there

The reservoir is reached by Split Rock Road, a narrow road through the woods. The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference gives these directions: take Interstate 80 to Exit 37 (Hibernia/Rockaway), turn left onto Green Pond Road (County Route 513) and follow it north about 6.4 miles, then turn right onto Upper Hibernia Road, opposite the Marcella Community Club. In 1 mile, turn left onto Split Rock Road and follow it about 1 mile to a traffic light that controls the one-lane crossing over the dam.

Cross the dam and the dirt parking area is on the left. The state opened this public parking area and boat access in November 2003, and it holds about 25 vehicles. Parking along Split Rock Road is allowed only in this lot, and cars parked elsewhere along the road can be ticketed. Cell service can be spotty, so download a map before you go.

Jersey City’s water supply

Split Rock Reservoir is a water supply reservoir for Jersey City, working along with the nearby Boonton Reservoir. In 2015 the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Green Acres program bought about 1,500 acres of watershed buffer land around the reservoir from Jersey City for about $3.1 million. Under that deal, Jersey City kept its rights to the water and kept ownership and maintenance of the dam and the road leading to it, while the state gained access to the road and the reservoir. That is why the shoreline is wild and why access is limited to one launch and the marked trails.

Boating and fishing rules at Split Rock Reservoir

• Car-top boats only. Kayaks, canoes and other car-top boats must launch from the public access at the parking area near the dam. It is the only launch the public may use.
• Electric motors only. The state limits boat motors to electric, and Rockaway Township notes that gas-powered motors are not permitted.
• Fish from a boat. Shoreline fishing is not permitted.
• Fishing license. A valid New Jersey fishing license is required for anglers 16 and older.
• Lunker bass rules. The 2026 New Jersey Freshwater Fishing Digest lists Splitrock as a Lunker Bass lake, with a 15-inch minimum and a combined daily limit of three largemouth and smallmouth bass. Statewide, bass are catch and release only in the spring spawning period, so check the current digest for exact dates.
• What you may catch: largemouth and smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, crappie, perch, sunfish and catfish.
• No swimming. State park rules for Farny State Park prohibit swimming.

Hiking around Split Rock Reservoir

The trails around the reservoir are part of the Farny Highlands trail network, which links Farny State Park, Wildcat Ridge Wildlife Management Area and nearby watershed lands. Rockaway Township says hiking is allowed only on the specific marked trails, and other access is treated as trespassing.

• Four Birds Trail (white blazes): a long trail of about 20 miles through the Farny Highlands, named for the variety of wildlife along the way. It passes the reservoir area and connects to the Hawk Watch in Wildcat Ridge.
• Split Rock Loop Trail (blue blazes): a loop over the rocky ridges near the reservoir. The Trail Conference’s Split Rock South Loop hike combines it with the Four Birds and Wildcat Ridge trails for a moderate 3.6-mile circuit of about three hours, with dogs allowed on a leash.
• Longer loop: a loop of about 13.8 miles around the reservoir starts from the same parking area and is a full-day hike.
• Maps: the Trail Conference’s Jersey Highlands trail maps cover the area. The Trail Conference has posted re-blazing and reroutes on Farny trails, so carry a current map.

Watch for white-tailed deer, wild turkey and black bears, and for migrating waterfowl and songbirds in spring and fall. Never feed or approach a bear.

Split Rock Furnace

Just below the dam stand the nearly intact remains of an iron furnace. The stone Split Rock Furnace was built in 1862 to smelt magnetite ore into iron needed for the Civil War. The charcoal-fired furnace is about 32 feet tall, operated for only about ten years and was abandoned in the 1870s. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on Nov. 6, 1974. The furnace sits on land Jersey City still owns, below and to the right of the road just past the dam, and it is easiest to see from the road when the leaves are down. Stay on the road and posted trails.

Farny State Park and nearby outdoors

Split Rock Reservoir is next to Farny State Park, a 4,866-acre state park in Rockaway Township. Trail entry is through the park’s Farny Natural Area, and the state notes that the car-top launch itself sits within the adjacent Wildcat Ridge Wildlife Management Area. Read our Farny State Park guide for trails, parking and park rules, and our guide to lakes in Rockaway NJ for which other lakes are public and which are private.

Know before you go

• Arrive early on summer and fall weekends. The lot is small, and there is no legal overflow parking on Split Rock Road.
• Carry out all trash. Farny State Park has no trash cans.
• Alcohol, smoking and vaping, and ATVs are not permitted on state park property.
• Parts of the area are open to hunting in season, and Sunday hunting is not permitted in New Jersey state parks. Wear bright colors in the fall.
• Check ticks after every hike.
• Rules and conditions change, so check with the state park office at 973-962-2240 before you go.

For more outings close to home, see our guide to things to do in Rockaway NJ.

Split Rock Reservoir FAQ

Where is Split Rock Reservoir?

Split Rock Reservoir is in northern Rockaway Township, Morris County, NJ, along the Kinnelon border. The parking area is on Split Rock Road just past the dam, with a state address of 420 Split Rock Road, Rockaway, NJ 07866.

Can you kayak at Split Rock Reservoir?

Yes. Car-top boats such as kayaks and canoes may launch from the public access at the parking area near the dam. Only electric motors are allowed.

Can you swim at Split Rock Reservoir?

No. Swimming is not permitted under Farny State Park rules, and the reservoir is a water supply for Jersey City.

Do you need a fishing license at Split Rock Reservoir?

Yes. Anglers 16 and older need a valid New Jersey fishing license. Fishing is from boats only, and Lunker Bass rules apply.

Where do you park for Split Rock Reservoir?

Park only in the dirt lot on the left just past the dam on Split Rock Road. Parking elsewhere on the road is not allowed and cars can be ticketed.

Who owns Split Rock Reservoir?

The State of New Jersey owns the reservoir and surrounding land, while Jersey City keeps its water rights and owns the dam.

Top photo: Split Rock Reservoir seen from the south, in Rockaway Township. Photo: bill-now / Wikimedia Commons (Panoramio), CC BY-SA 3.0.