Things to Do in Rockaway Borough and Rockaway Township, NJ

Looking for things to do in Rockaway NJ? The two Rockaways in Morris County pack a lot into a small area: lakes and state parkland, Highlands trails, Revolutionary War era iron history, two public libraries and a regional mall. Rockaway Borough and Rockaway Township are separate municipalities with their own parks and recreation departments, so this guide labels each place by town, then rounds up nearby Morris County spots worth the short drive.

Hours, seasons and rules change, so check the linked official page or call ahead before you go. For dated events, see the Rockaway Events Calendar.

Shared by both towns: Park Lake

Park Lake straddles the Borough and Township line, and the two towns jointly own and maintain it. On the Township side, Lombardo Park and the Rotary Memorial Gazebo off Mount Hope Road have a 0.7-mile paved walking path where leashed dogs, bicycles and rollerblades are allowed. The gazebo hosts the Township’s free Sunday afternoon summer concert series and other programs through the year. On the Borough side, Park Lake at 165 Lakeside Drive has docks, a lighted walking path, a playground, picnic tables, fishing and a volleyball court. 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, and in winter the lake is monitored for public ice skating when conditions permit.

Things to do in Rockaway Borough

Parks

Rockaway Borough Parks and Recreation lists these Borough parks:

• Donatoni Park, 199 West Main Street: softball and baseball fields, a playground and covered picnic tables.
• Memorial Park / Heady Field, 33 Maple Avenue: playground, picnic tables, softball field, street hockey rink and basketball courts.
• Centennial Park, 1 Centennial Drive: playground and basketball courts.
• Friendship Field, 109 Lakeside Drive: soccer field and picnic tables.
• Smith Field, 85 West Lincoln Avenue: baseball field and playground.
• Jackson Ave River Park, 80 Jackson Avenue: benches, picnic tables and fishing at a scenic spot.

History and landmarks

The Borough of Rockaway Historical Museum at 199 West Main Street, next to Donatoni Park, is run by the Rockaway Borough Historical Committee. It is generally open the fourth Sunday of the month from 1 to 3 p.m., with summer visits by appointment, and the committee posts its exact open house dates each year. See our museum open house coverage for an example. The museum also joins the countywide Pathways of History tour. Downtown, the Borough’s Veterans Memorial sits at 82 East Main Street next to the library.

Library

The Rockaway Borough Library, 82 East Main Street, 973-627-5709, is open Monday through Saturday and hosts free programs such as its mahjong lessons. Its own website is rblibrary.org.

Recreation programs

Rockaway Borough Parks and Recreation, 973-627-2000 ext. 217, organizes community events and supports youth sports including Rockaway Rowdies soccer, Boro Ball basketball, the Park Lake Sharks summer swim team, Rockaway Borough Little League and the Junior Knights football, cheer and wrestling programs. Updates are posted at facebook.com/rockbororec.

Things to do in Rockaway Township

Lakes and parks

Rockaway Township, the largest municipality in Morris County by area, has thousands of acres of public open space. Lakes shape much of the Township, as our Lakes Appreciation Month story explains, and our lakes in Rockaway NJ guide covers which lakes are public and which are private. Township parks include:

• Mount Hope Pond, Burnt House Garden Road: the Township’s summer swimming beach for residents, with seasonal beach badges sold through Community Pass, plus picnic areas, boating and shoreline fishing outside the beach. The state stocks the pond for fishing.
• Egbert’s Lake Park, 864 Green Pond Road: a 72-acre open space park, opened in 2006 on the site of a former lake resort, with a gravel walking path around the lake, benches and picnic shelters. Boating and fishing are allowed; swimming is not. The Township holds community walks there, like Move With The Mayor.
• Lake Ames, Snake Hill Road: picnic tables and a walking trail around the lake, with boating, fishing and ice fishing allowed and no swimming.
• Telemark Park, 1 Meggins Road: roller hockey rink and playground.
• Peterson Field, Fleetwood Drive: athletic fields with baseball, softball and basketball.

Trails, state parkland and the reservoir

• Farny State Park: a state natural area next to Splitrock Reservoir with a mature oak forest and numerous trails, open daily from sunrise to sunset with no entrance fee. It is habitat for the endangered red-shouldered hawk and the threatened barred owl, and parts are open for hunting in season. The Township also lists the Farny Highlands Trail among its outdoor recreation areas. Our Split Rock Reservoir and Farny State Park guides have trail, parking and boating details.
• Splitrock Reservoir, 420 Splitrock Road: state-owned land where the public may fish and kayak from the access area near the dam. Only car-top boats are allowed, with no gas motors and no shoreline fishing, and hiking is limited to marked trails.
• Wildcat Ridge Wildlife Management Area: state land with hiking and biking trails. The Township’s Brown Property park at 69 Meriden Road sits next to the wildlife management area and has its own trails and parking. Its Wildcat Ridge Hawk Watch is a rocky lookout reached by a 20 to 25 minute walk on an orange-blazed trail from a gravel lot on Upper Hibernia Road. Hawk counters track migrating raptors there each spring and fall, and the 190-degree view takes in the Manhattan skyline.

Trail users can share ideas for the county trail network through programs like the Morris County trail survey.

History and landmarks

The Ford-Faesch Manor House at 629 Mount Hope Road dates to 1768. It was built by Jacob Ford Jr. and later became home to ironmaster John Jacob Faesch, whose Mount Hope iron works supplied the Continental Army. The Historical Society of Rockaway Township opens it several times a year for events and re-enactments, and tours can be arranged with the society. It is a stop on Morris County’s free Revolutionary War history app and the Pathways of History tour. In the Hibernia section, the Hibernia Library at 419 Green Pond Road occupies an 1869 Carpenter Gothic church built with iron mining money, and it has won a county preservation grant for restoration.

Libraries

The Rockaway Township Free Public Library, 61 Mount Hope Road, 973-627-2344, runs programs such as its adult summer reading challenge. The library also operates the Hibernia branch.

Shopping and indoor fun: Rockaway Townsquare

Rockaway Townsquare, 301 Mount Hope Avenue in Rockaway Township, is the area’s regional shopping mall and a go-to spot on rainy or cold days. It also hosts community events, such as a weekend card show, and seasonal visits with Santa covered in our Christmas and holiday events guide.

Recreation programs

Rockaway Township Recreation, 973-983-2841, runs the Mount Hope Pond beach, a Summer Playground Program, the Park Lake Gazebo concerts and seasonal community events. For concert weather updates, the Township recreation hotline is 973-983-2853. The Township’s Division of Health also runs walking and wellness events. Membership-based Frog Falls Aquatic Park at Picatinny Arsenal is open to residents of partner communities, including both Rockaways; see our Frog Falls coverage for how membership works. Germania Park, a German American club on Conger Street, hosts events such as its annual Oktoberfest.

Nearby Morris County spots

• Mount Hope Historical County Park, 75 Teabo Road (Wharton mailing address): close to 5 miles of trails through one of the county’s oldest iron mining areas, open daily sunrise to sunset.
• Tourne County Park, McCaffrey Lane and Old Boonton Road, Denville: more than 550 acres and about 12 miles of trails, Rockaway River access for canoeing, kayaking and fishing, and a climb to the top of the Tourne for a New York City skyline view.
• Hedden County Park, Dover, Mine Hill and Randolph: a 420-acre park with Hedden Pond, a fishing deck, trails and picnic areas.
• Morristown National Historical Park, Morristown and Jockey Hollow: guided tours of the Ford Mansion and Wick House, where the Continental Army spent hard winters during the Revolution.
• Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, 73 Kahdena Road, Morris Township: a working farm museum open seasonally from spring through October.

Local farms are another easy outing; our story on the Morris County Farm Trail Passport explains how it works. For weekly markets, see our farmers market guide.

Plan your visit

• Know which town you are in. Borough and Township have separate parks departments and rules. Our explainer on what county Rockaway NJ is in covers the difference, and our Rockaway Borough and Rockaway Township guides list town offices.
• Check seasonal events. See our Halloween guide in the fall and the holiday guide in December.
• Be weather ready. Before heading out on trails or lakes in storm season, save our power outage and emergency alert guide.

Things to do in Rockaway NJ: FAQ

What are the best things to do in Rockaway NJ?

Popular picks include walking Park Lake and catching a summer gazebo concert, swimming at Mount Hope Pond, hiking Farny State Park or the Wildcat Ridge Hawk Watch, touring the Ford-Faesch Manor House or the Borough of Rockaway Historical Museum, and shopping at Rockaway Townsquare.

Are Rockaway Borough and Rockaway Township the same place?

No. They are separate municipalities in Morris County, New Jersey, each with its own parks and recreation department. Park Lake is jointly owned by both towns.

Where can I hike in Rockaway NJ?

Rockaway Township has Farny State Park, Wildcat Ridge Wildlife Management Area, trails near Splitrock Reservoir and walking paths at Egbert’s Lake and Lake Ames. Nearby, Mount Hope Historical County Park and Tourne County Park offer more trails.

Is there a beach in Rockaway NJ?

Yes, lake beaches. Rockaway Township runs a summer resident beach at Mount Hope Pond, and Rockaway Borough maintains a members beach at Park Lake. Rockaway, NJ is not Rockaway Beach in Queens.

What is there to do in Rockaway NJ on a rainy day?

Visit Rockaway Townsquare, the Rockaway Borough Library or the Rockaway Township Free Public Library, or check the Borough of Rockaway Historical Museum’s open house dates.

Top photo: A rocky stretch of trail in Wildcat Ridge Wildlife Management Area, Rockaway Township. Photo: bill-now / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.