The Rockaway River is a tributary of the Passaic River, approximately 35 mi (56 km) long, in northern New Jersey in the United States. The upper course of the river flows through a wooded mountainous valley, whereas the lower course flows through the populated New Jersey suburbs and former industrial area west of New York City. It drains an area of approximately 133 sq mi (340 km²).

It rises in northwestern Morris County, along the northwestern slope of Green Pond Mountain south of Oak Ridge . It flows SSW, in a direct course between in the valley between the mountain ridges. Northeast of Wharton it emerges from the mountains and flows generally east in a meandering course, past Wharton, Dover (where it enters a concrete channel), Rockaway, and Boonton, where it passes through the Boonton Gorge . On the south side of Boonton it is impounded to form the Boonton Reservoir . Downstream from the reservoir it flows south, past Parsippany and into Hatfield Swamp, where it is joined by the Whippany River and then joins the Passaic.

In the 19th century the river connected to the Morris Canal near Wharton and served as a industrial transportation link for shipping coal and iron ore between Pennsylvania and New York City. The communities of Wharton, Dover, and Boonton were important iron processing towns in the early 19th century, with a large concentration of forges and mills. The significant pollution problem in the lower course of the river has been somewhat alleviated by legislation and by the nearly complete abandoment of heavy industry in the area.

The isolated upper course of the river is a popular region site for smallmouth bass fishing.

See also

• List of New Jersey rivers

External links

• New Jersey Skylands: The Rockaway River