Splitrock Reservoir
Encyclopedia
Splitrock Reservoir is 625 acres (2.5 km²) of wilderness located in northern New Jersey
on the borders of Rockaway Township
and Kinnelon
. The reservoir
is nestled deep in the woods where it can be reached by traveling a mile on a dirt road known as Split Rock Road. The reservoir consists of several large lakes interconnected with many large islands. There is a large man-made dam on the southwest end of the reservoir. The reservoir and surrounding natural area were opened to the Public on November 21, 2003 http://www.state.nj.us/dep/newsrel/releases/03_0169.htm.
Splitrock is a very attractive area for fishermen with small watercraft. The reservoir has a population of smallmouth and largemouth bass, as well as catfish, crappie, sunfish, perch, pickerel and bait fish. Anglers can expect decent fishing for bass, crappie and chain pickerel in the reservoir. Splitrock is categorized as a Lunker Lake by the state of NJ so there is a 3 bass limit and they must be over 15 inches. From April 15 through June 15 it is catch and release only. There is no shoreline fishing at Splitrock.
There are many scenic hiking trails of varying difficulty.
The hiking trails are part of the Farny Highlands Trail Network http://www.mtnlakes.org/Environment/farny.htm. A trail map is available on-line at the Morris Trails Partnership http://www.morristrails.org web site . The "New Jersey Walk Book", published by the New York New Jersey Trail Conference http://www.nynjtc.org/pubs/books has a detailed verbal description of the Four Birds and the Splitrock Loop trails. In April 2011 the New York New Jersey Trail Conference http://www.nynjtc.org/product/jersey-highlands-central-north-region-trail-map published a hiking map that includes the Farny Highlands Trail System. Hikers should look for signs of white-tailed deer, black bear and wild turkey along the trail, as well as waterfowl and neotropical birds during the spring and fall migrations.
The parking area also provides a trailhead for hiking the 13.8 miles (22.2 km) loop trail. This hike and another loop hike are described in "Hiking the Jersey Highlands", an illustrated guide to 35 hikes in the Highlands of New Jersey, with a trail map for each hike, introductory chapters on Highlands history and preservation, geology, plants, and wildlife, and a special 16-page insert of color photos of wildflowers seen along the trails. This book is published by the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference and is available from their on-line store.http://www.nynjtc.org/pubs/books
This new parking area will provide generations of anglers, hikers and wildlife watchers with countless opportunities to explore all that Splitrock Reservoir has to offer. There is also a Clivus toilet http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Clivus_multrum&oldid=182996880 at the parking area but no public telephone, and cell phone reception is generally poor unless you are out on the water.
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
on the borders of Rockaway Township
Rockaway Township, New Jersey
Rockaway Township is a township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 24,156....
and Kinnelon
Kinnelon, New Jersey
Kinnelon is a Borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 10,248. It is a low density, suburban community, with many parks and trails....
. The reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
is nestled deep in the woods where it can be reached by traveling a mile on a dirt road known as Split Rock Road. The reservoir consists of several large lakes interconnected with many large islands. There is a large man-made dam on the southwest end of the reservoir. The reservoir and surrounding natural area were opened to the Public on November 21, 2003 http://www.state.nj.us/dep/newsrel/releases/03_0169.htm.
Activities
Splitrock offers various outdoor activities. At the parking area (see below), there is an interpretive kiosk with three panels. One provides an overview for the fisherman, one provides an overview for the hiker and the third provides an overview on the Splitrock/Cobb furnace http://historic-rockaways.org/splitrock.htm for the historian.Splitrock is a very attractive area for fishermen with small watercraft. The reservoir has a population of smallmouth and largemouth bass, as well as catfish, crappie, sunfish, perch, pickerel and bait fish. Anglers can expect decent fishing for bass, crappie and chain pickerel in the reservoir. Splitrock is categorized as a Lunker Lake by the state of NJ so there is a 3 bass limit and they must be over 15 inches. From April 15 through June 15 it is catch and release only. There is no shoreline fishing at Splitrock.
There are many scenic hiking trails of varying difficulty.
The hiking trails are part of the Farny Highlands Trail Network http://www.mtnlakes.org/Environment/farny.htm. A trail map is available on-line at the Morris Trails Partnership http://www.morristrails.org web site . The "New Jersey Walk Book", published by the New York New Jersey Trail Conference http://www.nynjtc.org/pubs/books has a detailed verbal description of the Four Birds and the Splitrock Loop trails. In April 2011 the New York New Jersey Trail Conference http://www.nynjtc.org/product/jersey-highlands-central-north-region-trail-map published a hiking map that includes the Farny Highlands Trail System. Hikers should look for signs of white-tailed deer, black bear and wild turkey along the trail, as well as waterfowl and neotropical birds during the spring and fall migrations.
Parking
A 25-vehicle parking area for visitors was developed on November 23, 2003. The new parking area provides reservoir access for people who want to launch a car top boat for fishing, kayaking or canoeing. It is the only launch the public is permitted to use.The parking area also provides a trailhead for hiking the 13.8 miles (22.2 km) loop trail. This hike and another loop hike are described in "Hiking the Jersey Highlands", an illustrated guide to 35 hikes in the Highlands of New Jersey, with a trail map for each hike, introductory chapters on Highlands history and preservation, geology, plants, and wildlife, and a special 16-page insert of color photos of wildflowers seen along the trails. This book is published by the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference and is available from their on-line store.http://www.nynjtc.org/pubs/books
This new parking area will provide generations of anglers, hikers and wildlife watchers with countless opportunities to explore all that Splitrock Reservoir has to offer. There is also a Clivus toilet http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Clivus_multrum&oldid=182996880 at the parking area but no public telephone, and cell phone reception is generally poor unless you are out on the water.