❤ Love Rockaway
Rockaway · Morris County · New Jersey

This is why we love Rockaway.

A historic Main Street built on iron and the canal, a river running right through town, and trails in every direction. Real history, real outdoors, real community.

Explore the Town Thinking of a Move?
1730
First Settled
1894
Borough Established
6,400+
Neighbors
07866
Hometown Zip
A Town With Real Roots

History you can walk through, outdoors you can get lost in.

Rockaway is one of Morris County's oldest communities — a place where forges once lined the river and the Morris Canal ran through town, and where that history still lines Main Street today.

Settled around 1730, Rockaway grew into an early capital of New Jersey's iron industry, powered by the Rockaway River and connected to the world by the Morris Canal. Much of downtown dates to the 1860s building boom, and the river that once turned the mill wheels now threads through parks and greenways. It adds up to a rare combination: a genuine historic Main Street on one side, and Wildcat Ridge, Mount Hope, and miles of trails on the other.

A view down historic Main Street in downtown Rockaway Borough, NJ, lined with brick storefronts
The Heart of Town

A Main Street with real history.

Downtown Rockaway isn't a reproduction — it's the real thing. Many of the commercial buildings along Main Street date to the 1868 era, when the town buzzed with railroads, a trolley, hotels, and a three-story department store.

  • Locally owned shops, restaurants, and neighborhood taverns
  • Historic 19th-century storefronts and grand homes on Church Street
  • Landmarks from Rockaway's iron and Morris Canal era
  • Rockaway Townsquare and 140+ stores just up the road
Storefronts along Main Street in Rockaway Borough
Historic Downtown
The turreted Victorian Rockaway Fire Department building
Landmark Architecture
The historic Joseph Jackson House, home of the Rockaway Borough Public Library
The Historic Jackson House
The Rockaway River winding through green woodland
Trails, River & Ridge

The outdoors start at the edge of town.

The same river and hills that built Rockaway are now its backyard. Whether it's a riverside stroll or a ridgeline hike, the wild is never far.

  • The Rockaway River & Morris Canal Greenway for walks and paddling
  • Wildcat Ridge — trails and the famous fall Hawk Watch
  • Mount Hope's historic iron-mine trails and overlooks
  • Egbert's Lake, Splitrock Reservoir & Farney State Park nearby
Something in Every Season

A town that gets outside.

From spring markets to fall migrations, there's always a reason to be out in Rockaway.

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Every Fall

Wildcat Ridge Hawk Watch

Each autumn, birders line the ridge to watch thousands of hawks, eagles, and falcons ride the thermals south — one of North Jersey's great wildlife spectacles.

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Warm Months

Markets & Food Trucks

Farmers markets and food-truck festivals bring local produce, makers, and dozens of vendors together for easy weekend afternoons across the Rockaway area.

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Year-Round

Rivers, Lakes & Trails

Hiking, fishing, paddling, and quiet lakeside picnics — Rockaway's parks and preserves are open in every season, minutes from Main Street.

The historic Stephen Jackson House in Rockaway Borough
Small Town, Long Memory

A community proud of where it came from.

Rockaway wears its history well — from ironmaster homes and 19th-century churches to old canal basins. (One downtown hotel was even a favorite of Annie Oakley.) It's a place where the past isn't in a museum; it's on your street.

That same rootedness shows up today: neighbors who look out for each other, volunteers who keep the traditions going, and families who stay for generations.

Historic Homes Walkable Downtown Parks & Trails Strong Schools Locally Owned Family Friendly
Fall in Love, Then Move In

Thinking about calling Rockaway home?

Whether you're dreaming about a historic downtown home, a place near the trails, or you're ready to sell the one you've loved for years, the local team that lives and works right here can help — with the same promise we make every client: No Surprises, Ever! Send a note and we'll be in touch.

Presented by Glen Baker & the MorrisAgent Team at RE/MAX Select · (973) 200-4800
Good to Know

Rockaway, answered.

What makes Rockaway, NJ special?

Rockaway pairs a genuinely historic Main Street — with commercial buildings dating to the 1860s and roots in the iron and Morris Canal era — with easy access to the outdoors: the Rockaway River, Wildcat Ridge, Mount Hope trails, and quiet lakes, all in a friendly Morris County community.

What is there to do in Rockaway?

Explore historic downtown Rockaway Borough's shops and restaurants, hike Wildcat Ridge and its Hawk Watch, walk the Rockaway River and Morris Canal Greenway, visit Mount Hope's iron-mine history, relax at Egbert's Lake or Splitrock Reservoir, and shop and dine at Rockaway Townsquare.

What is the history of Rockaway, NJ?

Rockaway was settled around 1730 and became an early center of New Jersey's iron industry, with forges along the Rockaway River by the 1740s and two basins of the Morris Canal. Rockaway Borough was incorporated in 1894, and many Main Street buildings date from the 1868 building era.

Where is Wildcat Ridge and the Hawk Watch?

Wildcat Ridge Wildlife Management Area sits in the Rockaway, NJ area and is known for its seasonal Hawk Watch, where birders gather each fall to see thousands of migrating raptors, along with trails through historic iron-mine country.

Is Rockaway a good place to live?

Many people love Rockaway for its small-town, historic downtown feel, abundant parks and trails, strong sense of community, central Morris County location, and a mix of historic and family-friendly neighborhoods.