Rockaway, NJ

Boonton Gorge

Boonton Gorge
Photo of Michael Strange by Stephen Strange taken Nov. 96 @ 3.0'

Gauge Information

River Description

Boonton Gorge of the Rockaway River is one of the best intermediate/advanced whitewater runs in NJ. It's short, but you get a lot of bang for your buck. It's very convenient, runs A LOT, and tends not to pick up too much wood. The upper section is enclosed within public land (which is usually a good thing) and there is a gauge on the whitewater section. With all of the black basalt and birch trees, the upper section of this river is pretty in the fall. You can park at the police firing range (just an empty lot with a hill at one end), carry about 120 yds up, paddle about 400 yds of river, and carry about 40 yds up to your car.

Most people paddle the upper section of the run (from Boonton Falls to the "firing range"), then they carry up and do it again.

The section from the firing range to the gauge is shallow and wide. At low to medium levels it is bony class 2 water. When the water get's higher it is a flat flush up to the gauging station weir.

If you want to run the second half of the river (from the gauge to the Reservoir) and avoid legal entanglements, you need to take out on river left at the mouth of the res. and carry back up the nice flat trail as far upstream as you can and then ferry across to river right and carry up the rest of the way (going under 287). You can paddle down the rest of the river to the reservoir, but...

DO NOT PADDLE ON THE RESERVOIR!

If you do you will most likely be arrested.

 

In the winter of 2006-07, seemingly in response to a rescue incident which occurred in July of 2006, the town council of Boonton made it clear that they didn't feel Boonton Gorge was an appropriate place for paddling and that they would be working to prevent paddling on the Rockaway River through Boonton Gorge.

As of May 2007, a number of paddlers had attempted to persuade the Town Council of Boonton to abandon plans to create an ordinance which would, for the first time, make paddling Boonton Gorge of the Rockaway River illegal. The License and Ordinance Committee of the council has not been convinced and has made it clear that they will continue to work on drafting such an ordinance. The KCCNY and others continue to work on ways to change the minds of the aldermen.

If you have any interest in helping with these efforts: questions about running the gorge, information regarding runs you've done on it, photos or especially video of people paddling it, time to attend a town meeting and speak or to write a letter, or any other ideas, please contact Dave King at KCCNY or Stephen Strange at icreeknj@allowaystranges.us

It would be great to have a long list of people who have paddled it (and the dates and levels if possible)

We are also planning on putting together a short video of people paddling the run to show how reasonable it is. If you have any photos or video PLEASE contact Dave King or Stephen Strange.