Split Rock Rockaway New Jersey [Archive]

mrmustang

12-19-2004, 09:15 AM

Split Rock is an area that is off limits to all 4 wheelers. Lately, both Rockaway Township, and Boonton Township police have been cracking down due to local "grassroots" groups complaining. This is mostly due to the guys with the quads tearing everything up and creating a nuisance, but it does affect us all.

Bill S.

mybigredjeep

12-19-2004, 10:53 AM

i have been wheelin there for 2 years............never seen a cop up there ever. matter of a fact ive told cops that i was going there and they said cool cause they wheel there trucks there........if you would like to go i would be more then happy to take you. I was up there with 5 other trucks about 2 weeks ago. its very muddy and alot of fun to putz around in. there are alot of trails and if you do it quietly and saftley you will have no problems.

Jeremy

92wrangler

12-19-2004, 11:57 AM

what type of terrain is there i pretty much have a stock j eep lifted a little with offroad tires do you think i would be able to make it?

I also heard there is a huge mud pit in the middle that there is a car burried in is this true?

I will be getting back to you when i get my jeep back together and maybe we can meet at the diner and head back there thanx

mybigredjeep

12-19-2004, 12:39 PM

alot of it is mud...........i used to take my truck back there when it was stock.........i would be happy to take u back there just let me know when.........i can get up to 5 trucks if u like......i dont know about the car in the mud pit i am yet to find it but im not saying that its not therere cause there is alot of deep stuff.

Jeremy

mrmustang

12-19-2004, 01:23 PM

mybigredjeep,

Are we talking about the same area of Split Rock???? I'm talking about the area up close to the Boonton Township border. Are you on the other side?????

Bill S.

mybigredjeep

12-19-2004, 01:32 PM

SPLIT ROCK IS HUGE, ALOT OF TRAILS AND ALOT OF MUD, THE TRAILS ALSO GO AROUND BACK AREAS OF THE RESEVOUIR........ YOU CAN EVEN DRIVE DOWN BY ONE OF THE DAMS.......LET ME KNOW IF U ARE INTERESTED......

JEREMY

SHIT SORRY BOUT THE CAPS

mrmustang

12-19-2004, 02:33 PM

J,

I thought the area behind the dam was off limits now. At least it was during this August when I was up there with my old 95 Cherokee.

Bill S.

PS: So where in RT are you, I'm up in WML

mybigredjeep

12-19-2004, 02:50 PM

hey i lived in WML all my life i live off sanders now. Split rock tech. is not legal, however, cops never patrol up there and from what i hear if u get caught they are just like o ok. dont go again. another good thing is that they cant follow you its pretty rocky on all the entances and they wouldnt be able to make it past the first bog...........there are many entrances and many exits to all trails. i think i will be goin up there not this comming weekend but the next we will see let me know if u are interested.

Jeremy

mrmustang

12-19-2004, 05:49 PM

I'm just off Hibernia, current CJ7 is in the shop getting the rust taken care of (cut it out, weld in new pieces). Stopped and saw it this afternoon (I have keys to the shop), hoping to have it back to the house before the 15th of January. Might put it up for sale (wife wants a Wrangler instead) then go searching for something else...As usual with me, only time will tell. In the mean time, just look for a large solid green Expedition with a class V hitch hanging off the back (it discourages tailgaters) and you'll have found me.......

Bill S.

92wrangler

12-22-2004, 12:03 AM

Hey sry guys but my jeep is in peices in my garage right now i should have it back on the road soon i would hope b4 the gorund is totally covered in snow i don't really like to go wheeling in the snow due to the lack of being able to see things but if i don't get it back together in time i would definatly be intrested in going in the spring.

Will it be ok for a semi stock jeep i heard some of the mud can get deep

MikeN

12-22-2004, 08:44 PM

Hi Mrmustang and Mybigredjeep,

What you say is true in many areas. There usually isn't any problem wheeling an area until the ATV's get in there with their ringydingy noise and start tearing up the environment.

Once the Grassroots get heard and puts enough pressure on the cops and and they close that area, it'll be closed to all.

If you have a small number of wheelers in your area that you can organize. Get in touch with those cops that seem to be acceptable to OHV's in that area and also get with the Grassroots group. Show them the difference beween the ATV's and OHV's and that it's not all motorized vehicles that they are hearing up in there. If you know the ATV's riding in that area, get with them and see if they'll change their riding style explaining that is annoying the neighbors.

Through your efforts and everyone working together between the Cops, the Grassroots neighbors and the ATV riders, You may just save an area that can be wheeled before it is closed. As you have said. Technically it's not legal anyway but they have been turning their heads. It won't take much to piss'em off and have them close it

MikeN

92wrangler

12-23-2004, 09:27 PM

Would it be ok for a basically stock jeep to go back there with tires and a lil bit of lift thanx

Anonymous

12-24-2004, 11:23 AM

I'm not looking to get flamed here, so I'll aplogize upfront.

Wheeling on private land or land designated "off limits" to trespassers or vehicles puts our sport at risk. It's bad enough we have environmentalists wasting their time and money with land grabs, but don't give them ammunition.

Paragon Adventure Park is publically searching for land to purchase and expand their business and our sport. If you know of someone with land for sale, let them know.

I'm not here to preach, and I'm sure you NJ fellas know Split Rock better than I, but please be prudent in your explorations of private lands.

92wrangler

12-24-2004, 03:03 PM

Why pay when i can go for free the price of paragon is rediculous $35 a vehicle and i heard it was all rock from a friend who went there sry i am not really into bending rims and such thanx

ecscramble

12-24-2004, 03:53 PM

jadams68 is absolutely correct, tresspassing four wheelers only hurts our sport. $35 is a small price to pay to leagal off roading. Pap offers lots of diferant types of terrain from mud, sand, hills and wooded to rock crawling. pretty much what ever you choose. Damage to your 4x4 can happen where ever you go. :lol:

Kingofthepines

12-24-2004, 04:58 PM

Why pay when i can go for free the price of paragon is rediculous $35 a vehicle and i heard it was all rock from a friend who went there sry i am not really into bending rims and such thanx
Where is it that you intend to go for free? Do you mean to suggest that you would wheel on private property? For those who are not aware, its not uncommon for law enforcement and sierra club types to monitor these public forums. They infiltrate and have been known to set up sting operations. You aren't doing the law abiding wheelers any favors by demonstrating the very attitude that is causing what little areas we have left to be closed down. :roll:

jadams68

12-25-2004, 02:36 PM

There's a great article in this months Four Wheeler magazine by Dennis Pierce called, "Pay to play? Sure!".

For those of you who are ...let's just get it out there... too cheap to support our sport, this article is for you.

We need law abiding, responsible and light treading wheelers...
We must maintain and patronize safe, legal, and insured places to wheel.

[/end preaching]

mybigredjeep

12-25-2004, 09:37 PM

I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID HOWEVER......WHEN I GO I ALWAYS CLEAN SHIT UP UP THERE.......I ALWAYS HAVE A BAG OF GARBAGE.........THE COPS THEMSELFS GO WHEELING IN THAT AREA.....THEY ALL GREW UP AROUND TOWN THEY ALL HAVE BIG ASS JEEPS AND CHEVEYS.....I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT IT IS OK TO WHEEL THERE

JEREMY
SORRY FOR THE CAPS I JUST REALIZED THEY WERE ON

jadams68

12-26-2004, 09:21 AM

87F-150

12-26-2004, 06:11 PM

Why pay when i can go for free the price of paragon is rediculous $35 a vehicle and i heard it was all rock from a friend who went there sry i am not really into bending rims and such thanx

Actually $35 isn't a bad price if you only go once in awhile.If you intend on going more...look into a season pass. Paragon is an awesome place to wheel and yes there are alot of rocks....but bending wheels and such all depends on how you drive and what trails you take.
I would try a monthly run where for your $35 you get a free guide and usually get to meet a great bunch of people.

Illegal wheelin may not cost anything now.....but it costs us all in the long run.
just my $.02

jadams68

12-26-2004, 06:32 PM

Also, you can join a club that does a Charter Membership with Paragon. You pay $20 to Paragon and you can wheel there for 25 bucks a pop instead of 35....

87F-150

12-26-2004, 06:38 PM

Also, you can join a club that does a Charter Membership with Paragon. You pay $20 to Paragon and you can wheel there for 25 bucks a pop instead of 35....

Not trying to be rude or anything of that sort....but it's a 1 time fee of $20 then $15 per ride through a club. If you are gonna go more then 12 times......It's cheaper to get a season pass.

MikeN

12-26-2004, 08:16 PM

Well if it's not officially legal, but it's tolerated and everyone does their part to maintain it like you do, then no harm no foul....

Hopefully some knucklehead won't go back there and do something to ruin for everyone else.3

You've hit it right on the head here by stating "it's tolerated". As someone once said the 'viros monitor this kind of stuff and if they find an area where it is tolerated, they will do such things that will have the neighbors up in arms and try to get it shut down such as riding noisy vehicles. If you work with the local law enforcement and find out who the ringydingers are and get them to understand what the forces at work are here, they may be willing to cooperate rather than lose a wheeling location. If they aren't, then maybe they are enviros trying to deliberately ruin it and should be ticked, fined or arrested before it is shut down.

MikeN

P.S. I hope no one is really afraid of getting "Flamed" here and if it happens, the post I hope would be moderated and deleted. We really need the ability to discuss Land Use openly with out flaming. That is why I asked Justing to open a "Land Use" forum section for such discussions and as I find them, post articles that I hope would be of interest and discussion to all of us. I hope if you find new articles that affect our sport from your local papers etc that you'll post them too.

jadams68

12-29-2004, 07:34 PM

You're not being rude at all. I forgot to mention the season pass. Good pt.
My real intent was to let people know that it's not 35 bucks a pop each time you go. There are options to mitigate that.

But realize this... It costs around $25,000 a year to get liability insurance at these types of Parks (Rausch, Paragon, etc). I'm not trying to make it sound like Paragon is crying poor, but that's a major expense for them. They also have to pay employees and the mortgage on that property...

Your 'contributions' to Paragon and Rausch Creek go a long way to keeping the sport alive on the East Coast.

Also, you can join a club that does a Charter Membership with Paragon. You pay $20 to Paragon and you can wheel there for 25 bucks a pop instead of 35....

Not trying to be rude or anything of that sort....but it's a 1 time fee of $20 then $15 per ride through a club. If you are gonna go more then 12 times......It's cheaper to get a season pass.

Halo Performance

11-03-2005, 04:34 AM

I know this is a little late into this discussion, but I have been up to Split Rock, and no, I have never seen cops at night. I haven't been up there in probably a year. I do know however that it is illegal to wheel up there, hands down, and it is not tolerated by the Newark Watershed police. (see KKK on Clinton Road in Weird NJ, same people) Rockaway usually patrols during the day, but the Watershed runs it at night. I know a kid that got arrested for CRIMINAL TRESPASSING when he was 17 up there. Not worth the risk. I'd rather head up to PAP and pay a few bucks.

bpic

11-16-2005, 10:47 PM

i have been to split rock many times now and in the past i grew up in boonton. There was an artical about the woman who owns a farm at the beg... of the boonton side and the artical stated that she doesnt want anyone going up there because she feels that the res is her land what a crock of shit... my father was the one who wrote the artical but that is besides the point i am 21 years old and for as long as i can remember i have been in the woods back there. So to clear everthing up it is illegal to go back there but if u do ever get stopped by patrol they will let u go as long as u are sticking on the trail and not ripping through the woods. P.S i don't want to get flammed for this but i just though i would put my 2$ in

stryker029

12-10-2005, 11:08 PM

i live in morristown now. used to live in madison. if its not crapped up with snow. anyone wanna organize a small 4-8 truck trip there?

rockin84cj

12-19-2005, 07:12 PM

any other places in nj to wheel other than south jersey? Some one has got to own a farm or some land. What about all the land by the water shed?

XEON

12-20-2005, 01:00 AM

any other places in nj to wheel other than south jersey? Some one has got to own a farm or some land. What about all the land by the water shed?

Most people call it the Pine Barrens, I think there is a thread on that. I myself and some of the members of the group have been there. Its deep water, mud, sand, and fun getting other peoples rigs stuck. :lmao:

smi2710

03-09-2006, 11:21 AM

hi guys/gals

just found this forum and im curious about split rock myself and 2/3 other friends with trucks we are looking for places to go this sunday or saturday and if anyone can get me info on where to get into split rock or other areas up in north west NJ or new york ( middletown) Let me know

and this site seems great from what i have seen so far

speedracer983

03-09-2006, 12:49 PM

All I can tell you is be carefull .... the area is not open to trucks other than to fish in the lakes ... Wheeling there is not tolerated,I received a warning there a few months ago.

rokspydr

03-13-2006, 09:52 PM

Please make sure the places you go are 100% legal. We do not need any more bad press because some dip$@%# can't make sure it is 100% legal. Just because you go there and are not bothered does not make it legal.

tennis203

03-13-2006, 10:00 PM

All I can tell you is be carefull .... the area is not open to trucks other than to fish in the lakes ... Wheeling there is not tolerated,I received a warning there a few months ago.

Toss a fishing rod in the back of your vehicle while wheeling? :lmao:
:bdance:

cj8mike

03-13-2006, 11:07 PM

Toss a fishing rod in the back of your vehicle while wheeling? :lmao:
:bdance:

Its people like this that get trails closed down

tennis203

03-14-2006, 12:13 AM

Its people like this that get trails closed down

Hey! I've never wheeled there before. I've never even wheeled in NJ! :wtg:

savageyj

07-17-2006, 08:49 PM

does enyone still go here and if you do can i get some help getting there from central nj i know where the sharp building is on 17 & 287 but thats it thanks guys

ROCKREADYXJ

07-18-2006, 09:54 AM

does enyone still go here and if you do can i get some help getting there from central nj i know where the sharp building is on 17 & 287 but thats it thanks guys

Dont' botther its not legal and the state is all over to many imature people ruined it for the rest of us.

savageyj

07-18-2006, 05:34 PM

is there another spot in the area.Maybe on the other side into NY but not that far from NJ maybe with in 1/2 hour of the border

YMMV

08-07-2006, 07:35 PM

I have heard so many stories of it being legal and not legal. I've been going there for over 4yrs and still go back there a lot. Its always fun. There is a crew of 50 or so local cops and fireman who ride quads back there that I know (Well..mire like I work with one of the guys g/f). Cool people and never gave me any crap. I also ran into a Park Ranger once over by the train tracks and all he did was waive to me. Who knows. Plenty of people fish back there too.