Below you will find information and activities to enjoy on your next visit.
Memberships are available to anyone with an interest in helping to support the Tenafly Nature Center
Hiking, Walking & Wildlife Watching
Tenafly Nature Center is a sanctuary for human visitors - an island of green where bonds with nature can be renewed. Whether you have an hour or a day, our woods offer a peaceful respite from the rush of daily life. When open we welcome visitors to take a leisurely walk to Pfister's Pond or enjoy a hike along our 7+ miles of trails. Hikers can pick up a New Jersey Birding and Wildlife Trail Meadowlands and More guide at the visitors center. Wildlife enthusiasts can enjoy bird-watching and observe other wildlife on their own or join our educators monthly for guided nature walks and full moon hikes.
Trail Running
Trail runners are welcome to train and enjoy a sprint through our woods along the 7+ miles of trails. In early spring experienced trail runners are invited to discover the native terrain of the Lost Brook Preserve while participating in our annual
Lost Brook Trail Race.
The Lost Brook Trail Race is a resurrection of the once great Raccoon Run and the first organized trail-running event in this nature preserve. During this 5 & 10 mile challenging run participants can experience sections of the trail in rocks and roots, foot bridges over streams, and thousand year-old boulders moved by the glaciers that one covered this landscape.
Snow Shoeing, Cross Country Skiing & Ice Skating
Cross country skiing, snow shoeing and ice skating are among the activities which you may enjoy right here, with Mother Nature’s cooperation, of course! Even when covered by snow visitors are welcome to bring their own equipment and explore the trails of the nature center.
For ice skating visitors should call the TNC visitor center to learn if the ice is safe; ice skating is allowed only when the ice exceeds four inches. Some years there are no safe days--thick enough ice for safe skating usually takes several days of sustained below freezing weather.
If it is than please follow the following safety guidelines:
- Skating is permitted only during regular business hours and everyone must be off the ice and the trails by dusk.
- Check in at the office and let a staff member know that you will be out.
- No skating alone.
- No ice hockey.
- Don’t throw sticks or stones onto the ice.
- People under 16 must be supervised by an adult at all times.
Pavilion, Campfire ring, Restrooms
The Education Pavilion, is used for school, scout, and seasonal programs all year long. Individuals and families may use the picnic tables in the pavilion whenever they are not in use by an organized group or class. The open-air structure contains eight recycled plastic picnic tables, four of which have wheelchair extensions. It has a concrete floor and walkway that make it accessible to all. Lights line the walkway and inside for evening use. An additional outlet is available for other approved equipment. A large fireplace is an attractive cool weather bonus. Roll-down sides are available on three sides to keep out rain or cold winds.
The campfire circle is a rustic spot in the woods 150 feet southeast of the parking lot and Pavilion. The stone fire circle is ringed by several recycled plastic benches, which can accommodate up to thirty (30) people. For forest protection, your safety, and insurance reasons, fires are permitted
only with staff supervision.
A wheelchair accessible waterless composting toilet is next to the parking lot and just 90 feet from the pavilion. This facility is augmented by two other flush restrooms on the ground floor of the John A. Redfield Building.
If you have a group that would like to reserve use of the pavilion please
contact Debora Davidson, the Education Director, via e-mail.
Yellow Trail Guide
The Yellow Trail is our most popular trail for families and individuals with small children. It is a 1/3 mile path that starts at the John A. Redfield Building by the Model Backyard Habitat and ends on the Main Trail near Pfister’s Pond. Below are links so that you can download and print our Yellow Trail Guide in the PDF format. You will find signs along the trail that correspond to the numbers in this guide. Enjoy your walk!
English version ; Spanish Version
Letter Boxing
Is a hobby that entails using clues to find secret boxes hidden in many locations. For more information and the clues for the letter box hidden here at TNC please visit www.letterboxing.org. Boxes clues page is titled Rock, Paper, Scissors. The letterboxes here were not placed by TNC staff but are listed here because they might be of interest to visitors.
Geocaching
Is an outdoor activity for GPS users to use location coordinates shared on the internet to find caches all over the world. Once found, a cache may provide the visitor with a wide variety of rewards. For more information and the coordinates for the geocaches hidden here at TNC please visit
www.geocaching.com. Once there type in our zip code (07670) and there are several that can be found throughout the park. The caches here were not all placed by TNC staff but are listed here because they might be of interest to visitors.
