Visitors are welcome to explore the nature center's Butterfly and Pollinator Garden.
Outdoor Activities & Exhibits |
Tenafly Nature Center has so much to offer visitors! Whether it's your first or one of many returns, you will find information about activities to enjoy on your next visit. As an member supported, non-profit organization, membership is critical to our mission. Help us protect this "hidden gem" while enjoying exclusive member privileges. Enjoy the benefits of membership today. |
Exhibits to Visit |
Butterfly House | Pollinator Garden![]() Visitors are welcome to explore the nature center's Butterfly and Pollinator Garden. | Birdfeeders![]() Several differnt types of birdfeeders are on display in front of the visitors center, outside. These feeders are kept filled October-June and are visited regularly by several native avian species (and the rogue squirrel or chipmunk). Species such as goldfinches, Red-winged Blackbirds, Woodpeckers, Chickadees, and Nuthatches can all be easliy identified using the exhibit display and visitors can pick up a TNC Bird checklist to start keeping track of their annual and life birds. Guests often ask why the feeders are strung up with a number of recycled plastic bottles? These are there to prevent squirrels and other non-avian species from utilizing the bird feeders. The feeders are filled with a variety of seeds so that we may attract an assortment of birds and so those that do utilize the feeders can find appropriate food. | Birds of Prey Aviary![]() Visitors are welcome to visit our resident birds of prey at the aviary. |
Frog & Salamander Pond![]() Seasonally visitors are sometimes able to get a close up look at our frog and salamander pond. In early spring, members can join a TNC educator for a salamander count as we search for breeding spotted salamanders. | Nature Playscape![]() Have you seen our outdoor play area? Created as an Eagle Scout project, a playscape (or natural playground), was placed off of the yellow trail. A playscape is an outdoor play space with minimal man made components. Playscapes are designed with the intent of bringing children and people back to nature. | Storywalk® Trail![]() Visitors may enjoy an adventure in reading on our seasonal StoryWalk®, an interactive outdoor exhibit that turns reading into an adventure. Read a nature-themed story while walking in the woods. Designed for beginning readers, stories will appeal to all ages. | Bellflower Faerie Trail |
Walking & Hiking![]() 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. We welcome visitors to take a leisurely walk to Pfister's Pond or enjoy a hike along our 7+ miles of trails. | 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. Learn more about the next race | Snowshoeing & Cross Country Skiing![]() Cross country skiing and snow shoeing are among the activities which you may enjoy 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. We do not permit ice skating on Pfister's Pond at this time. |
Wildlife Watching![]() Wildlife enthusiasts can enjoy bird-watching and observe other wildlife on their own or join our educators monthly for guided nature walks, full moon hikes, or any of our other seasonal programs. Learn more about the Plant, Wildlife and Ecology of Tenafly Nature CenterLearn more about our upcoming guided seasonal programs | Photography & Filming | Picnicking![]() Individuals and families wishing to enjoy the trails and not reserve a space exclusively are welcome to use the white picnic tables (located near the upper Yellow Trail). We encourage all visitors to make a small donation (suggested at $2 per person), which can be placed in one of our donation boxes. Reservations are required for all self-guided groups of 10+ people to avoid conflicts. |
Explore-a-bag Backpack![]() Enhance your exploration of nature with our Nature Explorer Backpacks. This self-guided, year round program is designed for families to learn together, at their leisure, as they explore the Tenafly Nature Center trails. To help you on your adventure, we provide a backpack with an easy-to-understand Exploration Guide and an activity kit, which children of all ages will enjoy. Current backpack themes are Rockin’ Geology, Incredible Insects and Forest Explorer. | Little Free Library![]() Take or leave a book and enjoy reading. We ask that all books left be family friendly due to the nature and age range of our visitors. |
Letterboxing![]() Letterboxing is a “treasure hunt” style outdoor activity. Letterboxers hide small, weatherproof boxes in publicly-accessible places (like TNC) and post clues to finding the box online on one of several Web sites. However, clues to finding some of the most highly-sought boxes are passed around by word of mouth. Tenafly Nature Center has a letterbox listed on letterboxing.org titled Rock, Paper, Scissors. This and any other letterboxes at TNC were not placed by TNC staff, but are listed here because they may be of interest to visitors. Please visit letterboxing.org to learn more about and get the clues for the letterbox hidden at Tenafly Nature Center. | Geocaching![]() Geocaching is an outdoor activity, in which participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or mobile device and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called "geocaches" or "caches", at specific locations marked by coordinates, shared on the internet, all over the world. Once found, a cache may provide the visitor with a wide variety of rewards. Tenafly Nature Center has a few geochaches listed at geocaching.com, there you can type in our zip code (07670) to learn more. The caches listed here were not all placed by TNC staff, but are listed here because they maybe of interest to visitors. Please visit geocaching.com to learn more about and get the coordinates for the geocaches hidden here at Tenafly Nature Center. | Pokémon GO & Harry Potter: Wizards Unite![]() Tenafly Nature Center is home to a wealth of wildlife and Pokémon! Introductions to the wild have lead to a diverse group of Pokémon taking residence on the Tenafly Nature Center property. Pokémon have quickly established themselves and are attracting Pokémon Trainers. TNC welcomes you to play Pokémon Go on our trails and enjoy some of our natural preserve! There are tons of Pokestops can be found throughout our trails and a PokéGym at the entrance, which can be accessed from the Nature Center Visitors Center. Please note: Pokémon are the only creatures that are allowed to be captured on TNC property. Calling all wizards! If are more familiar with a more magical world and you want to get away from all those muggles than we welcome you to enjoy Harry Potter: Wizards Unite here at Tenafly Nature Center. TNC is a great place to bring your friends and discover foundables! Our visitor center is a greenhouse and the purple & yellow trails have fortresses you can walk to while unlocking your portkeys. Enjoy the sights and sounds of nature as your avatar does some serious magic. |