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J. A. McFaul Environmental Center
4.7 ★★★★★ 551 Google reviews · Running trail in Wyckoff, New Jersey · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Boardwalk
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from J. A. McFaul Environmental Center's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Wildlife sanctuary with a pond, animal shelters, garden trails, picnic sites & nature exhibits.
What runners say about J. A. McFaul Environmental Center
“Inside is a nice little exhibit area with beautiful fish tanks and an information center.”
“Lots of easy trails and shady spots to sit and just enjoy the scenery.”
“It's a peaceful escape, and we appreciated that the trails were easy to navigate due to their frequent use by fellow hikers.”
“The lush landscapes and diverse flora offered a serene and photogenic backdrop, allowing us to capture the natural elegance and intimate moments of the couple.”
“The hiking trails are short, very controlled, and partially handicap accessible which makes it a great place for people of all ages.”
Excellent place to walk, have a picnic and see some animals. There is wildlife and a few birds like peacocks and owls in enclosures. Nature walking trails are short and easy to navigate. Nature lovers will like the signs and tree markings with information.
Really awesome location, great way to spend an afternoon. They have a ton of wildlife to look at including owls, bobcats, and turtles. My kids really enjoyed the peacocks. There are plenty of walking trails with scenic views. Some of it is older looking but it’s clear they’re doing a lot of renovating.
Free. Beautiful. Super safe. Plenty of parking. No dogs! No skateboarding/biking? I’m assuming-I didn’t see any signs except a “no bikes beyond this point” at the trail entry… No feeling the wildlife… we threw rocks into the lake to see ripples, but it seemed like the geese had been fedbe cause they swam straight up…
This little nature preserve is excellent. The hiking trails are short, very controlled, and partially handicap accessible which makes it a great place for people of all ages. The pond in the back has ducks, swans, fish, turtles and more that can all be seen from a nice little porch area set up off of one of the trails.
Trail conditions & character
“Inside is a nice little exhibit area with beautiful fish tanks and an information center.”
“The lush landscapes and diverse flora offered a serene and photogenic backdrop, allowing us to capture the natural elegance and intimate moments of the couple.”
“Lots of easy trails and shady spots to sit and just enjoy the scenery.”
“Lots of parking within the gates, portable restrooms, some rehab birds and a woodland trail.”
“The hiking trails are short, very controlled, and partially handicap accessible which makes it a great place for people of all ages.”
“Bathrooms are available inside when the building is open… otherwise, port-a-potties are available (may be a post COVID thing)”
“No dogs allowed (there is a resident heard of deer.”
“There is an easy gravel trail and a boardwalk trail with a stairway lookout.”
Plan your run at J. A. McFaul Environmental Center
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceBoardwalk — flat and scenic, and slick when wet, so watch your footing
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websiteco.bergen.nj.us
- Phone(201) 891-5571
Hours
| Monday | 8 AM–5:15 PM |
| Tuesday | 8 AM–5:15 PM |
| Wednesday | 8 AM–5:15 PM |
| Thursday | 8 AM–5:15 PM |
| Friday | 8 AM–5:15 PM |
| Saturday | 8:30 AM–5:15 PM |
| Sunday | 8:30 AM–4:45 PM |
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