Oradell’s Lotus Woods Nature Walk!

Lotus Woods Nature Walk

The Borough of Oradell‘s Lotus Woods Nature Walk located in densely populated Bergen County NJ is a 10 acre wetland preserve featuring a woodland trail next to the Van Saun Mill Brook.

Lotus Woods Nature Walk

The woods were preserved by the Mayor and Council of Oradell in the early nineties. The trail has been maintained by the Oradell Boy Scouts since 1991. The boy scouts also help remove invasive plants and replace them with native plants. The Lotus Notes Nature Walk is a forest island completely surrounded by dense residential development. But you wouldn’t know that by looking at the photo below.

The Van Saun Mill Brook, a tributary of the Hackensack River,  flows through the center of the woods. The Van Saun Mill Brook is monitored by the Bergen County Environmental Council further south of the preserve in nearby Van Saun Park three times a year to determine the quality of the water. The Lotus Woods help to protect the Van Saun Mill Brook from non-point source pollution. 

Van Suan Mill Brook

Much of the preserve is dominated by typical wetland vegetation such as Sensitive Fern and Skunk Cabbage.

Sensitive Fern

The trail is level and is an easy pleasant walk next to a bubbling brook. The woods are a perfect way to observe nature at a slow pace. The main entrance  to the preserve is on Amaryllis Avenue between Seminole Street and Summit Avenue in Oradell. It’s a nice slice of nature.

Click here for directions

Feel free to e-mail NJUrbanForest at NJUrbanForest@gmail.com with any comments, memories or suggestion! Thank you and have fun exploring!