The James A McFaul Environmental Center is an 81 acre nature preserve located in Wyckoff, NJ.

The environmental center was originally a pig farm and was acquired by Bergen County in 1962 with assistance from Green Acres.  It was named the James A. McFaul Environmental Center in 1990 to honor a Bergen County parks director who did much to acquire this beautiful nature preserve.

The 2.5 acre pond was created in 1966 by impounding a Goffle Brook tributary.

A boardwalk extends out over wetlands and provides views of the pond.

The educational center, which looks out into the pond, includes freshwater aquariums, educational signage and live native animal displays.

There are outdoor animal shelters which features Porcupine, White-Tailed Deer,  Golden Eagle, Red Fox, Eastern Screech Owls and Red-Tailed Hawk exhibits among others.

In addition to live animal displays, the James A. McFaul Environmental Center provides much needed habitat to a multitude of birds and other native wildlife such as:

Near the entrance to the environmental center, there are Rhododendron and seasonal Daffodil gardens to be enjoyed.

Nature Trail

The preserve features a 2/3 of a mile interpretive nature trail which loops around a seasonal swamp and upland.

As you wind along the path, keep your eyes peeled for wildlife such as White-Tailed Deer, Eastern Chipmunks and Red-Tailed Hawks. Frequent signage appears on the trail to help the hiker to identify the surrounding flora and fauna.

Flora includes the below among others:

• Ironwood
• Pin Oak
• Black Oak
• Scarlet Oak
• White Oak
• Red Maple
• Shagbark Hickory
• Tulip Poplar 
• Skunk Cabbage

Check out Plant Communities of New Jersey.

NJ’s geology, topography and soil, climate, plant-plant and plant-animal relationships, and the human impact on the environment are all discussed in great detail. Twelve plant habitats are described and the authors were good enough to put in examples of where to visit!

Click here for more information!

Want to check out the James A. McFaul Environmental Center for yourself? Click here for directions (or put this address in your GPS: 150 Crescent Ave. Wyckoff, NJ 07481)!

Feel free to comment below with any bird sightings, interesting plants, memories or suggestions! Thank you and have fun exploring!

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