1 / 2J. A. McFaul Environmental Center
π Wyckoff, NY
Bergen County environmental center with short accessible trails, captive animals including peacocks and bobcats, and a pond observation deck. Educational programs and survival classes available. Free admission to grounds year-round.
π Family Action Verdict
Best for families seeking a calm, low-effort nature outing with guaranteed animal sightings. Short, partially accessible trails make it a strong pick for multi-generational visits where grandparents and toddlers need the same easy terrain.
βΉοΈ What to Know Before You Go
π¬ What Families Are Saying
View all reviews β545 Google reviews
G Reviews from Google
Lauren beyer
11 months ago
βSuper cute walking trail in nature followed by the center that holds all sorts of turtles, snakes-etc. super engaging staff and the halloween room is amazing for the kidsβ
Martha
a year ago
βJ. A. McFaul Environmental Center in Wyckoff, NJ, offers an enriching experience for nature lovers of all ages. We participated in their "Survival Class," which was highly informative, teaching us essential skills like identifying poisonous plants and animals, building a fire, and creating emergency shelters. We also learned how to pack appropriately for a day of hiking. These are paid classes but a great price for what you get. The center features well-maintained trails, free and accessible to the public. It's a peaceful escape, and we appreciated that the trails were easy to navigate due to their frequent use by fellow hikers. For those interested in learning more, the center offers a variety of educational programs for different age groups, including wildlife exploration and hands-on activities with local animals. Open daily, the park operates from 8 AM to 6:15 PM on weekdays and weekends, with slightly different hours for the indoor exhibits. It's an excellent spot for a quiet walk, and thereβs no admission fee, which is a nice bonus. They also have picnic areas, so it's a great place to bring lunch and spend the day outdoorsββ
Justin G
8 years ago
βThis 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. The pens have a wide range of hawks, doves, and other birds and I like that the fences have openings so that robins, cardinals and other birds also join them. Inside is a nice little exhibit area with beautiful fish tanks and an information center. Overall it's a beautiful place with a nice range of different trees, flowers, trails, and animals. The perfect place to spend a nice afternoon.β
π¬ What parents mention
Overview
J. A. McFaul Environmental Center sits on beautiful Bergen County grounds with well-marked walking trails, a peaceful pond with an elevated viewing platform, and pens holding peacocks, bobcats, turtles, and snakes. The indoor museum hosts engaging staff and seasonal exhibits - a Halloween room draws consistent praise from families with kids. Deer and Canadian geese roam freely on the property. Survival and nature classes run regularly for groups.






