Overview: This 2-mile loop around the Flat Rock Brook nature preserve features a stream and wetlands – an urban oasis just 2 miles from the George Washington Bridge.
Hike Length: 2.0 miles
Elevation Gain: 300 feet
Park Description: Flat Rock Brook is a 150-acre nature preserve and environmental education center in Englewood, NJ featuring 3.6 miles of self-guided forested hiking trails that lead to a cascading stream, wetlands, pond and meadows.
Location: Englewood, Bergen County, NJ
Parking: A parking lot is available. Address: 443 Van Nostrand Avenue, Englewood NJ
Maps:
Trail Description:
This hike follows a roughly 2 mile loop around the perimeter of Flat Rock Brook. Starting at the nature center parking lot, take the white trail to the right of Quarry Pond. Make a right onto the purple trail, which ends back at the white trail. At the next junction, make a sharp right turn onto the blue loop trail. Continue on the blue trail until it connects with the red trail.
Make a left onto the red loop trail. After passing through a gate in the fence, stay right to follow the yellow trail. Now, keep a close eye out for a yellow BCUA warning sign on your right. When you see the sign, you’ll want to bear right to follow the yellow and green trails across Flat Rock Brook on large boulders.
On the other side of the brook, stay right to follow the yellow trail. You’ll soon reach a junction where the trail splits and does a loop.
Go either way around the loop. This is one the quieter parts of the park with less foot traffic. When you get back to the junction, make your way back to towards the river, then stay right to follow the green loop.
Continue along the green trail as Flat Rock Brook turns into MacFadden’s Wetland.
At the end of the wetland, you’ll cross a wooden bridge over a dam. This bridge is known as the “Mystery Bridge” because it mysteriously appeared over one weekend.
After crossing the bridge, turn right onto the red loop trail which goes downhill and skirts the side of the stream.
This is the nicest part of the trail.
At the junction with the Orange Trail, turn left, go through the gate, and follow the red trail, which now begins to climb.
The trail continues to climb until it reaches a junction with the white trail. Turn right and continue until you reach the paved road and the Nature Center building. The parking area where you started is to your left.