Building Hours:
9am-5pm Weekdays
1pm-5pm Saturday & Sunday

Park Hours:
Hiking trails are open from dawn until dusk. Review rules and regulations before your visit.

Flat Rock Brook offers a variety of opportunities to connect with and appreciate nature throughout the year—from hiking to public programming to volunteering. Visitors come to enjoy the quiet and beauty of our preserve or to learn about our habitats through our programs and interpretive nature center. Come explore Flat Rock and see what it has to offer for you!

Our Trails

Flat Rock Brook’s 3.6 miles of trails offer a variety of opportunities for hiking, birdwatching, trail running and other recreation in a beautiful Oak-Hickory forest along the western slope of the Palisades Ridge. A network of self-guiding trails leads to a cascading stream, wetlands, pond, wildflower meadows, quarry cliffs and woodlands. Visitors can observe a remarkable array of birds and other wildlife in their natural habitats. The trails wind through the preserve and range from easy to moderate difficulty. Our trails are well marked with colored blazes that correspond to trails on our map.

We are no longer printing trail maps. Please download the map above before your visit or consult the large map in our nature center for directions.

Location & Directions 

Occasionally, visitors end up at the wrong place using a GPS. Please check these instructions to ensure you drive to the correct location!

Directions by Car

From New York City: Cross the George Washington Bridge. Take Route 4. Exit at Jones Road. Proceed North (right) on Jones Road one block to Van Nostrand Avenue. Turn right, travel 1/8 mile up the hill to the Nature Center entrance at the end of the street.

From the West: Take I-80 East until merging onto I-95 North. Take Exit 71 - Broad Avenue, Leonia/Englewood. Proceed North (right) on Broad Avenue to second traffic light at Van Nostrand Avenue. Turn right and continue up Van Nostrand Ave for a ¼ mile until arriving at the Nature Center entrance at the end of the street.

From the South: Take the New Jersey Turnpike North (I- 95 North) toward the George Washington Bridge, using local lanes. Take Exit 71 - Broad Avenue, Leonia/Englewood. Proceed North (right) on Broad Avenue to second traffic light at Van Nostrand Avenue. Turn right and continue up Van Nostrand Ave for a ¼ mile until arriving at the Nature Center entrance at the end of the street.

From the North: Take Palisades Parkway or Route 9W to Exit 1, Palisade Avenue, Englewood. Turn right, continue to the Jones Road intersection and make a left turn. Continue to the second four-way stop and make a left turn onto Van Nostrand Avenue and proceed up the hill to the Nature Center entrance at the end of the street.

Directions by Bus/Train

Buses from Manhattan:

From the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal:

New Jersey Transit Buses # 171, 175, 178, 186 Get off at Route 4 and Jones Road, Englewood. This stop is just a few minutes over the bridge. Go up the steps to Jones Road. Walk left on Jones Road to the Stop sign at Van Nostrand Avenue. Go right on Van Nostrand Avenue. Walk 1/8 mile up the hill to the Nature Center entrance at the end of the street.

From the Port Authority Bus Terminal:

New Jersey Transit Bus #166 (direct) Get off at Broad Avenue and Van Nostrand Avenue, Englewood. Walk ¼ mile east up the hill on Van Nostrand Avenue to the Nature Center entrance at the end of the street.

Alternate from Port Authority: "A" train to George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal and follow above directions

 
 
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Picnic Area & Playground

Our picnic area is located on Jones Road. Our playscape incorporates nature themes:

-A crawl space simulating an animal den
-Hollowed-out log home
-A slide like an otter might use
-A seating area of giant leaves

It is constructed of environmentally friendly materials and has a safety base of wood chips.

The area also contains numerous picnic tables and benches available for visitors. Seasonal bathrooms are typically open daily in the picnic area from 9am-5pm Monday through Friday and 1pm-5pm Saturday and Sunday. Depending on temperatures, the bathrooms are open from Memorial Day to early November.

Parking is available along Jones Road at the picnic area entrance.
The picnic area is also accessible by hiking from the Nature Center located at 443 Van Nostrand Avenue. 

A Group Permit is required for groups of 10 or more for use of the park, including the picnic area.
All requests for group permits must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the date of intended arrival and must be approved for the permit to be valid.

PLEASE: 

  • No grills, barbecues, or fires are permitted.

  • Dogs and bicycles are also prohibited.

  • All visitors must dispose of litter properly.

  • Do not feed or disturb wildlife.

  • No fishing/netting is permitted by visitors.
                                                                              

The playground project was funded by the City of Englewood, the Lillian Pitkin Schenck Fund, the Community Chest of Englewood, and 20 generous Flat Rock Brook members. 

 

Native Habitat Gardens 

The Native Habitat Gardens at Flat Rock Brook are designed to provide habitats of diverse native plants selected to attract wildlife. The largest garden area is located in the quarry, which covers two acres of landscaping and seventeen different micro ecosystems, all with varying displays of wildflowers, grasses, shrubs and trees. Educational signage informs visitors about the gardens and provides inspiration for converting home gardens into an oasis for wildlife. Butterflies and other pollinators fill our gardens from late spring through early fall. Come stroll through the gardens, walk along Quarry Boardwalk, or relax on one of our benches in this magical space. 

Flat Rock Brook wishes to recognize generous contributions by SUEZ, The Henry and Marilyn Taub Foundation, the Russell Family, the Nichols Family and Friends of Flat Rock Brook whose support made our Native Habitat Gardens possible.

Raptor Aviary

The raptor aviary at Flat Rock Brook Nature Center houses various species of birds of prey such as owls, a Red-tailed Hawk and an American Kestrel that are non-releasable—they would not be able to survive on their own in the wild. The birds live just a short distance from our Nature Center building. These animals are ambassadors for their species, accompanying Flat Rock educators to programs at schools, community events, and other venues. The education programs teach people about the importance of protecting these bird species and their habitats. We provide our birds with regular check-ups, fresh food and water daily, and enrichment activities. We offer symbolic raptor adoptions to help offset these costs.

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Park Rules

To ensure the safety of visitors, as well as the safety and well-being of our wildlife, we ask visitors to please obey and respect the following rules:

  • Dogs, bicycles, fires/BBQs and alcoholic beverages are prohibited in all areas of the park

  • Stay on marked trails

  • Winter Warning: Stay off the icy pond.

  • Groups of 10 people or more must apply for a group permit at least two weeks prior to their visit. Download the group permit.

  • Smoking is prohibited in all areas of the park

  • Please keep our park clean and beautiful – dispose of trash in appropriate receptacles near the facilities.

  • Natural materials are not allowed to be removed from the preserve – this includes any wildlife, flowers, plant matter, mushrooms, etc.

  • Nature Center restrooms are open on weekdays and weekends during regular center hours. Restrooms at Jones Road are closed November through March.

Take only photographs and leave only footprints.

Thank you for helping to keep Flat Rock Brook Nature Center the “Gem of the Palisades.”
Enjoy your visit!

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Our Forest

Flat Rock Brook Nature Center is an Oak-Hickory forest which is a common forest ecosystem found throughout areas of New Jersey. The forest is comprised of a variety of trees including Oak, Hickory, Ash, Birch, Maple, Beech, and others.

Oaks and Hickories are the two important genus of trees that dominate the canopy layer and are important mast producing species meaning they offer many animals food, shelter, and other benefits.

In addition to trees our forest contains numerous species of wildflowers, herbaceous plants, shrubs, and understory trees. All are part of an intricate ecosystem that is a resource for many living organisms and animals. As you walk throughout the preserve you can experience a wide variety of wildlife, flowers, foliage, fungi, rock formations, water features and other intriguing natural components of the forest.

 IMPORTANT NOTICE

  • The Jones Road area of the preserve is being renovated, with a new bridge, playground, paths and other features.

  • As a result, from Monday, October 28th through June 2025 the entire orange trail including playground, picnic area and bathrooms will be closed.

  • The remainder of the park is open. Please feel free to enjoy these trails.

  • For your safety it is important you do not enter the prohibited area.

  • See map for the trails that are open.

  • Please call the center at (201) 567-1265 if you have any questions.

Contact Us

Flat Rock Brook Nature Association
443 Van Nostrand Avenue
Englewood, NJ 07631
201 567-1265

Connect with us

Make a Difference

Your donation makes a difference.
Flat Rock Brook was founded in 1973 by
a group of volunteers and concerned citizens with the foresight to preserve our
forested land.

Keep in Touch

Flat Rock Brook Nature Association | 443 Van Nostrand Avenue, Englewood, NJ 07631 | 201 567-1265