Closter Nature Center — Attraction in Closter

I was just walking the track on a Saturday morning when I saw a crowd of people surrounding what appeared to be a snapper turtle. The people were just staring at her, talking amongst themselves, placing grass and leaves near her mouth. What they didn’t realize was that she was preparing to lay eggs- which once the group left, she did! Her choice of “birthing center”, so to speak was concerning- as she chose the bed of mulch near the monkey bars, where the kids play. I could not leave- as little ones playing were getting too close to her. I waited about an hour- soon another mom walked over and informed me that there was a Nature& Science Center just down the road- she agreed to stay near the turtle to monitor while I took a ride to the center for advice. As I walked in, I was greeted by Mark and Willow- without hesitation, Mark exclaimed, “I think we have time to do a rescue, Willow, want to go rescue a snapper turtle?” Without question and within minutes, both were at the site, and it was mentioned that this momma turtle was tired and hungry. Mark gathered the eggs in a portable habitat to relocate them to safe ground for hatching and he was able to carry mom back as well to be fed before release back into her woods. I was so beyond impressed- please support good humans like Mark & Willow- they both restored my faith that...

The Closter Nature Center is a nice little escape from the busyness of town. It’s quiet and peaceful, and I love that it gives you a chance to slow down and just be outside.

That said, the trails could use a bit more care. Some areas felt uneven and overgrown, so be ready for that if you’re bringing kids or anyone who isn’t super steady on their feet. Nothing unsafe, just not as well maintained as I expected.

The center itself feels welcoming and low-key, and the staff were friendly. It’s not a big place, more of a quick nature walk than a day-long outing but it’s still worth a visit if you’re nearby and want...

A nice place for anyone to get a small dose of nature. There are ponds that have turtles and fish and supports many birds that take up residence. Fishing is allowed with regulations. There are hiking trails, some of which are smooth roads, others that are rocky, root-filled and require thoughtful foot placement. I've seen lots of deer, ducks, geese, song girls, and some turkey here. It's possible to see coyote, foxes, and most of the common smaller animals. My daughter saw her first dragonfly here and loves to hear the roosters crowing....