Lost Brook Trail Race – Nature Center, Hiking Trails, Summer Break Camping, Outdoor Activities in Tenafly NJ

Lost Brook Trail Race

Sunday, September 29, 2024

Discover the natural terrain of the Tenafly Nature Center. Experience sections of the trail as you navigate over roots, rocks, and streams through Tenafly Nature Center’s nearly 400 acres of wetlands and hardwood forest.

Nestled within the township of Tenafly, New Jersey and just outside of New York City lies a majestic woodland. Lost Brook is part of an almost 400 acre nature preserve that contains a 7-mile trail system. This green space is managed by the Tenafly Nature Center, a non-profit member-supported organization, on a mission to educate the next generation of conservationists.

For group/team registration discounts, please contact development@tenaflync.org.

Race Info

Date: Sunday, September 29, 2024
Race Distances: 5 Mile and 10 Mile
Location: 313 Hudson Avenue, Tenafly, NJ 07670

Pre-Registration Entry Fee (Available until race day):

$35 for 5 mile
$40 for 10 mile

Day of Entry Fee (Available on the day of the race):

$45 for 5 mile
$50 for 10 mile

Runner Check-In:
On the Main Trail, by the parking lot between 7:45–8:45 am.

Race Start Time:
Start times will be staggered.

10 Mile - 9:00 am
10 Mile - 9:15 am
5 Mile - 9:30 am
5 Mile - 9:45 am

Driving Directions: Click here

Parking: Parking will be limited in the Tenafly Nature Center parking lot. There will be street parking available to all participants on Hudson Avenue and its side streets.

Aid Stations: There will be one aid station on the course, located approximately 2.7 miles into the 5-mile loop. It will be stocked with both water, and sports drink. If you are running the 5-mile race you will only pass the aid station once. 10-mile runners will pass it twice at miles 2.7 and 7.7. There will also be a water table at the end of the loop for 10 mile runners to re-fuel at before heading out for their second loop.

Bathrooms: A compost bathroom is located at the far end of our parking lot. Please make use of these facilities and DO NOT use the woods.

Race Results: Full results will be posted on the race website within two days. Please do not ask our volunteers at the timing table for individual times on race day.

2023 5 Mile Results
2023 5 Mile Results
2023 10 Mile Results
2023 10 Mile Results

Course Records:

5-Mile:
Jaden Uram, 33:02
Christina Allen, 37:07
10-Mile:
Michael Fonder, 1:00:27
Lexi Abel, 1:14:51

Sponsorships Available

Sponsorship supports TNC’s mission of wildlife rehabilitation, environmental education & habitat preservation. Events like these at TNC , strive to bring our community together while providing a fun and educational or recreational element.

Each event is unique and with your help, TNC can continue to build community traditions that connect people to nature while keeping costs affordable.

Event sponsorships range from in-kind to organizational sponsors.

Email Helene Bon for more information

Detailed Course Description

The Lost Brook Preserve is a dense stand of hardwood forest that is naturally maintained by the Tenafly Nature Center. This means that you will NOT find wide and nicely groomed trails here. Instead, you will discover the native terrain of this area. There will be sections of trail covered in rocks and roots, foot bridges over streams, and thousand year-old boulders moved by the glaciers that once covered this landscape. However, this is still an extremely runnable course and I will be expecting some fast times for both the 5 & 10 mile races. Be safe out there, but more importantly remember to have FUN!

OUTBOUND (miles 0 – 2.7):

The race starts and finishes to the left of the parking lot on the Main Trail. This will be the widest section of the course, and one of the few opportunities to pass another runner safely.
Go STRAIGHT down the Main Trail continuing past the pond and up a short incline.
TURN LEFT onto the White Trail (White Triangle Blazes).
Continue STRAIGHT AHEAD onto the Bischoff Trail (Red & White Blazes).
You will make a quick RIGHT TURN, which takes you over an old rock wall and then continue on the Bischoff Trail.
Follow the Bischoff Trail to its end at the Main Trail.
Make a sharp RIGHT TURN onto the Main Trail to the turn-around just ahead.
After the turn-around head back up the Main Trail and make a sharp RIGHT TURN onto the Little Chism Trail (Red Blazes).
Stay to the RIGHT at the first fork. TURN LEFT at the next intersection to continue on the Little Chism Trail (you will now see both Red & Yellow Blazes).
TURN LEFT again at the next intersection to continue on the Little Chism Trail.
Make a sharp LEFT TURN at the next intersection to bypass a large fallen tree.
TURN LEFT at the next intersection towards the road (Rt. 9W).
TURN RIGHT while exiting the forest and continue on the grass along the forest edge.
Soon you will reach the Aid Station (~2.7 miles). To bypass the Aid Station, TURN RIGHT when you reach it to continue on the Little Chism Trail.

INBOUND (miles 2.7 – 5):

Leaving the Aid Station, you will be turning LEFT onto the Little Chism Trail.
Make a sharp RIGHT TURN right before reaching the road (E. Clinton Ave.) to travel over a foot-bridge and continue on the Little Chism Trail.
Go LEFT at the fork to continue on the Little Chism Trail.
Go LEFT again at the second fork you come to and continue on the Little Chism Trail until it ends.
TURN RIGHT when it ends and quickly make a sharp LEFT TURN onto the Seely Trail (Yellow & Orange Blazes).
Follow the Seely Trail to its end (there will be a large 8ft tall boulder to your right).
Make a sharp RIGHT TURN onto the Haring Rock Trail (Orange Blazes).
Stay LEFT at the fork and LEFT again at the next intersection to continue on the Haring Rock Trail to its end.
When it ends, make a sharp LEFT TURN onto the Allison Trail (Yellow Blazes).
TURN LEFT at the next intersection onto the Purple Trail (Purple Blazes).
TURN RIGHT at the next intersection to continue on the Purple Trail. The Purple Trail curves to the left at a boulder field.
Make a sharp RIGHT TURN after the boulders to continue on the Purple Trail to its end. When it ends, make a sharp RIGHT TURN onto the Red Trail (Red Triangle Blazes), which quickly comes to an end at the Main Trail.
When it ends, make a sharp LEFT TURN onto the Main Trail.
Continue STRAIGHT AHEAD past the pond and up a short incline (this area of the Main Trail will have runner-traffic going both ways, so please follow the course markings to avoid congestion).
Stay to the RIGHT as you run the incline.
At the crest, make a sharp RIGHT TURN onto the Yellow Trail (Yellow Triangle Blazes).
Follow the Yellow Trail along the pond and make a sharp LEFT TURN at the floating dock.
The Yellow Trail will curve to the LEFT at a clearing.
Stay LEFT at the next intersection to continue on the Yellow Trail to its end.
When it ends, make a sharp RIGHT TURN back onto the Main Trail to head in to the finish.
If you are in the 10 mile race, you will make a sharp LEFT TURN at this same intersection back onto the Main Trail and
repeat the loop.

Race History

In 1983, the Tenafly Nature Center with the help of the Township of Tenafly, organized a fundraiser in the form of a running race. For four consecutive years, the Raccoon Run was held on Father’s Day and consisted of both a 5k and 10k road race. This event was an important fundraiser for the nature center that attracted hundreds of runners.

In 1986 (the last year this race was held on behalf of the nature center), over 200 runners participated. In the 10k, Jeff Van Horn won the men’s race with a time of 34:44 and Barbara Reinderes captured the women’s title with a time of 42:02. In the 5k event, placing first for the men with a respectable time of 16:31 was Dominick Tabbachino, and for the women, Jennifer Van Horn was victorious with a time of 18:50.

Interestingly enough, this race still exists today. Now called the Tenafly 5k and Dog Walk, this event has become a fundraiser for the Tenafly Educational Foundation.

The Lost Brook Trail Race is a resurrection of the once great Raccoon Run and the first organized trail-running event in this nature preserve. This event is on a mission to continue the fund-raising tradition that began 27 years ago. All proceeds from this event will be donated to the Tenafly Nature Center in support of their mission.