Description: From the parking lot, walk to the right of the main building along a wide crushed-stone path, with Branta Pond to your left. When you reach the end of the pond, make a sharp right, heading almost back the way you came, on a grassy lane marked with a yellow reflector on a stake. Keep to the right at the first intersection. After passing Esox Pond to the right, make a right at the next trail junction and then immediately bear left, still following the yellow stakes. On the left is the East Observation Blind, which overlooks swampy Lily Pad Pond. Just ahead, after the trail enters the woods, turn right onto another path that heads east, with the yellow stakes again pointing you in the correct direction. The trail soon approaches the Passaic River and then turns north, paralleling the west bank of the river.

After approaching the river once more and crossing the June Beetle Bridge, the trail curves left, away from the river. At the next intersection, turn right and then immediately bear right again onto a path that goes along the edge of a meadow. In 500 feet, a boardwalk to the right leads to the East Observation Tower, which offers a view over the tiny river and well beyond. It is well worth the short detour. After enjoying the view, return to the trail and turn right, following the wide, grassy path along the edge of the meadow, and keeping the woods to your right. At the end of the meadow, bear right at a Y-intersection. In another 200 feet, a boardwalk leaves to the left, but you should continue straight ahead, now following dark orange markers.

After continuing for another quarter of a mile through a wooded area, the trail begins to follow a long stretch of boardwalk. At the next intersection, bear right and continue along the boardwalk as it meanders through the East Marsh, a swampy area with a number of trees. At one point, the boardwalk approaches the Passaic River, with a short spur leading out to a viewpoint over the river. A sign informs you that across the river is the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. You are now about halfway through the hike, and you may wish to pause for a few minutes at this peaceful, quiet spot. When you are sufficiently rested, return to the main boardwalk and bear right.

At the next intersection, bear right onto an 0.7-mile-long loop, nicknamed the "Boondocks Boardwalk' after the isolated area that it goes through. Soon you will enter a large section of very wet swampland known as "La Plus Grande" -- the most interesting section of wetlands in the park. After leaving the deep swamp and traversing a long section through woodland, you will come to a triangular junction of boardwalk. Again, bear right, now heading south. Do not turn right at the next junction, but continue straight ahead. Soon, the boardwalk ends, and you will continue ahead on a trail, now marked with red blazes.

In another 100 feet, you will reach a T-intersection. Turn left, continuing to follow the red blazes, which will lead you all the way back to the Environmental Education Center (EEC). You should bear right at the next two intersections, and then make a left followed by a right. Now that you are heading back to the center, you can simply follow the ubiquitous "To EEC" signs, which you have seen at every intersection along the trail. After crossing the Backswimmer and Aphid Bridges and going around a bend in the trail, the Environmental Education Center will be visible ahead. Bear right at the next intersection onto the path on which you began the hike, and proceed back to the center and the parking lot.