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| ABOUT | LOCATION | RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES | RULES AND REGULATIONS | BROCHURE |
 
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233 acres of mature forest, active farmland, meadows, ponds, and the headwaters of the Spruce Run in Hunterdon County. An additional 58 acres of this property exists in Washington Township, Morris County, and is maintained by the Washington Township Land Trust.
The park's name is derived from the mineral springs found in the area. These springs are high in iron content and know as chalybeate springs. In 1815, officials declared chalybeate springs to be the purest source of water. This led to the creation of one of the earliest resort and spa communities in the country, which was located on nearby Schooley's Mountain in Washington Township.
Crystal Springs Preserve was acquired through a multi-agency partnership in 2004 that involved New Jersey Water Supply Authority, Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance, Washington Township Land Trust Alliance, Township of Lebanon, New Jersey Division of Environmental Protection, and Hunterdon County.
Agricultural Use:The County contracts much of the land to a local farmer. In accepting the agreement, the farmer has agreed to farm the property while complying with a management plan. Please be considerate. Stay on the trails and do not pick or damage any crops.
Habitat of Crystal Springs Section: Crystal Springs Preserve surrounds the headwaters of the Spruce Run. This creek is one of three waterways that flow into the Spruce Run Reservoir, which is a vital source of drinking water for the county and state.
These headwaters are also important to wildlife. The ponds located within the park serve as a resting point for migratory waterfowl and herons. The water is also home to a variety of amphibians and reptiles. Frogs can be heard calling from the edge of the ponds and turtles
can be seen swimming around or basking along the pond edge.Beavers are active in and around the ponds, and evidence of beavers, including chewed trees, dams, and a lodge, is obvious.
The 40-acre meadow located to the south of the ponds is dedicated as grassland bird habitat. It was planted with warm season grass in 2005 and is managed on a multi-year schedule to prevent field to forest succession. The Parks Division hopes that grassland birds such as Bobolink and Eastern Meadowlark will establish themselves in this meadow.
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The Hunterdon County Parks and Recreation Division is dedicated to preserving open space and natural resources, providing safe parks and facilities, and offering educational and recreational opportunities, all contributing to an enhanced quality of life for present and future generations.
Location: Crystal Springs Section is located in Lebanon Township at 20 Pleasant Grove Road, Port Murray 07865, and off of Califon Road,
Long Valley 07853 (Washington Township, Morris County). The park is open from sunrise to sunset. No restroom facilities are available.Directions from the East/Clinton Area: Proceed north on Route 31 for 1.7 miles to Route 513 North. Turn right and follow Route 513 through High Bridge toward Califon for about 6.5 miles. Just past the A&P, turn left onto Sliker Road and proceed about 1.6 miles to Pleasant Grove Road. Turn right on Pleasant Grove, in about a mile, park in the camping lot of Teetertown on the right, or continue into Washington Township, Morris County. Make the first left in Morris County (look for a small blue sign on the left that reads "51-55") and proceed to the end of the road. This is the park entrance. A grass parking area is on the right about 500 feet down the driveway.
Trail Guides are set up as foldable brochures. Please print and fold in half vertically to view in proper order. Additionally, you may have to rearrange pages. Maps should be printed on Legal Size Paper.
Crystal Springs offers easy to moderate hiking opportunities. Much of the trail system is composed of pathways along the edge of the fields. A connector trail links up with the Teetertown Preserve. Five ponds are located on the property and are the headwaters of the Spruce Run. Anglers can fish for a variety of species, including bass, catfish, and sunfish. Ponds are designated for catch and release, and State Fish and Wildlife rules apply.
HUNTING: In order to control the population of deer on park property, hunting is permitted. Hunters must obtain a special permit issued by the Division to hunt in the park. Visitors during hunting season are strongly encouraged to wear blaze orange or confine visits to Sundays . See additional information on the Hunterdon County Park System Controlled Hunting Program.
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