Teetertown Ravine Nature Preserve, NJ

ABOUT THE PARK:
Teetertown Ravine Nature Preserve - Hunterdon County Parks
Crystal Springs Section - Hunterdon County Parks

DIRECTIONS:
Mountain Farm Nature and Activity Center Parking
GPS Coordinates 40.749200, -74.857190

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Room for 5 cars.

TRAIL MAP:
Teetertown Preserve Trail Map - Hunterdon County Parks
Crystal Springs Section Trail Map - Hunterdon County Parks

HIKE DISTANCE:  8.4 miles

THE HIKE:

Continue through the parking lot and veer left on the paved path to start the hike.  No blazes or signs in this area.

The paved path leads to the Old Orchard Trail (no sign or blazes).

The blue-blazed trail starts from the Old Orchard Trail.

A brief road walk through a residential area connects from the blue-blazed trail to the ravine.

An old bridge in the ravine.

The creek flowing through the ravine.

The white-blazed trail leads up out of the ravine.

An early spring flower on the trail.

The red-blazed trail leads through woods then to camping sites and a field.

Skunk Cabbage

First pond in the Crystal Springs section.

Second pond in the Crystal Springs section.

Scenic farm fields in the Crystal Springs section.

Some white markers lead the way from one field to another but for the most part the fields are not blazed.

Cross on a beaver dam to reach a cluster of several ponds.

An American Bittern flew up out of a swamp near the ponds.

An Eastern Bluebird near the ponds.

A lot of beaver activity in the pond area.

Oops.

Last farm field on the way out of the Crystal Springs section.

A pond along the Pond Trail.

Some Tree Swallows were very happy to pose for pictures.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Continue through parking lot and follow paved path to the left at 5 mph sign
[  0.20]  When paved path turns left, keep right in mowed path (Old Orchard Trail)
[  0.30]  Keep straight when a mowed path goes to the right
[  0.35]  Old Orchard Trail veers left around perimeter
[  0.45]  Keep straight on foot path when Old Orchard Trail veers left around perimeter (not on map)
[  0.50]  Come out at corner of field and turn right on blue-blazed trail downhill on rocks at old fence for short distance then at T-intersection with blue, turn right on blue
[  1.10]  Turn left on paved Teetertown Road
[  1.20]  Turn left on paved Hollow Brook Road
[  1.30]  Keep straight on Hollow Brook Road at Ravine Road; becomes gravel and crosses old bridge
[  1.45]  Keep straight when the Geology Study Trail goes left
[  1.70]  Turn left on white-blazed trail at the Teetertown Ravine Nature Preserve sign
[  1.95]  Right on white when the Geology Study Trail goes left
[  2.15]  Right on white/red when red goes left
[  2.35]  Left on red when white goes right
[  2.65]  When red turns left leaving field at bench and porta potty, turn right and cross field towards kiosk on other side
[  2.75]  Continue straight through campsites
[  2.80]  At kiosk, cross chain barrier and veer left towards gravel parking lot
[  2.85]  Turn right and proceed through gravel parking lot
[  2.90]  Cross straight over paved Pleasant Grove Road to orange-blazed trail
[  3.15]  Cross two log foot bridges
[  3.25]  Turn left and proceed around perimeter of field
[  3.95]  Turn left on gravel road with larger gravel rocks and cross creek
[  4.00]  Turn left at T-intersection
[  4.10]  Turn left through path in clearing towards ponds and old red house; retrace
[  4.20]  Turn left at power line on somewhat overgrown footpath
[  4.25]  After short uphill climb, come out on field between pine trees; turn left and follow outer perimeter of fields (map needed to navigate around unblazed fields)
[  5.00]  First white blaze on right going from one field to the next
[  5.15]  Turn right at end of field
[  5.25]  Follow white trail markers to next field; turn left and follow left side of field
[  5.35]  Follow white trail markers to next field
[  5.45]  Follow white trail markers to next field
[  5.55]  Continue straight with field on right, open area on left, ponds straight ahead
[  5.70]  Turn left at bottom of hill heading towards picnic tables
[  5.80]  Continue through parking lot and picnic tables crossing gravel road to ponds; keep left and cross on beaver dam to loop around pond (trail does go completely around pond but is not shown on map); return to gravel road at parking lot
[  6.10]  Turn left on gravel road after looping around ponds
[  6.20]  Walk beyond chain barrier across gravel road
[  6.25]  Keep left on gravel road at fork
[  6.30]  Turn left on road with larger gravel rocks, cross creek
[  6.35]  Turn left at T-intersection at field
[  6.65]  At corner of field turn right briefly then left into woods on orange; cross footbridge
[  7.05]  Cross paved Pleasant Grove Road, walk through parking lot
[  7.10]  Turn right at end of parking lot
[  7.20]  Come out on field and turn right on gravel road towards pond
[  7.25]  At bench path along pond eventually fades out in swamp; retrace
[  7.35]  Back at bench turn right on gravel road
[  7.50]  Other side of pond by picnic tables keep left to mowed path when gravel road goes right
[  7.75]  Turn right on mowed trail (shortly ahead is beginning of blue trail from earlier in hike)
[  7.85]  Keep right on mowed trail when overgrown footpath goes left
[  7.95]  Turn right at corner of Old Orchard and continue along perimeter then turn left on mowed path leaving Old Orchard
[  8.10]  Continue by residences on left
[  8.25]  Turn right at second birdhouse towards maintenance garage
[  8.40]  Back at parking lot

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