Explore The Oldest Trees In The Hoosier State At These 7 Old-Growth Forests In Indiana
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Elizabeth Crozier
Author
There are several old-growth forests in Indiana that are more than 150 years old. Their trees are taller and wider than any others in the state, meaning they’ve been around since before the state was a state.
Whether you love history or nature, these forest preserves will have something in store for you. Scroll on for more details.
This 27-acre forest is mostly made up of beech and sugar maple trees. Located near South Bend, the preserve contains several trails throughout its grounds as well as a nature center.
This nearly 200-acre forest is mostly virgin lowland hardwood that has been protected for many years. The oldest trees are believed to be more than 400 years old and reach 147 feet tall.
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Taking up more than 1,600 acres of Turkey Run State Park, this area of canyons and sandstone is overgrown with hemlock trees, beech, maple, oak, and hickory. It lies along Sugar Creek and contains a few trails for hiking.
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This patch of land is covered in old-growth tulip trees as well as red and white oaks. Wildflowers grow in the spring at the northern Indiana nature preserve that contains 80 acres.
Located near Shades State Park, this nature preserve is 470 acres and known for many unique features like a honeycomb-shaped rock, a natural slide, an old mill, and more. White pine, hemlock, and Canada yew trees grace the grounds.
Encompassing nearly 650 acres, this ancient forest is covered in white oak, black oak, and hickory trees. The caves are closed off but trails are still open for pedestrian traffic. This is one of the only virgin forests remaining in the Hoosier State.
Covered in black cherry, tulip, black walnut, red elm, and bur oak, this 96-acre preserve contains 28 acres of old-growth forest and a trail to lead you through it. Take a gander at what Indiana might have looked like if it were never colonized and industrialized.
For more like this, check out five hiking trails in Indiana that lead to extraordinary ruins.
Have you ever explored one of these old-growth forests? If so, we’d love to hear from you. Please share your experiences and photos with us below in the comments.
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Featured Addresses
Unnamed Road, New Carlisle, IN 46552, USA
Evansville, IN 47711, USA
Shrader-Weaver Woods, 5299 N County Rd 450 W, Connersville, IN 47331, USA
Rocky Hollow Falls Canyon Nature Preserve, Cox Ford Rd, Bloomingdale, IN 47832, USA
Pine Hills Nature Preserve, IN-234, Waveland, IN 47989, USA
611-999 E 400 N, Angola, IN 46703, USA
Spring Mill State Park, 3333 IN-60, Mitchell, IN 47446, USA