The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

Why You Should Visit

Green’s Bluff is a large wooded riparian habitat with uplands, ravines, tributary valleys, steep cliffs, karst features, hemlock forest and floodplain forest. The preserve also features a great blue heron rookery as well as an old grist mill whose remnants can be found in a bend of Raccoon Creek.

Location

Owen County

Ecoregion

Interior Low Plateau

Size

563 Acres

Dedicated

State Nature Preserve, 1986

Owned & Managed By

The Nature Conservancy

Partners

Department of Nature Preserves & Indiana Heritage Trust

What The Nature Conservancy is Doing/has Done

The Conservancy has added important acreage and protected the site from imminent development. We are also actively pursuing more additions at the preserve to consolidate protection of oak forests. Ongoing stewardship tasks include trash removal, boundary posting, interior fence removal and tree planting.

Things To Do

What to See: Plants and Animals

Several dense stands of hemlock trees cover the steep slopes and cliffs along the south side of the valley. Thick beech-maple woods grow in the rugged ravines while sycamore trees tower over the scouring rush (horsetails) which flourish along the creek. Green’s Bluff is one of two Indiana sites where mountain spleenwort can be found. Other rare plants include hay-scented fern, goldenseal and spotted wintergreen. Spring is a great time to view the vast array of stunning wildflowers, and the view from atop the sandstone bluff reveals a wooded landscape that feels like true wilderness.

The bluffs also boast a Great Blue Heron rookery; getting too close will be met with loud, raucous calls from the clan. The Wood Thrush, Red-eyed Vireo, Acadian Flycatcher, Scarlet Tanager and Louisiana Woodthrush can also be found either nesting high in the trees or nesting in the brush. Leopard frogs, green frogs and banded water snakes are among the amphibians and reptiles found at the preserve. Various mollusks, crustaceans and fish also make their home in the meandering Raccoon Creek.

Plan Your Visit

A trail has been established at the preserve, but can be quite rugged. Interpretive signs are found throughout the trail. For more information please consult the Conservancy’s Preserve Visitation Guidelines.

Directions

From Bloomington, travel on  S.R. 48 west for about eight miles to the junction with S.R. 43 where S.R. 48 ends. Take S.R. 43 north about five miles to the village of Freeman. About 1.5 miles past Freeman turn left onto Sherfield Road. This road comes to a "T" after about a mile. Turn left and go about 0.4 mile to where the road ends. You’ll see a Green’s Bluff Nature Preserve sign. Walk along the old road into the preserve.

From Spencer, travel on S.R. 46 east. Just past McCormick’s Creek State Park turn right on S.R. 43. After about five miles turn right on Sherfield Road. This road comes to a "T" after about a mile. Turn left and go about 0.4 mile to where the road ends. You’ll see a Green’s Bluff Nature Preserve sign. Walk along the old road into the preserve.

Discussion

Have you been to this preserve? Are you thinking of visiting? See what others are saying about their experiences and add your comments below.

Add Your Comments

Time for you to join the discussion. Tell us about your experience at this preserve. What plants and animals did you see? When did you go? You can help others plan their visit when you share your thoughts. And thank you for visiting one of our nature preserves!

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