The Nature Conservancy in Indiana - JWN

Shooting Stars

Dodecatheon frenchii, commonly known as French's shootingstar, is a globally rare species that blesses this nature preserve with beautiful blooms every spring.

Shootingstars are perennial herbs that prefer the shaded sandstone cliffs found in just a few southern Indiana counties. The shape of their nodding flowers atop tall stems is where the shootingstar wild flower gets its name.

Shooting Star Cliffs

There’s a place in Southern Indiana where the shooting stars are at your feet, not over your head. Shooting Star Cliffs is one of Indiana's most spectacular natural areas.

What to May See: Shooting stars, Cliffs and Much More

There is more than flat fields of corn and soybeans in Indiana. Head down south and the landscape dramatically changes. Many Hoosiers are pleasantly surprised when encountering the hills and hollows of Southern Indiana. Shooting Star Cliffs of Perry and Crawford Counties is just one of those fantastic surprises.

Shooting Star Cliffs is the name given to a several thousand acre area in these counties filled with cliffs, waterfalls, abundant ferns and shooting stars. A particularly rare species of shooting star - French’s shooting star - dots the cliff sides with meteoric blooms each spring. In fact, the floral list for this portfolio site is long, diverse and filled with many other rarities. The filmy fern is an exceptionally rare and diminutive plant found in just a few select spots and the only population of umbrella magnolia is also found in the area.

There is more than just flora to find at Shooting Star Cliffs. The overhangs and caverns with their nooks and crannies present numerous lairs for vulture nests to bobcat dens. Birds like the Eastern phoebes dart in and out of the cliffs while doodlebugs keep busy underneath the rock shelters below.

Shooting Star Cliffs is owned and managed by the Indiana Chapter of The Nature Conservancy and the U.S. Forest Service. Stewards from the Conservancy work with the U.S. Forest Service to protect, restore and maintain the integrity of the sandstone cliff community, the oak/hickory forest and viable populations of plant targets including French's shooting star, rock clubmoss, goldenseal, farkleberry and mountain laurel. Reforestation and managing invasive species also take place on the vast property.

Several protected areas are found in this cliffs area, including Hemlock Cliffs Special Area in Crawford County, managed by the Hoosier National Forest. Pott's Creek Special Area and Oil Creek Special Area are two other important key acquisitions that the Indiana Chapter has assisted the Hoosier National Forest with in the area. Access is very limited with private property surrounding the boundaries of these special area; please do not trespass and hike with caution.

Directions to Shooting Star Cliffs Nature Preserve

From Paoli: Travel south on S.R. 37 through English to C.R. 8. Turn right (west) on C.R. 8 and continue approximately one mole to a "T" intersection. Turn left (south) and travel 0.5 miles to a "Y" intersection., veering right. Continue roughly 1.5 miles and follow a sharp right turn, heading north. Travel another 0.5 miles to the preserve entrance and park in the designated area. There are no trails found on the moderate to rugged terrain so please hike with caution.

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © Ron Leonetti (Hemlock Cliffs at Shooting Star Cliffs Nature Preserve); Photo © William A. Franklin/Flickr/Creative Commons (French's Shootingstar).