Douglas Woods

Why You Should Visit
Containing one of the last remaining old-growth forest stands in northeast Indiana, this preserve boasts almost 400 acres of old growth forest with the balance in younger forest, old fields and tillable land. The forest is dotted with numerous small ponds and wetlands, dominated by buttonbush and sedges. Douglas Woods has an active great blue heron nesting colony, and the ponds and wetland areas in the forest area support a variety of amphibians.

Fish Creek, a high-quality stream home to several species of important fish and mussels, runs through Douglas Woods. The Nature Conservancy has operated an office since 1992 in Angola to help protect this important waterway. Fish Creek is a medium sized, warm water headwater stream leading to the St. Joseph River. Fish Creek drains an agricultural watershed that is 110 square miles and contains the most diverse assemblage of fresh water mussels in the Great Lakes Basin. In all 31 species of mussel inhabit the creek, three of which are federally endangered, along with 43 species of fish. Fish Creek supports the last known population of the White Cat’s Paw Pearly mussel in the world.

Location
Dekalb/Steuben Counties

Ecoregion
North Central Tillplain

Size
522 Acres

Dedicated
State Nature Preserve, 1996

Owned & Managed By
The Nature Conservancy

Partners
Department of Nature Preserves, Indiana Heritage Trust, Indiana University Purdue University of Fort Wayne, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services

How to Prepare for Your Visit
The preserve is open to the public though there are no trails on its easy to moderate terrain. For more information please consult the Conservancy’s Preserves Visitation Guidelines.

Directions
From the center of Hamilton in Steuben County, go southeast on SR 1 for 2.4 miles (SR 1 will turn sharply to the south) to CR 4A and turn left. Go east on CR 4A about 0.4 mile to where a bridge crosses Fish Creek. Park next to the preserve sign on the left, and follow the farm lane back to the woods.

From Fort Wayne, travel north on I-69 to the S.R. 4/Ashley exit. Turn right and continue east on S.R. 4 (County Line Road) approximately 7.2 miles to S.R. 427. Turn left on S.R. 427 and travel 0.4 mile to S.R. 1. Turn right (southeast) on S.R. 1 and continue 2.4 miles to C.R. 4A. Turn left and travel 0.1 mile to the preserve entrance on the left hand side of the road. Park along the farm lane prior to reaching the cabled gate.

What The Nature Conservancy is Doing/has Done
Much of the tillable land is leased to a local farmer willing to practice conservation tillage to demonstrate to area farmers how to reduce soil loss and chemical runoff without sacrificing productivity or profits. The remainder of the old farmland is being reforested to increase habitat for woodland birds and other wildlife.

Within the forest, control efforts are ongoing to eradicate garlic mustard from the site.

For More Information
Contact the Upper St. Joseph River Project Office at (260) 665-9141.