Location
Floyd County

Ecoregion
Interior Low Plateau

Size
1,378 Acres (Hardin Ridge)
549 Acres (Brock-Sampson) 

Dedicated
State Naure Preserve, 1989 (Brock-Sampson only)

Owned & Managed By
Division of Nature Preserves

Partners 
Division of Fish & Wildlife, within Indiana's Department of Natural Resources

How to Prepare for Your Visit
The rugged terrain and lack of established trails makes hiking the Hardin Ridge and Brock-Sampson quite an adventure. Prepare with a compass, appropriate hiking wear and plenty of water!

Directions
To Brock - Sampson: From New Albany, travel south on S.R 111 for 6 miles. Turn right (west) on Sevenmile Lane and continue for 1 mile. The road curves along the base of a hill. As the road makes a sudden left turn, there is a small drive that continues straight. Follow the drine and park along it.

To Hardin Ridge: From New Albany, travel south on S.R. 111 for 5 miles. Turn right (west) on Fivemile Lane (this turns into Budd Road after approximately 2 miles). Continue on Budd Road 0/5 mile passing Blunk Knob Road and New Albany Fraternal Order of Police. Look for a pulloff on the left side of the road next to a gate and park (do not block the gate, please).

What to See: Plants and Animals 
The Knobstone Escarpment isknown for its oak covered ridges and almost tree-less slopes due to being so steep. Extremely xeric conditions allow the growth of rare plants like Indiana's ony native cactus, the prickly pear. Other colorfully-named plant species include Deam's beardtongue, scaly gayfeather, birdfoot violet and rattlesnake hawkweed.

In contrast, the Hardin Ridge is home to a healthy population of deer and wild turkey and several Kentucky coffee trees. A clear perrenial stream is home to a small population of minnow. The Brock-Sampson is the smaller of the two preserves which boasts a fine array of wildflowers - like hepatica, drooping trillium, and dwarf iris - in the central valley. Seasonal waterfalls can also be found along with the rare creeping cucumber plant.

What The Nature Conservancy is Doing/has Done 
TNC and the IDNR's Divsion of Nature Preserves and Fish & Wildlife have cooperated together to preserve and protect this huge, natural area. While the Conservancy and the DNP are protecting the oak-covered ridges and scattered Virginia pine forests, the Fish & Wildlife have preserved a hunting area close to Louisville, Kentucky. Although one of the largest projects in Indiana, this partnership hopes to acquire more land to this almost 2,000 acre area.

For More Information
Indiana's DNR - Division of Nature Preserves