Location
Washington County

Ecoregion
Interior Low Plateau

Size
400 Acres (Henderson Park)
188 Acres (Twin Creek Valley)

Owned & Managed By
The Nature Conservancy (Twin Creek Valley) & The City of Salem (Henderson Park)

Partners
Indiana Heritage Trust

How to Prepare for Your Visit
The moderate to rugged terrain will make for a smooth hike with the existence of developed trails at the preserves. Please read the Conservany's Preserve Visitation Guidlines for more information.

It should be noted that Henderson Park has a gated entryway which requires a key and small security deposit. Please see the police dispatcher for the city of Salem to gain entry - this person is the only one responsible for loaning out keys to the park. The Salem Police Station is located at Salem City Hall on the southeast corner of the downtown square. If the main door is closed, go to the back of the building to the door used by the police - it should be open.

Directions
To Twin Creek Valley: From the intersection of S.R. 60 and S.R. 56 west of Salem, travel west on S.R. 60 3.5 miles and turn right (north) on Dog Trot Road. Travel for 3 miles and turn left (west) on Wonder Valley Christian Camp and park along the south side of the road upon entering the campgrounds. Thre preserve lies to the south and west of the camp.

To Henderson Park: For downtown Salem, travel west on S.R. 56 approximately 1.25 miles to S.R. 60. Turn right on S.R. 60 and continue traveling roughly 6 miles to Henderson Park Road. Turn right (north) on Henderson Park Road, bearing left, and continuing through to the gate at the preserve entrance.

What to See: Plants and Animals
Twin Creek Valley consists of a heavy mesic upland and floodplain forest containing karst features like rugged limeston boulders and aquatic caves. The forest is dominated by oak species while hickory species are prominent as well. The understory is green with flowering dogwood, eastern redbud, sourwood, lowbush blueberry, derrberry, mountain laurel and mapleleaf. The caves make an excellent habitat for the federally-endangered Indiana bat. Two lovely cove waterfalls are also found at the site, occassionally dressed with a variety of spring wildflowers.

On the southern side, Henderson Park showcases a series of spring caves (with three entrances available), managed limestone glades and swift streams. Covering the glades are a variety of prairie plants - including grooved yellow flax, crested coralroot, limestone adder's tongue, prairie dock, St. John's wort, Indiana grass and bluestem - which are shaded by redbud, Carolina buckthorn and red cedar.

What The Nature Conservancy is Doing/has Done
The long-term goal is to protect and enhance the forested area along Twin Creek which will provide a wooded buffer for the creek and offering additional protection for the watershed. Cave systems will also be protected by deterring timbering and other activities that may disrupt the sensitive portions of the cave. The Conservancy is working to obtain more land in order to secure the natural features of the preserve. We have also successfully utilized out Forest Bank program as a management and education tool for buffering the core preserve as well as enengaging partners in the area to maximize the level of protection.

Prescribed burns, monitoring glades for redbud and cedar invasion, controlling invasives - like Japanese stilit grass - and curbing ATV trespass are other conservation activites our stewardship staff work on.