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Sunset Barrens Preserve

The Sunset Barrens Preserve, also known as Macy Highway Barrens, provides an interesting remnant of sandstone barrens and glades.

Location
Some 9 miles north of Bowling Green in Warren County.

Size
100 acres

Conditions
Due to the sensitivity of the site, the preserve is open to the public only through Conservancy guided hikes.

How to Prepare for Your Visit
For more information on visiting this and other Nature Conservancy sites in Kentucky, see our Preserve Visitation Guidelines page.

What to See: Plants
The large sandstone exposures on upper slopes have mats of lichens and mosses with typical vascular plants like rush-foil (Crotonopsis elliptica) and knotweed (Polygonum tenue). The surrounding barrens and dry forest are dominated by post oak (Quercus stellata), black-jack oak (Q. marilandica), black oak (Q. velutina), and white oak (Q. alba), with a grassy ground cover in places.

Why the Conservancy Selected This Site
Sunset Barrens Preserve is an excellent example of sandstone glades and barrens in western Kentucky. Discovered by Marc Evans of the Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission, this tract was purchased from Charles L. Clark in 1990.

Sunset Barrens is part of the projected Lower Green River Corridors project area, where the Conservancy intends to become more active in future years. This site is a small but significant example of the sandstone cliff section of this area.
 
What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
Key objectives are to protect the high-quality sandstone barrens/glade complex, maintain vegetation from woody encroachment and invasive species, and initiate fire management on the site.