Description
Douglas Woods Nature Preserve is nestled along Fish Creek on the border of DeKalb and Steuben Counties. This preserve boasts almost 400 acres of mature hardwood forest. The diameters of some of these truly majestic trees reach nearly four feet with canopies easily topping the 100-foot mark.
Purchased from the Douglas Family in 1993, Douglas Woods South has a state-dedicated nature preserve at its heart. Its mature oak forest is dotted with a complex system of seasonal wetlands and serves as a focal point for conservation in northeast Indiana. It offers a window into the past, harboring rare species such as Blanding’s turtle and the blue-spotted salamander, while Fish Creek is home to several species of rare mussels.
At Douglas Woods North, 300 acres of agricultural land have been undergoing active restoration for the past 15 years. This includes the planting and caretaking of more than 300,000 native trees and 30,000 native wetland plants. Today, the land in and around Douglas Woods is home to restored forest, floodplain forest and wetland habitat, and a 550-acre buffer and filter water for Fish Creek, offering many native plants and animals a place to call home.
Visitor Improvements Completed!
The improvements at Douglas Woods include clearly defined visitor parking and trails, as well as new signage and viewing areas.
Douglas Woods Addition
In 2025, TNC added an additional 265 acres at Douglas Woods Nature Preserve! This addition helps bridge the gap between Douglas Woods North and Douglas Woods South and brings the preserve to 1,635 total acres. In this working landscape, protection of this property provides a buffer to Fish Creek, ensuring the health of the stream and the species that inhabit it.
