Hitz-Rhodehamel Woods

What to See: Plants and Animals

The chestnut oak woods on the dry slopes are in excellent condition with an open understory featuring painted sedge, lowbush blueberry, huckleberry, diverse mosses and lichens, and the rare whorled pogonia. Animals to look for include turkeys, coyotes, and woodpeckers.

TNC is aiming conservation efforts on forest interior birds like the yellow-billed cuckoo, whip-poor-will, Eastern wood-pewee, wood thrush, Louisiana waterthrush and several species of warblers, including worm-eating warbler, Kentucky warbler and the endangered cerulean warbler. Each of these species depends on large, intact forest to survive.

Visit Hitz-Rhodehamel in mid-April and it will showcase its wildflower display, as well as a good opportunity to spot migrating warblers. Of course, an autumn visit is also ideal as brilliant shades of red, yellow, orange and brown paint the woods.

Access and Trails

The preserve is open for visitation and the gravel parking area can accommodate 5 vehicles, including van accessible parking. A paved walkway leads visitors to an overlook, picnic shelter and the trailhead. A 3-mile loop trail traverses moderate to rugged terrain, with interpretive signs along the way. The trail is divided into two loops, a one mile loop north of the road and a 2 mile loop south of the road, with easy access back to the parking area by walking along Freeman Ridge Road.

Check out TNC's Preserve Visitation Guidelines for more information regarding your visit to the preserve.