LAWRENCE WOODS
STATE NATURE PRESERVE - 1,035 ACRES

Main Feature:

Exceptional large trees; oaks, hickories, maples and beech; good spring wildflowers.

This site is significant because it is the largest known mature forest in this region and is home to a number of rare plant and animal species.

Several plant community types are present within the forested area depending on the elevation. The highest and driest sites have an oak-hickory forest type. On the slightly less dry ground, the community grades into beech-maple, beech-oak-red maple, and maple-ash-oak swamp communities.

The forest has large trees of many species including white, yellow, red and bur oaks, as well as beech, white ash, shagbark hickory, red maple, sugar maple and sycamore. There are substantial buttonbush swamps within the forest in areas which are inundated for most of the year.

Heart-leaf plantain (Plantago cordata) occurs in Lawrence Woods. This species is only known from three sites in the state and is an endangered species. Grove sandwort (Arenaria lateriflora), a state-listed species, may be seen along the boardwalk. This is an excellent spot for viewing spring wildflowers.

Location:

Located in Hardin County, abouty 4 miles south of Kenton. From SR 31 bear right onto SR 292 and then turn west onto County Road 190. The trail begins near the northwest corner of the woods.

Abide by Preserve Rules at all times