Rock Creek Nature Preserve
Natural Areas: Rock Creek Nature Preserve
Outcrop. Click to enlarge
A trail leads from the parking area into the woods. The trees, including buckeye, beech, maple, and cherry, are of recent vintage, but there are plenty of spring wildflowers – snow trillium early on, soon followed by mayapple, jack-in-the-pulpit, purple trillium, and Miami mist. At the junction, turn left or head straight to follow the main loop. You’ll soon descend and approach Rock Creek, a small but scenic tributary of the Wabash. You’ll follow the creek through more mature woods, past areas where the water has carved low rock overhangs along its course, before heading back up toward the junction. During the warmer months northern rough-winged swallows will likely be patrolling the creek, doing their best to reduce the flying insect population. At the junction, another path heads first south and then east, soon approaching Rock Creek. You’ll need to retrace your steps to get back to the junction and the parking lot.
Trail Map
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Directions
Warren County. From the intersection of IN 28 and IN 263 just north of West Lebanon, drive 1.5 miles south on IN 263 to County Road 400 South, then left (east) 1.1 miles to the parking area on the left.
GPS: N 40 15.484 W 87 21.908
Facilities
None
Finder Sketch
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Nearby Natural Areas (miles)
Shawnee Bottoms (7.9)
Portland Arch Nature Preserve (10.1)
Weiler-Leopold Nature Reserve (17.3)
Smith Cemetery Nature Preserve (18.4)