Spurgeon
Woodland Reserve
Natural Areas: Spurgeon Woodland Reserve
State Designated Nature Preserve [#14; 1971]
Path. Click to enlarge
Spurgeon is the first property acquired by ACRES Land Trust, way back in 1961. It comprises 65 acres of mature, relatively undisturbed, beech-maple forest, traversed by a long-stemmed lollipop trail with a side loop. According to ACRES, the preserve is home to Indiana’s second-largest tulip poplar. USGS maps designate the area as The Knobs; this name comes from the glacially shaped terrain that contains numerous rather abrupt mounds as well as several wet areas. Large stones lie scattered about; these glacial erratics came from the far north with the glaciers and were left behind when the ice melted. There are a few numbered concrete markers, but I’ve never seen a guide that explains what they signify.
Spring brings migrant songbirds to join the resident species and an excellent mix of wildflowers, including toadshade, bishop’s cap, long-spurred violet, jack-in-the-pulpit, and blue cohosh. However, once summer arrives and the trees leaf out, the understory is rather dark and can seem almost gloomy.
Trail Map
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Directions
Noble County. From the intersection of US 6 and IN 5 in Ligonier, east 2.5 miles on U.S. 6, then north 2.2 miles on 600 West to the parking area on the right.
GPS: N 41 29.310 W 85 32.323
Facilities
None
Finder Sketch
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Nearby Natural Areas (miles)
Olin Lake Nature Preserve (12.6)
Greider's Woods (12.9)
Bender Nature Preserve (14.9)
Merry Lea (16.2)
Chain O'Lakes State Park (17)
Lonidaw Nature Preserve (18.7)
Maplewood Nature Preserve (18.7)
Crooked Lake Nature Preserve (19.6)