Some sections show serious damage from a 1994 ice storm. Some trees exceed 140 feet in height. The area is a great site for bird watching. Accessible by foot, this secluded site has numerous white oaks, black oaks, red oaks and hickories. Some trees are more than 250 years old, but in general trees on this dry site are smaller than on more fertile sites, such as Engelmann Woods.
Tall trees help identify old-growth forests, but so do numerous openings created by fallen trees.
Old-growth forests renew themselves constantly. An abundance of snag trees and downed trees provide habitat for numerous animals, including tiger salmanders. Ruffed grouse numbers dropped dramatically when our forests disappeared. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of the Missouri Dept. of Conservation is prohibited.