Hitz-Rhodehamel Woods

Visit

• When is the best time to visit and what will I see?

  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.

  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.

  Many of our preserves allow deer hunting from October through the first week of January, so wearing blaze orange is suggested when hiking in these areas during hunting season.

• What should I do?

  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 two mile loop south of the road, with easy access back to the parking area by walking along Freeman Ridge Road.

• What amenities are available?
  • Hours: Sunrise to sunset
  • Parking: The preserve is open for visitation and the gravel parking area can accommodate five vehicles, including van accessible parking.
  • Restrooms: No restrooms are available at the preserve.
  • Visitor center: There is no visitor center, but the preserve does offer a picnic shelter near the main trailhead.
  • Wildlife viewing areas: There is a viewing platform near the picnic shelter.
  • EV Charging: EV charging is not currently available at this preserve.
  • Cell phone and wifi service: Most TNC preserves are located in remote areas, meaning cell phone and wifi service may not always be available.
• What should I bring?
  • Wear comfortable footwear suitable for natural trails, but please do not wear heavy, cleated boots that can damage the trails.
  • To protect yourself from ticks, poison ivy or poison sumac, wear long pants and tuck them into your socks.
  • No matter the season, each person in your party should bring a full water bottle. Dehydration is a serious risk at any time of the year.
  • To get the most from your visit, you may want to include the following items in your backpack:
    • Snacks
    • Camera
    • Insect repellent
    • Rain gear
    • Sunscreen
    • Binoculars
    • Compass
    • Field guides (wildflowers, birds, butterflies & other natural features)
    • First aid kit
• What are the preserve guidelines and rules?

  Our vision is of a world where people and nature thrive together. TNC encourages people of all ages, lived experiences and abilities to visit our preserves and has a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination of any kind.

  Pets are welcome and must remain on leash at all times.

  We encourage you to hike open trails and enjoy bird and wildlife watching and other permitted activities. Please do not trespass (or park) on private property adjacent to TNC preserves. Property lines are clearly marked with yellow signs featuring TNC's logo. To protect the plants and wildlife that call the preserve home, TNC prohibits the following:

  • Biking and mountain biking
  • Camping, campfires and cooking
  • Caving
  • Fishing (except by permit on designated preserves)
  • Geocaching
  • Horseback riding
  • Hang gliding or paragliding
  • Ice skating
  • Hunting (except by permit on designated preserves)
  • Picking flowers, berries, nuts or mushrooms
  • Removing any part of the natural landscape (shells, rocks, etc.)
  • Rappelling
  • Rock climbing
  • Snowmobiling
  • Swimming
  • Firewood collecting
  • Littering (please remove all trash)
  • Drones—aka personal aircraft, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)—self-propelled or other aircraft are prohibited from taking off, landing or being operated on any TNC preserve except for official TNC purposes, approved research or in an emergency landing situation. We prohibit the private use of drones on our preserves for the following reasons:
    • Privacy and enjoyment of other preserve visitors—In order to avoid capturing images of people who are not related to TNC and from whom a necessary photo release has not been obtained.
    • Wildlife disturbance—To make sure drones will not disturb resident wildlife, especially areas with many birds or ground-based nests.
    • Preserve management—Unauthorized drones operating in areas where active land management is taking place, such as prescribed burning, could lead to potentially dangerous interactions.
    • Respecting neighboring property—Preserve boundaries are not always apparent from the ground. We wish to be good neighbors and minimize the risk of drones accidentally crossing over from our preserves to non-TNC property.
• Contact info

  For more information, call 317-951-8818.

  If you are experiencing an emergency during your visit to Hitz-Rhodehamel Woods, please call 911.