Warren Woods State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Warren Woods State Park |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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 Warren Woods State Park
Location in Michigan
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| Location | Chikaming Township, Berrien County, Michigan, United States |
| Nearest town | Three Oaks, Michigan |
| Area | 311 acres (126 ha) |
| Elevation | 597 feet (182 m) |
| Designation | Michigan State Park |
| Established | 1930 |
| Administrator | Michigan Department of Natural Resources |
| Website | Warren Woods State Park |
| Designated: | 1967 |
Warren Woods State Park is a special nature preserve and public recreation area. It covers about 311-acre (1.26 km2) of land. You can find it in Berrien County, Michigan, close to the town of Three Oaks. This state park is managed by the state of Michigan, but it is actually leased from private owners.
Contents
Discovering Warren Woods: A Park's History
The woods are named after Edward Kirk Warren (1847-1919). He was an inventor who created a special type of corset using turkey bones. This invention made him very successful.
Starting in 1879, Edward Warren began buying parts of these woods. He bought about 150 acres (0.61 km2) of the forest and 250 acres (1.0 km2) of nearby sand dunes. He set aside this land specifically to protect it. This is why we have the park today.
Exploring Nature: Trees and Ecosystems
Warren Woods State Park is home to a very rare type of forest. It has the last remaining "climax" beech-maple forest in Michigan. A climax forest is one that has reached a stable point in its development. It means the trees have grown for a very long time without major disturbances.
Michigan's Last Ancient Forest
This ancient forest covers about 200 acres (0.81 km2) of the park. It is a "virgin" forest, which means the trees have never been cut down by people. You can see huge North American beech trees (Fagus grandifolia) and sugar maple trees (Acer saccharum).
Some of these trees are incredibly tall, reaching 125 feet (38 m) high. Their trunks can be more than 5 feet (1.5 m) across! The rest of the park has a different type of forest. It is a floodplain oak-hickory forest, found near rivers.
Why is it a National Natural Landmark?
Because of how old and big the trees are, and how rare this forest is, the park has a special title. Since 1967, it has been a National Natural Landmark. This means it is recognized as an outstanding example of a natural area in the United States.
Many of the beech trees have smooth, silver-gray bark. Some of these trees have old carvings from visitors, made decades ago. Luckily, this practice of carving into trees seems to have become less common recently.
What Can You Do at Warren Woods?
Warren Woods State Park has fewer facilities than some other parks. It is managed by the nearby Warren Dunes State Park. Most people visit to enjoy the peaceful nature and walk the trails.
Hiking and Exploring Trails
There are about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) of hiking trails in the park. These trails run from the northern edge of the park, near Warren Woods Road, to a parking area at the southern edge on Elm Valley Road.
In the middle of the park, the trail crosses the Galien River on a pedestrian bridge. This is a nice spot to stop and learn more about the area.
Spotting Wildlife and Picnics
The park is a great place for birdwatchers. Many people come here hoping to spot pileated woodpeckers, which are large and striking birds. Other visitors simply come to have a picnic and enjoy the quiet surroundings.
The park also contains the 42-acre (17 ha) Warren Woods Ecological Field Station. This station is owned and operated by the University of Chicago. Scientists study the park's ecosystems here. They also study how the park's environment connects with the ecosystems in nearby Warren Dunes State Park.
