Tall Hardwoods of Eastern Forest Preserves

 

       The following sites provide exceptional habitat for tall hardwood trees.  Conifers, including white pine, eastern

hemlock, red spruce, baldcypress, loblolly pine, and shortleaf pine, occur at many of these sites, but are not included

in the index.  The sites are listed according to the average height of the tallest examples of the ten tallest hardwood

species found at each site.   This index, often called the “Rucker index,” provides a numerical evaluation of both

maximum height and diversity of the dominant species.  High index values are the result of many factors, including

climate, topography, soils, and a lack of disturbance.  While the most extensive sites benefit from a greater variety of

habitat and more individual trees, some exceptional sites are quite small.  Although many of these sites have been

recognized as National Natural Landmarks, or are located within national forests, neither designation provides actual

protection.  Some sites are on private property, and are vulnerable to logging or clearing for development.  All

measurements are laser-derived by members of the Eastern Native Tree Society.

 

159.81’  Eastern United States

                     This index includes trees from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Sumter National Forest, 

                Congaree Swamp National Monument, and one tree (the pignut) from private property.

                Tuliptree 177.4, white ash 165.8, pignut 163.3, American sycamore 162.3, black locust 162.0,

                sweetgum 157.1, bitternut 156.3, cherrybark oak 154.0, sugar maple 151.0, white basswood 148.9.

156.87’  Great Smoky Mountains National Park (entire park)   520,408 acres.

                    The park has been designated a United Nations International Biosphere Reserve.

               Tuliptree 177.4, white ash 165.8, American sycamore 162.3, black locust 162.0, bitternut hickory 156.3,

               pignut hickory 151.4, sugar maple 151.0, white basswood 148.9, white oak 147.1, cucumbertree 146.5

155.75’  Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina portion)   276,063 acres.

               Tuliptree 177.4, white ash 165.8, Am. sycamore 162.3, black locust 162.0, bitternut hickory 156.3,

               white basswood 148.9, shagbark hickory 148.5, white oak 147.1, cucumbertree 145.0, sugar maple 144.2.

155.56’  Cataloochee District, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Haywood Co., N. C.  ca. 25,000 a.

                    The district includes Big Creek and Cataloochee Creek, both of which flow to the Pigeon River.

               Tuliptree 177.4, white ash 165.8, American sycamore 162.3, black locust 162.0, bitternut 156.3,

               shagbark hickory 148.5, white oak 147.1, white basswood 147.0, cucumbertree 145.0, sugar maple 144.2.

150.21’  Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Tennessee portion)   244,345 acres.

               Tuliptree 173.1, Am. sycamore 152.7, pignut hickory 151.4, sugar maple 151.0, bitternut hickory 150.9,

               black locust 149.0, black cherry 146.0, cucumbertree 145.0, yellow buckeye 142.0, red maple 141.0.

149.45’   Baxter Creek Watershed, Cataloochee District, GSMNP, Haywood Co., North Carolina.

                   Baxter Creek flows to Big Creek, which flows to the Pigeon River.

               Tuliptree 177.4, American sycamore 158.6, bitternut 154.3, white ash 148.2, cucumbertree 145.0,

               sugar maple 144.2, n. red oak 142.8, red maple 142.4, white basswood 140.9, yellow buckeye 140.7.

147.69’  Great Smoky Mountains National Park (portion in Sevier County, Tennessee).  ca. 120,000 acres.

               Tuliptree 173.1, American sycamore 152.7, sugar maple 151.0, black locust 149.0, black cherry 146.0,

               cucumbertree 145.0, yellow buckeye 142.0, red maple 141.0, n. red oak 139.1, white basswood 138.0.

147.12’  Andrew Pickens Ranger District, Sumter NF, Oconee and Pickens Counties, S.C.  79,000 acres.

                     Includes Station Cove, Station Cr., Station Mtn, Wadakoe Mtn, Sharp Top Mtn., Ellicott Rock,

               & coves at Tamassee Knob.

               Tuliptree 169.1 (Tam), bitternut hickory 154.1 (SCove), pignut 152.6 (Wad), chestnut oak 143.9 (SMtn),

               n. red oak 143.8 (Tam), black locust 143.4 (SMtn), white oak 141.8 (SCr), red elm 141.2 (SCove),

              sweet gum 141.4 (Tam), cucumbertree 139.9 (Sh.Top).

145.86’  Station Mountain, Andrew Pickens Ranger District,  Sumter National Forest, Oconee Co., S. C.

                    Station Mountain includes Station Cove, Station Creek, and coves at Tamassee Knob.

               Tuliptree 169.1 (Tam), bitternut hickory 154.1 (SCove), pignut hickory 145.8 (SMtn),

               chestnut oak 143.9 (SMtn), northern red oak 143.8 (Tam), black locust 143.4 (SMtn),

               white oak 141.8 (SCr), red elm 141.2 (SCove), sweetgum 141.4 (Tam), white ash 133.1 (SCove).

138.50’  Wadakoe Mountain, Andrew Pickens Ranger District, Sumter NF, Pickens Co., South Carolina.

                      Wadakoe Mountain includes Jewell Creek (J).

                Tuliptree 161.1 (J), pignut 152.6, northern red oak 141.1, mockernut 136.6, bitternut hickory 131.2,

                black locust 136.2, white ash 135.3, white oak 130.8 (J), scarlet oak 130.7 (J), Am. beech 129.4. 

138.39’   Station Cove, Station Mtn., Andrew Pickens Ranger District, Sumter N.F., Oconee Co., S. C.

                    Station Cove comprises about 125 acres.  It includes Station Creek.

               Tuliptree 164.8, bitternut hickory 154.1, white oak 141.8, red elm 141.2, pignut hickory 139.0,

               sweet gum 135.3, white ash 133.1, black oak 127.7, northern red oak 126.9, chestnut oak 120.0*

135.88’  Congaree Swamp National Monument, Richland Co., South Carolina.  15,010 acres.

                    United Nations International Biosphere Reserve.  National Natural Landmark (May 1974).

               Sweetgum 157.1, cherrybark oak 154.0, Am. sycamore 144.0, Am. elm 135.0, swamp ch. oak 132.8,

               e. cottonwood 131.0, overcup oak 131.0, persimmon 126.9, laurel oak 125.0, green ash 122.0.

135.77’   Kelly Ridge Roadless Area, Chattahoochee National Forest, Towns Co., Georgia.   8450 acres.

               Tuliptree 159.0, pignut hickory 144.7, yellow buckeye 144.0, white ash 135.9, black cherry 131.3,

               northern red oak 129.3, bitternut 128.6, cucumbertree 127.8, sycamore 127.3, white basswood 125.8.

135.51’  Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area (state owned), Cattaraugus Co., New York.

               Tuliptree 156.0, Am. sycamore 153.0, white ash 139.0, bitternut hickory 136.4, eastern cottonwood 131.5,

               northern red oak 131.1, Am. basswood 128.7, Am. elm 128.3, sugar maple 127.0, black walnut 124.1.

135.02’  Tamassee Knob Coves, Sumter National Forest, Oconee Co., South Carolina.              

                Tuliptree 169.1, northern red oak 143.8, pignut hickory 143.5, sweetgum 141.4, white oak 134.6,

                black walnut 131.8, black oak 129.2, white basswood 127.3, scarlet oak 119.9, black birch 109.6.

131.72’   Ramp Cove, Swallow Creek WMA, Kelly Ridge Roadless Area, Chattahoochee NF, Towns Co, Ga.

                Tuliptree 159.0, yellow buckeye 144.0, pignut hickory 135.3, black cherry 131.3, northern red oak 129.3,

                bitternut hickory 128.6, Am. sycamore 127.3, white basswood 125.8, black oak 118.7, white oak 117.9.

130.97’   South Woods, Belt Woods State Wildland, Prince George’s Co., Maryland.    43 acres.

                    National Natural Landmark (Dec 1974).  Entry by scientific permit.  43 acres within 615 acre wildland.

               Tuliptree 159.9, northern red oak 144.4, white oak 143.7, black oak 143.4, sand hickory 137.4,

               American sycamore 126.7, blackgum 124.1, sweetgum 118.1, black walnut 111.4, southern red oak 100.6.

130.19’   Chase Creek Woods, Arnold, Anne Arundel Co., Maryland.  ca. 150 acres.

                     Tallest privately owned woodland known in the east.  No public entry.  

               Tuliptree 157.6, northern red oak 137.4, black oak 135.6, American sycamore 132.3, white ash 132.0,

               chestnut oak 124.8, pignut hickory 124.1, white oak 121.4, American beech 119.5, mockernut 117.2.

128.84’  Mohawk Trail State Forest, Berkshire and Franklin Counties, Massachusetts.    6757 acres.

                    Includes Cold River Virgin Forest (National Natural Landmark, Apr 1980)

                White ash 147.4, sugar maple 138.0, northern red oak 130.6, American beech 130.0, bitternut 128.4,

                bigtooth aspen 127.7, Am. basswood 124.5, red maple 122.4, e. cottonwood 121.0, black cherry 118.4.     

127.42’  Wintergreen Gorge, Four Mile Creek watershed, near PSU Behrend campus, Erie, Erie Co., Pa.

               Tuliptree 145.4, red maple 136.6, white ash 129.8, American sycamore 129.7, slippery elm 123.7,

               sugar maple 123.4, cucumbertree 123.1, Am. basswood 121.7, black cherry 121.3, Am. beech 119.5.

127.00’  Cook Forest State Park; Clarion, Forest, and Jefferson Counties, Pennsylvania.   7949 acres.

                     Designated a National Natural Landmark by the U. S. Dept. of the Interior in November 1967.

               Black cherry 140.0, tuliptree 136.6, white ash 128.3, red maple 126.0, white oak 124.8,

               Am. beech 124.3, cucumbertree 123.1, northern red oak 122.9, sugar maple 111.9, chestnut oak 111.1.

126.49’   Wissahickon section, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, Penna.  1372.25 acres, including open land.

               Fairmount Park’s 4077.59 contiguous acres includes East Fairmount Park (1049.94 acres), West

               Fairmount Park (1276.40 acres), Wissahickon (1372.25 acres), and Schuylkill River Park (379.0 acres).

               Tuliptree 158.6, American sycamore 139.0, white ash 135.7, northern red oak 135.2, bitternut 134.2,

               black walnut 121.1, American beech 118.0, black oak 116.7, white oak 106.2, American basswood 100.2.

125.13’   Otter Creek Watershed, Sumter National Forest, Oconee Co., South Carolina.  ca. 250 acres.

               Tuliptree 144.0, northern red oak 136.5, chestnut oak 133.2, pignut hickory 127.0, white basswood 125.3,

               white ash 122.6, black oak 122.0, white oak 120.7, scarlet oak 110.0, mockernut hickory 110.0*.

122.91’   Little Pinnacle Mountain, Mountain Bridge Wilderness and Recreation Area, Greenville Co., S. C.

               Pignut 136.1, cucumbertree 133,0, tuliptree 131.1, northern red oak 125.0, black locust 125.0,

               white ash 122.0, white basswood 121.1, chestnut oak 116.4, yellow buckeye 114.0, fraser magnolia 105.4.

121.52’   Beall Woods Nature Preserve, Beall Woods State Park, Wabash Co., Illinois.   329 acres.

                    National Natural Landmark Oct 1965 as Forest of the Wabash.

               Tuliptree 129.3, shumard oak 129.1, pecan 127.6, American sycamore 126.9, bur oak 123.7,

               eastern cottonwood 121.7, sweetgum 120.8, green ash 113.3, sugar maple 112.3, black walnut 111.5.

119.75’   Corcoran Environmental Study Area, Sandy Point State Park, Anne Arundel Co., Md.  ca. 210 a.

                     Restricted area; entry by permit only. 

               Tuliptree 142.1, black oak 122.2, sweetgum 120.9, white oak 119.4, American sycamore 119.2,

               mockernut hickory 118.1, bitternut hickory 115.9, willow oak 115.0, pignut hickory 114.6, pin oak 110.1.

118.30’  Ice Glen, Stockbridge, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts.   ca. 40 acres.

                    Owned by City of Stockbridge.  Managed by Laurel Hill Association. 

               White ash 139.3, shagbark hickory 133.9, black cherry 120.5, pignut 120.8, red maple 116.5,

               American elm 115.2, northern red oak 110.9, American basswood 110.9, bitternut 108.3, white oak 106.7.

117.54’  Carter’s Grove, Williamsburg, James City Co., Virginia.   ca. 50 acres.                               

                    Owned by Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.  Restricted area; no public entry.  

               Tuliptree 147.7, American sycamore 140.1, bitternut hickory 125.2, black walnut 119.5, n. red oak 118.1,

               black oak 110.5, swamp chestnut oak 106.7, Am. elm 104.5, southern red oak 103.2, willow oak 99.9.

117.48’  Rays Pond Ravine, Arnold, Anne Arundel Co., Maryland.  ca. 35 acres.

                      Privately owned, no public entry.

               Tuliptree 154.6, northern red oak 124.7, chestnut oak 118.1, black oak 116.8, American beech 116.2,

               pignut hickory 114.4, white oak 113.0, bitternut hickory 112.5, blackgum 106.9, sweetgum 97.9.

116.60’  Cohutta Wilderness Wildlife Management Area (federal), Fannin Co., Georgia.  35,268 acres.

               Tuliptree 146.4, pignut hickory 140.3, white ash 128.0, black cherry 126.4, white basswood 112.0,

               chestnut oak 110.0, black birch 105.8, sugar maple 105.0, northern red oak 100.0*, sassafras 92.1.

112.29’  Ricketts Glen State Park, Columbia County, Pennsylvania.

               Tuliptree 138.2, white ash 127.6, cucumbertree 115.8, sugar maple 113.5, red maple 110.6,

               n. red oak, 106.8, Am. basswood 106.6, shagbark hickory 105.9, yellow birch 101.7, black cherry 96.2.

112.06’   Walnut Creek Gorge (private), Fairview, Erie County, Pennsylvania.

               Am. sycamore 129.2, tuliptree 124.4, sugar maple 118.8, black locust 116.5, shagbark hickory 112.8,

               e. cottonwood 111.2, Am. beech 106.0, black cherry 102.8, northern red oak 99.9, cucumbertree 99.0.

111.23’  Mill River floodplain/terraces, Northampton, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts.

               Tuliptree 132.1, black locust 118.7, sugar maple 114.7, e. cottonwood 111.9, white walnut 111.7,

               bitternut 110.0, silver maple 107.5, black cherry 106.9, American beech 102.2, northern red oak 96.1.

108.38’  Anders Run Natural Area, Corn Planter State Forest, Warren Co., Pennsylvania.  96 acres.

               Black cherry 121.8, Am. basswood 120.7, white ash 116.9, red maple 116.0, shagbark hickory 111.0,

               white oak 105.7, northern red oak 104.8, American beech 100.4, blackgum 97.7, yellow birch 88.8.

103.08’  Tionesta Scenic Area, Allegheny National Forest, Warren Co., Pennsylvania.  2018 acres.

                    National Natural Landmark May 1973.  National Scenic Area.

              Black cherry 121.5, tuliptree 119.0, red maple 113.9, American beech 108.9, white ash 107.2,

              sugar maple 106.5, yellow birch 99.1, black birch 92.9, cucumbertree 90.0, e. hophornbeam 71.8.         

 85.57’  Parker Dam State Park, Penfield, Pennsylvania.

              White ash 114.8, northern red oak 114.1, cucumbertree 114.0, tuliptree 113.3, Am. basswood 108.1,

              sugar maple 107.1, shagbark hickory 104.2, white oak 89.2, e. hophornbeam 63.6, hercules club 35.4.

 79.73’  Niagara River, Regional Municipality of Niagara, Ontario, Canada

              Most trees found at Niagara Glen Nature Area.  One (c) found at the confluence of the river and

              Lake Ontario, and one (e) at the escarpment ca. 2 miles below the glen.

              Tuliptree 126.3, black walnut 87.1, sugar maple 84.6, white ash 84.1, sassafras 74.3,

              quaking aspen 71.3, butternut 68.8, black oak 68.7, black willow 66.8(c), white oak 65.3(e).    

 

* tentative height

 

List compiled by Colby B. Rucker, with corrections to January 2004.