Tall Tree Preserves

 

       The following sites are among the most important examples of tall-tree habitat in the eastern United States.  They

are listed according to the average height of the tallest examples of the ten tallest 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.

 

166.64’   Eastern United States

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

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

                White pine 185.5, tuliptree 177.4, eastern hemlock 169.5, loblolly pine 167.2, pignut 163.3,

                white ash 165.8, black locust 162.0, American sycamore 162.3, sweetgum 157.1, bitternut 156.3.

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

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

               White pine 185.5, tuliptree 177.4, eastern hemlock 167.0, white ash 165.8, Am. sycamore 162.3,

               black locust 162.0, bitternut 154.3, red spruce 152.0, pignut hickory 151.4, sugar maple 151.0.

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

               White pine 185.5, tuliptree 177.4, eastern hemlock 167.0, white ash 165.8, black locust 162.0,

               Am. sycamore 162.3, bitternut 156.3, red spruce 152.0, white basswood 148.9, shagbark hickory 148.5.

161.89’   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.

              White pine 185.5, tuliptree 177.4, eastern hemlock 167.0, white ash 165.8, Am. sycamore 162.3,

              black locust 162.0, bitternut 156.3, shagbark hickory 148.5, white oak 147.1, white basswood 147.0.        

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

               White pine 175.0, tuliptree 173.1, eastern hemlock 164.7, 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.  

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

               Includes Station Cove, Station Cr., Station Mtn, Wadakoe Mtn, Ellicott Rock, & coves at Tamassee Knob.

               Tuliptree 169.1 (Tam), white pine 168.9 (ER), eastern hemlock 168.9 (ER), bitternut hickory 154.1

               (SCove), pignut 152.6 (Wad), chestnut oak 143.9 (SMtn), n. red oak 143.8 (T),

               black locust 143.4 (SMtn), white oak 141.8 (SCr), sweetgum 141.4 (Tam).               

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

               Tuliptree 173.1, eastern hemlock 164.7, 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, northern red oak 139.1.

150.20’   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, eastern hemlock 148.2, white ash 148.2,

               cucumbertree 145.0, sugar maple 144.2, northern red oak 142.8, red maple 142.4, white basswood 140.9.

146.60’   Station Mountain, Sumter National Forest, Oconee Co., South Carolina.

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

               Tuliptree 169.1 (Tam), bitternut hickory 154.1 (SCove), pignut hickory 146.8 (SMtn),

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

               white oak 141.8 (SCr), red elm 141.4 (SCove), sweetgum 141.4 (Tam), shortleaf pine 140.3 (Tam).

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

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

               Loblolly pine 167.2, sweetgum 157.1, cherrybark oak 154.0, Am. sycamore 144.0, baldcypress 141.0,

               Am. elm 135.0, swamp chestnut oak 132.8, e. cottonwood 131.0, overcup oak 131.0, persimmon 126.9.

138.92’   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, black locust 136.2,

                white ash 135.3, shortleaf pine 133.6 (J), bitternut hickory 131.2, white oak 130.8 (J), scarlet oak 130.7 (J).

138.39’   Station Cove, Station Mountain, Sumter N.F., Oconee Co., South Carolina.  ca. 125 acres.

                    This site 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*

138.09’   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, shortleaf pine 140.3,

                white oak 134.6, black walnut 131.8, black oak 129.2, white basswood 127.3, scarlet oak 119.9.         

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.

135.27’   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.

               White pine 181.2, eastern hemlock 145.3, black cherry 140.0, tuliptree 136.6, white ash 128.3,

               red maple 126.0, white oak 124.8, American beech 124.4, cucumbertree 123.1, northern red oak 122.9. 

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

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

                White pine 163.2, white ash 147.4, sugar maple 138.0, eastern hemlock 131.0, northern red oak 130.6,

                American beech 130.0, bitternut 128.4, bigtooth aspen 127.7, , American basswood 125.5, red maple 122.4.

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.

128.92’   Long Cane Creek/Big Curltail Creek, Sumter National Forest, Abbeville Co., South Carolina.

               Cherrybark oak 138.0, e. cottonwood 135.1, sweetgum 131.0, shagbark hickory 130.9, sycamore 130.7,

               tuliptree 128.1, willow oak 127.9, green ash 126.4, loblolly pine 125.1, shumard oak 116.0.

127.89’  Wintergreen Gorge, near PSU Behrend campus, Erie, Erie Co., Pennsylvania.

               Tuliptree 145.4, red maple 136.6, white ash 129.8, Am. sycamore 129.7, eastern hemlock 124.2,

               slippery elm 123.7, sugar maple 123.4, cucumbertree 123.1, Am. basswood 121.7, black cherry 121.3.

127.72’   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, eastern hemlock 112.5, white oak 106.2.

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

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

               White pine 156.0, white ash 139.3, eastern hemlock 137.1, 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.

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*.

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

               Tuliptree 146.4, eastern hemlock 145.5, pignut hickory 140.3, white pine 140.0, white ash 128.0,

               black cherry 126.4, white basswood 112.0, black birch 105.8, sugar maple 105.0, northern red oak 100.0*

123.66’  North Prong of Sumac Creek, Chattahoochee National Forest, Murray County, Georgia.

               Tuliptree 148.0, white pine 135.7, pignut hickory 130.3, shagbark hickory 127.7, sweetgum 123.2,

               White oak 121.0, sugar maple 113.4, northern red oak 112.9, white basswood 112.3, Am. beech 112.0.

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.

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

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

               Tuliptree 147.7, baldcypress 144.7, 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.

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.

120.74’   Monroe State Forest, Franklin Co., Massachusetts.  4400 acres.

               White pine 156.2, white ash 134.2, eastern hemlock 124.3, northern red oak 120.5, bigtooth aspen 120.1,

               black cherry 117.1, sugar maple 110.3, red maple 110.1, American basswood 108.1, red spruce 106.5.

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

               Tuliptree 135.5, American sycamore 133.8, white ash 124.2, American beech 119.3, sugar maple 118.8,

               Black locust 116.5, bitternut 115.0, shagbark hickory 112.8, eastern hemlock 112.3, e. cottonwood 111.2.

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

               White pine 144.6, tuliptree 138.2, eastern hemlock 128.9, 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.

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.

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

               White pine 163.8, eastern hemlock 125.4, black cherry 121.8, American 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.

118.00’   Dunbar Brook, Monroe State Forest, Massachusetts.

               White pine 156.2, white ash 134.0, eastern hemlock 124.2, bigtooth aspen 121.5, black cherry 117.0,

                sugar maple 110.0, red maple 109.0, American basswood 105.0, red spruce 105.0, yellow birch 98.1.

118.00’   Green Lake State Park, Onondaga Co., New York.  ca. 1800 acres.

               Tuliptree 144.7, bitternut 135.6, sugar maple 120.1, eastern hemlock 116.0, northern red oak 115.9,

               American basswood 114.6, white ash 113.0, black cherry 109.4, red maple 105.8, American beech 104.9.

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.                   

115.88’   Mill Creek Park, Youngstown, Ohio.

               Tuliptree 137.7, American sycamore 123.1, northern red oak 122.6, white oak 118.1, black cherry 114.2,

               eastern hemlock 113.8, red maple 110.7, red elm 110.7, white ash 104.5, sugar maple 103.6.

113.79’   Hearts Content Natural Area, Warren Co., Pennsylvania.   121 acres.

                    National Natural Landmark May 1973 as Hearts Content Scenic Area.  National Scenic Area.

               White pine 162.0, eastern hemlock 127.8, red maple 119.0, cucumbertree 114.1, American beech 109.8,

               white oak 108.4, black cherry 106.4, northern red oak 98.6, chestnut oak 97.6, black birch 94.2.

111.77’   Carl Sandburg Homestead, Flat Rock, Henderson County, North Carolina.

               White pine 143.2, tuliptree 140.9, Am. sycamore 122.1, eastern hemlock 114.3, mockernut 108.6,

                white oak 106.1, northern red oak 98.6, black oak 96.2, scarlet oak 94.1, persimmon 93.6.

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.

111.13’   Alan Seeger Natural Area, Rothrock State Forest, Huntingdon Co., Pennsylvania.   390 acres.

                Tuliptree 137.7, white pine 137.6, eastern hemlock 118.2, white ash 111.1, northern red oak 108.1,

                white oak 108.1, red maple 105.1, cucumbertree 102.2, chestnut oak 96.1, blackgum 87.1.

110.20’   Mt. Tom, Mt. Tom State Res., Hampshire & Hampden Counties, Massachusetts. 1800 acres.

               White pine 135.3, eastern hemlock 120.6, red pine 116.6, white oak 111.3, American sycamore 110.4,

               red maple 106.7, northern red oak 104.5, white ash 103.1, sugar maple 101.5, pitch pine 92.0.

109.64’   Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary, Easthampton, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts.   698 acres.

                    Owned by Massachusetts Audubon Society.

               White pine 126.1, tuliptree 120.1, eastern hemlock 111.4, pignut hickory 110.2, bitternut hickory 107.5,

                eastern cottonwood 105.7, green ash 104.7, silver maple 103.9, white ash 103.5, shagbark hickory 103.3.

109.57’   Coho Property, Lake City, Erie County, Pennsylvania

                Tuliptree 140.3, northern red oak 123.4, white ash 120.5, butternut 104.6, American beech 101.6,

                Eastern cottonwood 99.7, sassafras 98.4, Am. sycamore 96.4, eastern hemlock 94.5, black cherry 93.1.  

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

                    National Natural Landmark May 1973.  National Scenic Area.

               Eastern hemlock 134.6, 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.

106.22’  Mt. Peak, Charlemont, Berkshires, Massachusetts.

 White ash 119.5, white pine 110.4, northern red oak 110.2, bigtooth aspen 107.8, sugar maple 106.2,

 shagbark hickory 104.3, red maple 103.7, bitternut hickory 100.2, black birch 100.0, e. hemlock 99.9.

  98.08’   Glenwood Park, Erie, Erie Co., Pennsylvania.

               Tuliptree 113.9, sugar maple 110.3, shagbark hickory 106.3, white oak 104.5, red maple 100.1,

               black cherry 99.1, Am. beech 95.0, northern red oak 90.8, Am. basswood 90.1, e. hophornbeam 70.7.

 90.05’   Palmaghatt Ravine, Minnewaska State Park, near New Paltz, New York.

              Eastern hemlock 109.0, tuliptree 108.0, black cherry 100.0, Am. beech 98.0, northern red oak 91.8,

              green ash 85.8, red maple 84.8, yellow birch 80.0, black birch 77.3, chestnut oak 65.8.

 85.57’   Parker Dam, Pennsylvania

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

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

 79.84’   Niagara River, Regional Municipality of Niagara, Ontario, Canada. 

              Most trees found in Niagara Glen Nature Area; one (c) at the confluence of the river and Lake Ontario.

              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), northern white cedar 66.4.

 

* tentative height

List compiled by Colby B. Rucker, February 2004.

 

Western and International Maximum Height Indexes

(Courtesy of Dr. Robert Van Pelt)

 

305.4’   World

292.8’   United States

284.8’   California

270.0’   Australia

254.8’   Washington

254.3’   Oregon

235.9’   Canada (British Columbia)

233.7’   Olympic National Park

225.5’   Tasmania

225.4’   Vancouver Island

220.2’   Victoria

219.1’   Prairie Creek Redwoods

201.4’   New South Wales