Gibson Woods Nature Preserve
County: Lake
Size: 120 acres
Ownership: Lake County Parks and Recreation Department
Location and Access
From the intersection of I-80/94 and Kennedy Ave., go north on Kennedy Ave. to 165th St. Take 165th St. east to Parrish Ave. and then go north on Parrish Ave. to the parking area and nature center. The preserve is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the nature center is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. A full-time naturalist leads scheduled hikes through the preserve.
Description
Oak savanna
This tract is a remnant of the very rare “ridge and swale” topography formed thousands of years ago during the retreat of glacial Lake Chicago. It contains the longest undissected dune ridge in Indiana, outside of the National Lakeshore.
Communities found here include: dry-mesic sand savanna with an overstory of black oak and understory of bracken fern, mesic sand prairie dominated by big bluestem and tall coreopsis; wet-mesic forest dominated by pin oak and speckled alder.
A number of very rare plants are found here, including paper birch, Kalm’s St. John’s-wort, and golden sedge. The area supports a wide variety of wildlife, including the rare Franklin’s ground squirrel.
Further Information
Gibson Woods Nature Preserve, 6201 Parrish Ave., Hammond IN 46323, (219) 844-3188 or Division of Nature Preserves, 402 W. Washington St., Rm W267, Indianapolis, IN 46204, (317) 232-4052.
