Dinsmore Woods State Nature Preserve

Dinsmore Woods State Nature Preserve is a 105 acre old-growth forest near the Ohio River in Boone County. Purportedly never logged, this maple-oak-ash forest has been impacted by several tornadoes over the years, and subject to several studies examining changes in forest structure. The forest hosts a population of the federally endangered Running buffalo clover, Trifolium stoloniferum, near the old Dinsmore cemetery, and deeply cut paths crossing the hill reveal the site's long history with bison and other large herbivores.

The nature preserve has 1.7 miles of hiking trails, accessed on the north side of KY18. The forest on the south side of KY 18 , which also hosts several miles of trails, is mostly second growth but does contain some large trees.

More information can be found on the website of the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission. 

Research from Dinsmore Woods

Held, M.E., S. Jones-Held, and J.E. Winstead. 1998. Forest Community Structure and Tornado Damage in an Old-Growth System in Northern Kentucky. Castanea 63(4): 474-481.

Luken, J.O. and M. Shea. 2000. Repeated prescribed burning at Dinsmore Woods State Nature Preserve (Kentucky, USA): Responses of the understory community. Natural Areas Journal 20(2): 150-158.

Bryant, W.S., S.L. Galbraith, and M.E. Held. 2004. Natural Terrestrial Vegetation of Boone County, Kentucky: Classification, Ordination, and Description. Journal of the Kentucky Academy of Science 65(2): 132-139.

Held, M.E., W.S. Bryant, J.E. Winstead. 2006. Thirty Years of Recovery in a Tornado-damaged Forest in Northern Kentucky. Journal of the Kentucky Academy of Science 67(2):81-86,