Planning Your Hike
Ferncliff Wildlife and Wildflower Preserve is mostly level, easy hiking on an old service road (blue-blazed trail). The preserve has a unique feel to it with the creek right beside the trail and the rock formations, larger trees, and steep terrain all around. The hike out and back on the blue trail is about a mile.
Ecology and Management
Ferncliff Wildflower and Wildlife Preserve is recognized as a National Natural Landmark. The National Natural Landmarks Program recognizes and encourages the conservation of sites that contain outstanding biological and geological resources. Sites are designated by the Secretary of the Interior for their condition, illustrative character, rarity, diversity, and value to science and education. In 2017, Ferncliff became a Dedicated Forest in the Old Growth Forest Network because of the old-growth forest that has been maintained here.
There are wildflowers galore in spring. This preserve’s hillsides offer some of the best examples of River Hills woodland. Tulip trees, beeches, hemlocks, sweet birches, red, chestnut, and white oak, sycamore, sugar and red maple, ironwood, and the redbud. In the fall many groves of pawpaw yield succulent, edible fruit. You will also see rhododendron and mountain laurel in abundance. Birds are abundant, including bald eagles, which may be seen soaring overhead from their nearby nesting and hunting grounds along the river.
Watershed
Barnes Run traverses the preserve before directly emptying into the Susquehanna River.
Hunting Information
No Hunting
Acquisition History
This land was donated by Dr. Henry H. Huffnagle in 1996.
Address
1650 Benton Hollow Rd, Drumore, PA 17518
Amenities
Limited parking. Preserve sign.