List of National Natural Landmarks in Indiana


There are 30 National Natural Landmarks in Indiana.
NameImageDateLocationCountyOwnershipDescription
Big Walnut CreekBainbridge
PutnamState & privateContains one of the few stands in Indiana where beech, sugar maple, and tulip poplar grow on alluvial Genesee soil.
Cabin Creek Raised BogFarmland
RandolphPrivateOne of the few known inland raised bogs in the United States. It has a very rich flora including many species at or near their range limits.
Calvert and Porter WoodsNew Ross
MontgomeryStateOne of the finest near-virgin remnant forests in the Tipton Till Plain of central Indiana.
Cowles BogChesterton
PorterFederalPart of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, this is the sole remaining remnant of the Central Dunes where Henry Chandler Cowles performed his pioneering field studies of plant succession and species diversity.
Davis-Purdue Agriculture Center ForestFarmland
RandolphStateThe best old growth oak-hickory forest on the Tipton Till Plain.
Donaldson Cave System and WoodsMitchell
LawrenceStateLocated in Spring Mill State Park. A stream flows from a cave through the bottom of a gorge.
Dunes Nature PreservePorter
PorterStateA part of Indiana Dunes State Park. Inter-dunal wetlands and blowouts along Lake Michigan
Fern Cliff Nature PreserveGreencastle
PutnamPrivateContains exceptional occurrences of mosses and liverworts, including a noteworthy number of rare species.
Hanging Rock and Wabash ReefLagro
WabashPrivateContains an impressive natural exposure of fossilized coral reef dating from the Silurian Period some 400 million years ago. The limestone reef deposit rises 75 feet above the river and is being undercut by it, giving the site its "hanging" appearance.
Harrison SpringDepauw
HarrisonPrivateA portion of the water that feeds the spring originates from Indian Creek, and then goes underground until it reaches the spring area. It produces at least of water a day at an average of, enough to supply water to an average town of 12,000
Hemmer WoodsOakland City
GibsonState & privateOriginal southwestern Indiana oak-hickory forest.
Hoosier PrairieGriffith
LakeFederalPart of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Wetland prairie remnant of sand plains, sedge meadows, and marshes.
Hoot WoodsFreedom
OwenPrivateA relatively undisturbed, isolated beech-maple forest in which near climax conditions prevails.
Kramer WoodsReo
SpencerStateThe only example of a Shumard's red oak-pin oak-hickory dominated stand of lowland mixed forest of any size in Indiana.
Marengo CaveMarengo
CrawfordPrivateOne of only four show caves in Indiana, public tours of the cave have been given since 1883. Tours commenced just days after the cave's discovery by two school children.
Meltzer WoodsShelbyville
ShelbyPrivateContains two contrasting forest types and exceptionally large individuals of several tree species.
Officer's WoodsSeven miles northwest of MadisonJeffersonPrivateOne of the finest remnants of beech-maple forest south of the Wisconsin-age glacial boundary in Indiana. Contains two stands which differ slightly in composition, one of which contains an exceptionally high density of black gum.
Ohio Coral ReefClarksville
FloydFederalA classic example of a Silurian and Devonian coral community. Extends into Kentucky. Part of Falls of the Ohio National Wildlife Conservation Area.
Pine Hills Natural AreaWaveland
MontgomeryStateA unit of Shades State Park. Deep gorges, the result of the last glacial meltwaters.
Pinhook BogMichigan City
LaPorteFederalPart of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. A bog formed from a postglacial kettle moraine left behind about 14,000 years before the present by the melting of the ice sheet during the end of the Wisconsin glaciation. The acidic bog is noted for pitcher plants and other wetland species.
Pioneer Mothers Memorial ForestPaoli
OrangeFederalOne of the best examples of an original, undisturbed presettlement forest in Indiana. Part of Hoosier National Forest.
Portland Arch Nature PreserveCovington
FountainStateThe preserve encompasses the wooded valleys, ravines, and rocky cliffs around the lowest section of Bear Creek. The name comes from a natural sandstone bridge carved by a small tributary of Bear Creek.
Rise at OrangevilleWest Baden Springs
OrangePrivateOrangeville Rise of Lost River Nature Preserve is the second largest spring in the state of Indiana.
Rocky Hollow Falls Canyon Nature PreserveMarshall
ParkeStateRocky Hollow and Falls Canyon are two of a series of canyons cut into the sandstone of Turkey Run. Located in Turkey Run State Park.
Shrader-Weaver WoodsBentonville
FayetteStateOld growth beech-maple forest with a pioneer homestead. Includes tulip, wild black cherry, and black walnut trees.
Tamarack BogMongo
LaGrangeStateA large tamarack tree swamp located within the Pigeon River Fish and Wildlife Area.
Tolliver SwallowholeOrleans
OrangePrivateAn extraordinary example of the disappearing stream aspect of karst topography.
Wesley Chapel Gulf Orleans
OrangeFederalProbably the largest sinkhole in Indiana. Located in Hoosier State Forest.
Wesselman Woods Nature PreserveEvansville
VanderburghMunicipalA southern old growth forest
Wyandotte CavesLeavenworth
CrawfordStateStraddles O'Bannon Woods State Park and Harrison-Crawford State Forest. Caves began to form in the Pliocene Era, about 2 million years ago. Like most of Southern Indiana's caves, the caves were formed when water dissolved limestone, causing hollow caves to form.