Roche-A-Cri Woods, as is the case for its sister SNA, Roche-A-Cri Mound, is found within Roche-A-Cri State Park.  The ‘Woods SNA’ is comprised of the bulk of the state park that is not part of the ‘Mound SNA’.  As a result, you can utilize the same parking area to visit both sites.  A number of trails loop through the forest surrounding the mound.  Additionally, there is a parking area on Cypress Avenue, east of STH 13 which provides access to the eastern portion of the site.

I spent most of my time in the eastern portion which features Carter Creek as well as a large prairie opening.  The prairie is not of the greatest quality in terms of conservative species but it did harbor a good variety of flora including downy phlox, wild lupine, slender penstemon, white wild indigo, hoary puccoon, and wild columbine.  The terrain gently slopes down once you enter the forest and head down toward the creek.  I always enjoy forest like this, where every inch beneath the canopy is enevelopd in a carpet of ferns.  It called to mind several sites in Jackson County, which I have not written about yet (stay tuned!).  I would not mind a return visit to the park and perhaps another climb up the mound as well as exploring a few different parts of the forest in greater detail.

Carter Creek

Downy Phlox

Forest

Wild Lupine

Wild Lupine

Slender Penstemon

Forest

Hoary Puccoon

More of my photos (and full-res) from Roche-A-Cri Woods can be viewed here.

Additional Information