The Northern Hardwood Forest National Parks

Go skiing fishing and swimming without leaving the stunning surroundings.

The northern hardwood forest national parks.

Manahawkin bottomland hardwood forest manahawkin bottomland hardwood forest is a mature bottomland hardwood forest dominated by sweetgum red maple and black gum. From lush marshlands to stark deserts these unique national parks preserve some of america s most incredible and unearthly landscapes. This coupled with the fact that most spots to visit sit on or just off hwy 101 mean no national park entrance fee. This forest type produces the most brilliant fall color.

It is one of the finest remaining examples of bottomland hardwood forest in the northern atlantic coastal plain biophysiographic province. Eastern hemlock trees dominate stream sides and moist shady slopes up to 4 000 feet in elevation to form almost pure stands of the hemlock forest. The park s northern hardwood forests resemble the forests that grow throughout much of new england new york pennsylvania and southern ontario. Although the boreal forest region extends over most of northern canada over half of it has been disturbed by human activities such as logging or mining making long term studies of the boreal forest difficult.

Hardwood forest the primary significance of congaree national park is demonstrated through its unique bottomland hardwood forest communities the overall height of the forest canopy and associated number of national and state champion trees as well as the presence of a well preserved biologically diverse and dynamic river floodplain ecosystem. The northern hardwood forest is indigenous to several well known parks and national forests including the boundary waters region of minnesota new york s adirondack park the white mountain national forest in new hampshire the green mountain national forest in vermont baxter state park and acadia national park in maine and fundy national park in new brunswick. For this reason and others protection of the boreal forest within cape breton highlands national park is important. Camp and hike through the largest preserve of old growth bottomland hardwood forest in the nation at congaree national park in south carolina with its 25 miles of trails 2 4 mile boardwalk.

As a side note this is one of the few parks that is state and national park combined. Pack a picnic to enjoy as you look out onto the reservoirs.