Tefft Savanna and Prairie Border

Marsh at Tefft Savanna  

 

Location: located on the northwest side of the Jasper Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area. West From 421 a few miles north of Medaryville on Highway 143. Turn north on Road 400 and go several miles to a "T" intersection with Road 1000 N. Turn left and go to the parking area on the left; the savanna is on the north side of the road. Prairie Border borders Tefft to the west.

Description: These are a couple of several Black Oak Savannas preserved in northern Indiana. The soil is sandy, the understory short and thick, and trees, many of them black oaks, are scattered throughout. This and the Nipsco Savanna are the most mosquito-infested places (during summer months) I think I've ever run across. Tefft is definitely well-preserved, though, compared to NIPSCO where a lot of work is being and remains to be done to return the area to its prior state. Prairie Border also is a work in progress, but should be coming along nicely.  Tefft has a sort of trail, Prairie Border doesn't. Visit in spring or fall for wildflowers and native plants sans skeeters.

Nearby Points of Interest: NIPSCO Savanna, Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area, Sandhills Savanna

Cautions: This area, which is contiguous with the Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area, is open to hunters for all hunting seasons. Bring plenty repellent in summer; mosquitoes are fierce.

Ownership: Indiana DNR (Tefft), Nature Conservancy (Prairie Border)

 

In the interior of the black oak savanna

Map

 
National Forest