The beautiful forests at Hickory Run are full of diversity. Right here, you can find five tree species - use the compass (provided inside the cache) and give it a try!
Use the compass to take a bearing
1) Turn the compass dial so the bearing you want (140º for white pine) lines up with the travel arrow.
2) Stand on top of the rock the cache is hidden under. Holding the compass flat in your hand, turn your body until the magnetic arrow fits inside the orienting arrow outline.
3) Look at the tree the travel arrow is pointing at!
Red maple (Acer rubrum) - 0º
Across the pathway, due North behind the light post, spy one of the most common trees in the forest. Red maples are fast-growing and may reach 120 feet tall. How tall do you think this tree is?
Chestnut oak (Quercus prinus) - 30º
Just to the right of the maple is another welcome tree in our forest. Chestnut oak acorns are an important food source for wildlife including white- tailed deer, wild turkey, gray squirrel, eastern chipmunks, mice, as well as many insects.
Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) - 140º
The tallest of our eastern conifers, white pine is a widespread and important tree in the forests of Pennsylvania. It has been highly valued as a timber tree but also contributes to the ecosystem by soaking up rainwater and providing food for red squirrels, bears, and many birds. This tree has a huge trunk, and needles in bundles of 5.
Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) - 220º
This small bushy evergreen tree has short flat needles. Eastern hemlock is our state tree, and provides important habitat for birds like Blackburnian warblers. Often growing along creeks, it shades the water all year long.
White oak (Quercus alba) - 290º
White oak is another valuable tree in our forest. Their acorns are eaten by wildlife as well as humans, though it takes us a lot of processing.
Learn more about our common trees by downloading this guide! Common Trees of Pennsylvania
