Lennox Woods Preserve is 1,335 acres of Red River County forest that The Nature Conservancy describes as virgin timber, rare in Texas. The Lennox family acquired the land in 1863 and protected it for four generations. Martha, David and Bagby Lennox donated the first 170 acres in 1987, and Martha Lennox and the Lennox Foundation gave 206 more in 1990, when the preserve was dedicated in May.
The trees are the draw. A post oak here is over 300 years old, a loblolly pine is nearly 150, and some trunks exceed three feet across. The upland forest is mostly shortleaf pine, white oak, loblolly pine, southern red oak, red maple and hickories, and the bottomland hardwoods include water oak, willow oak, bur oak, overcup oak and sweetgum. More than 50 tree species have been recorded. Birds include pileated and red-headed woodpeckers, belted kingfishers and wood warblers, and the rare plants include Arkansas meadow rue, which is globally threatened.
More than 350 acres are open to visitors, sunrise to sunset, on the easy to moderate 1.5-mile Martha Lennox Memorial Nature Trail. The preserve lies about 10 miles north of Clarksville along State Highway 37 and then down county and clay roads, with a small trailhead lot. In wet weather the clay road may need four-wheel drive or become impassable, so turn back rather than push on.
The closest stops worth working into your route
Roadside plaques and monuments within a short detour