Rice Woodland

In 1972, the 80-acre Rice Woodland was purchased and deeded to The Nature Conservancy, which later transferred the title through restrictive deed to KU Endowment. The Ethel and Raymond F. Rice Foundation provided funds to secure this high-quality natural area. The majority of the Rice Woodland is relatively undisturbed eastern deciduous forest. Thirty-one species of trees and 21 species of shrubs and vines were recorded on the tract in a 1963 study—remarkably high species richness for native forests in the central United States.

In April 2026 a public trail opened on the Rice Woodland. From E 1700 Rd north of Baldwin City, travel east on N 500 Rd approximately a quarter mile to the gravel parking lot.