Printer-friendlyBonaparte's Cave State Forest
State Reforestation Area Lewis #28
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As it's name would indicate, this 1435 acre state forest and the surrounding countryside have historical roots tied to Napoleon Bonaparte. Local legend, along with some historical fact, has it that Napoleon Bonaparte's brother and his family escaped from Europe to this area after his famous brother was arrested. It is said that they eluded hired assassins by hiding out in the rocky ledges and small caves on the northwest edge of what is today known as Green Pond.
This forest includes three ponds: Green, Mud, and Duck. The latter two are both quite shallow, with few fish, but the deep waters of Green Pond provide excellent early season trout fishing. In the 1990's, a state record brook trout was caught here. Public hiking access to Green Pond is provided by the 0.5 mile Green Pond Trail which is also a motor vehicle access by permit only road. There is an accessible fishing pier at end of the trail to Green Pond. This state forest shares a common boundary line with a forest preserve lot to the north. Hunting for resident white-tailed deer and small game are popular in-season pursuits, as are hiking and canoeing.
Most of this forest is natural hard maple, red maple, hemlock, basswood and a small but unique component of black ash. Black ash is harvested locally and is used by artisans in the making of baskets.
The 0.8 mile Corbine Forest Access Road is an extension of the Corbine town road and provides vehicular access to this forest westerly from the Hands Flats Road. The Mud Pond Road is also 0.8 mile in length, and provides right-of-way public access off the North Shore Road to the north side of Mud Pond.
Directions
From Harrisville, take State Route 3 south .6 mile to North Bonaparte Road. Turn right and proceed 2 miles.
