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Forest Mounds

The Forest Mounds at Dow Gardens offer a playful nod to the property's history while providing a natural playground for visitors of all ages. This expansive area, located near the entrance to the Canopy Walk, features gently rolling hills covered in no-mow fescue grass.

The mounds were inspired by "The Bumps," a former flat field where Herbert Dow once grew muskmelons. Today, these undulating hills invite children and the young at heart to run, roll, and tumble freely. The low-maintenance fescue grass creates a soft, inviting surface perfect for outdoor play and exploration. Families often gather here for picnics or to simply enjoy the open space, while kids delight in racing up and down the slopes.

Dow Gardens Audio Tour
  1. Visitor Center & Gift Shop
  2. Birch Grove
  3. Boulder Pass & Waterfall
  4. Streamside
  5. Conservatory
  6. Secret Garden
  7. Herb Garden
  8. Sun Bridge
  9. The Pines
  10. The Yew Maze
  11. Willow Wedding Site
  12. Red Bridge Overlook & The Maze
  13. Founders' Circle
  14. The Bumps
  15. Observation Island
  16. Wedding Peninsula
  17. Rhododendron Trail
  18. Children's Garden
  19. Rose Garden & Trial Beds
  20. Rose Garden Bridge
  21. Orange Bridge Overlook & The Snake Creek Floodplain
  22. Orchard
  23. Mini Pines
  24. Wildflower Meadow
  25. Forest Mounds
  26. Forest Trails
  27. Covered Bridge
  28. Canopy Walk
  29. Education Center