Spring Mill - Wesley Chapel Gulf- Cave-River Valley Tour: Hiking, Spelunking, Primtive Camping, ATV Riding, Snow Skiing, Site Seeing, History
Southern Indiana has been called the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. It is true that there are some rugged hills and wide valleys with beautiful rivers and creeks to enjoy. You don't have to journey a 1,000 miles cross country to see wild lands and enjoy the outdoors. Immerse yourself in woodland splendor and walk into Indiana's wild country. From Indianapolis, this is just a two hour journey and from Louisville it is only about an hour to get started.
This Tour takes in a unique geological feature called the Wesley Chapel Gulf near the Rise of the Lost River in western Orange County that is worth hiking. From there you can go to Hindostan Falls, to Springmill State Park and Pioneer Village and stay at the Spring Mill Inn. Then the adventure really begins. Head west on SR 60 to Campbellsburg for a caveing adventure in Cave River Valley. Then get you ATV ready for some wild trail riding at Backwoods Adventure Park. Salem has a couple of historic areas that are worth a look to wind up your trip to cave country including Beck's Mill and John Hay Historic Center complete with pioneer village.
Orangeville (Rise of the Lost River) Wesley Chapel Gulf Geological Feature
Southern Indiana has been called the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. It is true that there are some rugged hills and wide valleys with beautiful rivers and creeks to enjoy. You don't have to journey a 1,000 miles cross country to see wild lands and enjoy the outdoors. Immerse yourself in woodland splendor and walk into Indiana's wild country. From Indianapolis, this is just a two hour journey and from Louisville it is only about an hour to get started.
This Tour takes in a unique geological feature called the Wesley Chapel Gulf near the Rise of the Lost River in western Orange County that is worth hiking. From there you can go to Hindostan Falls, to Springmill State Park and Pioneer Village and stay at the Spring Mill Inn. Then the adventure really begins. Head west on SR 60 to Campbellsburg for a caveing adventure in Cave River Valley. Then get you ATV ready for some wild trail riding at Backwoods Adventure Park. Salem has a couple of historic areas that are worth a look to wind up your trip to cave country including Beck's Mill and John Hay Historic Center complete with pioneer village.
Orangeville (Rise of the Lost River) Wesley Chapel Gulf Geological Feature
Start your journey heading down SR 37 to Orleans and then 2.4 miles further and turn right (west) on CR 500 N. Go 5 miles further to CR 500 W and turn left. Go .04 miles further to Orangeville and park in the pulloff next to the big sprig fed pool of water. This is where the Lost River comes to the surface at the base of a low cliff forming sizable streams. The Orangeville rise drains 30 sq miles north of Orangeville where the water emerges from a cave into a rock-walled pit.
Cave River Valley- Leaving Spring Mill State Park, turn left on SR 60 and continue east for 16 miles to Campbellsburg. Turn left on N. Sycamore (Main Street heading through town) which becomes N. Marshall Road and then N. White River Road and then N. Cave River Valley Road. When N. Cave River Valley Road comes to a T -- the park is straight ahead. Go down a steep gravel road into a valley where there is an old cabin, walk bridge across the creek and a newer picnic shelter. For a small fee ($5 per person as of February 2006) you can camp, picnic, and go spelunking in one of several caves, including Endless Cave (Dry Clifty Cave), River Cave (Wet Clifty Cave), and one or two more. Bring an inflatable boat to get into River Cave. This is a great place to enter a cave on private land without knowing the owner personally or belonging to one of the organized spelunking clubs. Give it a try if you aren't claustrophobic, but bring lots of flashlights and some companions Please make the time to learn something about caving prior to going exploring. The National Speleological Society (NSS) is made up of cavers all around the country. See their Guide to Responsible Caving brochure to get started.
Cave River Valley- Leaving Spring Mill State Park, turn left on SR 60 and continue east for 16 miles to Campbellsburg. Turn left on N. Sycamore (Main Street heading through town) which becomes N. Marshall Road and then N. White River Road and then N. Cave River Valley Road. When N. Cave River Valley Road comes to a T -- the park is straight ahead. Go down a steep gravel road into a valley where there is an old cabin, walk bridge across the creek and a newer picnic shelter. For a small fee ($5 per person as of February 2006) you can camp, picnic, and go spelunking in one of several caves, including Endless Cave (Dry Clifty Cave), River Cave (Wet Clifty Cave), and one or two more. Bring an inflatable boat to get into River Cave. This is a great place to enter a cave on private land without knowing the owner personally or belonging to one of the organized spelunking clubs. Give it a try if you aren't claustrophobic, but bring lots of flashlights and some companions Please make the time to learn something about caving prior to going exploring. The National Speleological Society (NSS) is made up of cavers all around the country. See their Guide to Responsible Caving brochure to get started.
Cautions: Caving is dangerous. You must sign a release to get into the park for what it is worth, but caving really is dangerous. Don't go into any cave in Indiana when it is raining or likely to rain. Don't go alone and take several sources of light. You could die doing this. If you don't die and decide you like caving, join a club. You'll see more interesting caves, make some friends and learn something.
Ownership: Private for now. Rumors persist in the spelunking community that the DNR is negotiating a deal to take over the caves and the surrounding area, upgrade the camping, gate off some of the caves and probably charge fees to get in on a limited schedule. I have enclosed a link that will take you to a chat room on the subject with updated postings. Cavechat.org http://www.caves.org/soapbox/viewtopic.php?f=1&p=57317
Link to Pictures of Cave River Valley: http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/548987141IThhov?vhost=outdoors
Cave River Park is a private park with dozens of caves. Some of the caves are still unexplored, others are of impressive size, like Endless Cave. The cave is located in a nice gorge in the hills of southern Indiana. The river in the gorge was ideal for a mill, so the first grist mill was built already in 1817. Other above ground attractions are trout fishing, camping, barbecue and several trails.
But the main thing are the underground attractions. Eight wild or semi wild caves are open for visitors. It is necessary to register at the office and sign a release. At the office visitors get a description of all open caves, with necessary skills and required equipment. Also they are informed about the weather, as most caves get flooded during heavy rain.
River Cave is located right above the grist mill, and the river emerging from the cave is powering the mill. It is a pretty easy cave, but Wellingtons are recommended.
Endless Cave is the second easy cave of the park. It is not endless, and the information about 17 mapped miles is obviously wrong, as it is not listed on Bob Guldens list.
Bear Den Cave
Crystal Spring Cave
Lake Cave
Frozen Waterfall Cave
Lamplighter's Cave
Clifty Cave I and Clifty Cave II require a boat.
For all caves sufficient light and appropriate clothes and shoes are necessary. Wellingtons and overall are a good idea, hard hat with headlamp also. Some of the more difficult caves require climbing equipment and/or a boat
But the main thing are the underground attractions. Eight wild or semi wild caves are open for visitors. It is necessary to register at the office and sign a release. At the office visitors get a description of all open caves, with necessary skills and required equipment. Also they are informed about the weather, as most caves get flooded during heavy rain.
River Cave is located right above the grist mill, and the river emerging from the cave is powering the mill. It is a pretty easy cave, but Wellingtons are recommended.
Endless Cave is the second easy cave of the park. It is not endless, and the information about 17 mapped miles is obviously wrong, as it is not listed on Bob Guldens list.
Bear Den Cave
Crystal Spring Cave
Lake Cave
Frozen Waterfall Cave
Lamplighter's Cave
Clifty Cave I and Clifty Cave II require a boat.
For all caves sufficient light and appropriate clothes and shoes are necessary. Wellingtons and overall are a good idea, hard hat with headlamp also. Some of the more difficult caves require climbing equipment and/or a boat
Beck's Mill- Salem. From Campbellsburg, continue east on SR 60 to Salem and then right on SR 135 to Becks Mill Road. Turn right for 6 miles to Becks Mill.(Settlement) It was built in 1864, one year after Confederate Captain John Hunt Morgan asked for ransom for every mill in Washington County to be spared from burning. The mill was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. The site of the mill was originally an Indian burial ground, with the Shawnee and Delaware tribes living nearby. The Indians were presumably displeased when the first white man on the land, George Beck arrived from North Carolina with his sons to the Indiana Territory in 1807, after brief stops in Kentucky. Once establishing a place to live near the future site of his mill, building a primitive shelter, he retrieved the rest of his family. The area is surrounded by rocky cliffs and ravines and there is a cave with a waterfall (spring) nearby providing the water to the mill. The first mill on this site was built in 1808. This is the third mill and one of 20 that still stand in Indiana. After the Pigeon Roost Massacre in 1812, Becks built two forts on the property. The settlement of Beck's Mill is a few hundred yards up hill from the mill and at the crossroads still stands a stagecoach stop. Worth taking a trip to see some of Indiana's Back Country History.
Backwoods Recreational Park: ATV Riding: North of Salem, take SR 135 N to Kossuth. Turn left at signs that say Kossuth and follow signs that say "Backwoods" from that point. 140 acres of trails and primitive camping is available- no electric and no running water on site.
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