Spring Mill Caves

Spring Mill State Park is located solidly in Indiana's Karst region, meaning that sinkholes and caves are everywhere. Due to the recent rain, every cave and spring was gushing with water. We could hear the roar from Donaldson Cave from the Inn parking lot.

Donaldson Cave
I loved exploring the 'dry side' of this cave as a kid. Now the cave is closed to protect bats from the spread of the White-nose Syndrome. Due to the rushing water, it would have been a challenge to even get there.

Joy peering into the entrance of Donaldson Cave.

A view of Bronson Cave from Trail 3. We found out that the stream that flows through Twin Caves and Bronson Cave is the same stream that exits at Donaldson Cave. Trail 3 heads through Donaldson Woods Nature Preserve, and passes Bronson Cave and Twin Cave. The Twin Cave boat ride is the only cave that is still open to the public within the park. We'll have to go back for that some time. I haven't been since I was little. The old-growth forest in Donaldson Woods Nature Preserve was beautiful.

I noticed this spring and waterfall while running along the loop. The spring was half-way up the hill and fed the creek that flows west into the lake. It wasn't far off Trail 5.