Language Translation
  Close Menu

Spring Mill State Park

  • Spring Mill State Park Alerts (4)
    • INN CLOSED: Spring Mill Inn is closed for renovations. This includes lodging rooms, conference facilities, and the Millstone Dining Room. Anticipated completion and reopening is late fall 2024. Read more about the renovations. Enjoy our other six beautiful state park inns.
    • DONALDSON SHELTER CLOSED: Due to significant damage sustained during severe storms on March 31, 2023, the Donaldson Shelter will remain closed until further notice. All affected reservation holders will be contacted.
    • The grist mill will not grind until further notice pending extensive repairs to shaft, water wheel and flume are completed.
    • Twin Caves Boat Tours are closed for the rest of the 2023 season due to low water conditions.

Address
3333 State Road 60 E.
Mitchell, IN 47446

Link to this page
on.IN.gov/springmillsp

Daily admission

  • Noncommercial vehicles with Indiana license plates: $7.
  • Noncommercial vehicles with out-of-state license plates: $9.

Time zone
Eastern

Hours
Property: Daily, 7 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Office: Daily, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.


Description

Spring Mill State Park offers a powerful illustration of the link between the natural and cultural worlds. The water flowing from several cave springs led to the founding of an industrial village in the early 1800s. Pioneer entrepreneurs took advantage of a constant water source that never froze, using it to power several gristmills, a wool mill, a sawmill, and a distillery. In turn, pioneer settlers shaped the landscape around the village, clearing land for agriculture and timber.

The park today continues to illustrate how nature shapes us and how we shape our environment. A parcel of old growth timber sits in contrast to regenerated forest, a man-made lake struggles to survive against the in-flow of silt from cave-fed systems, and the native flora and fauna face challenges from man’s introduction of new species.

Visitors can explore this story in the park’s four interpretive facilities—the Pioneer Village, Lakeview Activity Center, Grissom Memorial, and Twin Caves Boat Tour—and see it reflected on the landscape as they hike the trails. The interpretive staff also offers a wide variety of public programs, including an extensive special events schedule. Public programs are offered year-round.

This property is a stop on the
Indiana Birding Trail Logo

Construction projects

  • GRIST MILL REPAIR: The DNR Division of State Parks, in collab­oration with the divisions of Engineering and Historic Preservation & Archaeology, has developed a plan for repairs to the historic grist mill in the Pioneer Village. Construction will begin this year and take 9-12 months during which the grist mill shaft, a gear, water wheel, flume, windows, siding, and awning will be repaired or replaced. Learn more about the project.
  • INN CLOSED: Spring Mill Inn is closed for renovations. This includes lodging rooms, conference facilities, and the Millstone Dining Room. Read more about the renovations. Enjoy our other six beautiful state park inns.
  • Caves

    Selected caves at Spring Mill State Park and Cave River Valley Natural Area are open for limited access for self-guided recreational groups. This program is a partnership with the Indiana Karst Conservancy (IKC). Groups must register in advance through IKC, and must complete online training explaining decontamination procedures established to prevent the spread of White-Nose Syndrome(WNS), a fungus that is killing bats in large numbers.

    Donaldson/Bronson Cave will be available for visitation by registered groups year-round. The DNR portion of Upper Twin Cave will be available for registered groups from November 1 – May 15. Endless and River Caves in Cave River Valley Natural Area will be available for registered groups from May 1 – August 31. Twin Caves Boat Tours will continue as usual in the park, and the dry side of Donaldson Cave, which is accessible from Trail 4, will be open to individual visitors.

  • Twin Caves Boat Tour

    Open daily from Memorial Day Weekend through mid-July, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Additional days and times as posted at park. Open weekends from mid-August thru mid-October, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (confirm operating hours with park prior to visit). Tours run on the half-hour. Only same day reservations are accepted, and they must be made in-person at the Twin Caves Building.  Cost is $3 per person. Children under age 3 and pets are not allowed on the tour. Food and drinks not allowed on boats. Guides pull the boats through a stream passage while highlighting cave formations and searching for cave animals (the endangered blind cavefish is a common sighting).

  • Pioneer Village

    Open daily from May thru mid-October, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., additional days and times as posted. The restored Pioneer Village, founded in 1814, contains 20 historic buildings to explore. The centerpiece is a 3-story limestone gristmill, built in 1817, that still grinds cornmeal today. Heritage interpreters portray the year 1863 and demonstrate period crafts.

  • Lakeview Activity Center

    Open daily from April thru October, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Open Saturday thru Wednesday from November thru March, 9am-4pm.  The Nature Center overlooks Spring Mill Lake and is filled with exhibits on the park’s natural and cultural history. The live animal displays features native snakes and turtles. A special children’s area includes a puppet stage, floor puzzles, and coloring area. Visitors can also drop by the office of the park naturalist to ask questions.

  • Cave River Valley

    Visit this unique, off-site property for a primitive experience. Cave River Valley, with 317 acres and managed by Spring Mill in partnership with Fish and Wildlife, Nature Conservancy, and the Division of Nature Preserves, is located 15 miles east of Spring Mill State Park. The most noteworthy feature of the property is its caves. All caves on site require a permit or guided tour to enter. Cave tours are offered through the naturalist at Spring Mill State Park twice a year. Cave River Valley has a rich cultural history as well, with the spring from River Cave being used for milling in the early 1800’s. Cave River Valley’s entrance gate may be opened through the summer/fall, usually around 8am. It is locked in the evening around dusk. If arriving during the day and the entrance gate is closed, visitors can park outside the entrance gate and walk in during open hours. Please do not block the gate. There are no marked trails, so look for guided hikes with Spring Mill naturalist to help you become familiar with the property. There are no restrooms on site, so please plan accordingly. Address:  6031-6871 N. Cave River Valley Road, Campbellsburg, IN 47108. For more information, please contact Spring Mill’s naturalist at 812-849-3534.

  • Boat Rental

    Kayaks, peddle boats, row boats and canoes are available to rent during the peak summer season, Memorial Day Weekend through August 1.  The rental operations may extend longer, check with the park office for hours.

  • Activities
    • Pioneer Village
    • Grissom Memorial
    • Nature Center/Interpretive Naturalist Services
    • Nature Nook
    • Twin Caves Boat Tour
    • Schools and Groups
    • Hiking & Biking
    • Lodging & Dining
    • Kayaks, Rowboats, and Canoe rental. Please visit the fees page or contact park for latest pricing.
    • Shelters & Picnic Areas (Shelter Reservations)
    • Swimming Pool (Policy) Check office for hours.
    • Campstore / Hayrides / Bike Rental
    • Nature Preserves
    • Donaldson, Bronson, and Hamer Caves

    Camping - See campground maps under MAPS tab

    • Electric / 187 sites
    • Primitive / 36 sites
    • Youth Tent Areas
    • Camp Store
    • Dumping Station

    INFORMATION

  • Trails

    1. MODERATE (.375 mile)—Short loop from inn to foot of hill, along Donaldson branch and lake, and returns up the hill to the inn.

    2. MODERATE (.5 mile)—Connects village parking area to picnic area and Nature Center.

    3. RUGGED (2.5 miles)—Long loop trail. Enter near the Donaldson parking lot. Passes Donaldson Cave overlook, then through dense woods, past sinkholes, then Bronson Cave, on to Twin Caves, through virgin timber of Donaldson Woods Nature Preserve. Returns to Donaldson picnic area.

    4. RUGGED (2 miles)—Loop trail may be entered from Trail 4 at picnic area or junction of 1 and 4 near inn. Goes by Donaldson Cave and Hamer Cemetery to village.

    5. MODERATE (1 mile)—Loops around lake. Follows lower section of lake from bridge, then around to boat docks, near Trail 2, which leads to the picnic area and parking area.

    6. ACCESSIBLE (.25 mile)—Paved trail. Loops around Virgil I. Grissom Memorial.

    7. EASY (1.75 miles)—Loops through and around Oak Ridge picnic area. Ties into Trail 4 between Hamer Cemetery and village.

    Stagecoach Trail (.5 mile)—Rugged. Follows old roadbed from village, up hill, to Oak Ridge picnic area and playground. A two-mile mountain bike trail is now available for use. The trailhead is located near the campstore. Mountain bikes can be rented at the bike rental. Bicycles permitted only on paved roadways. Skateboarding and inline skating prohibited.

    PLEASE STAY ON MARKED TRAILS.

  • Maps
  • Grissom Memorial

    Open daily year-round, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The Grissom Memorial honors Hoosier astronaut Virgil "Gus" Grissom, one of the seven Mercury astronauts and America's second man in space. The Memorial tells the story of Gus Grissom's life and his contributions to the space program. Exhibits include Grissom's space suit, the Gemini 3 Molly Brown spacecraft, and artifacts from his personal and professional life.

Directions

 Upcoming Events

More Events

 Top FAQs