About the Challenge:
Enjoy three nature preserves, a National Natural Landmark, cave lookouts, a view of the Pioneer Village, a beautiful lake, a walk by Spring Mill Inn, and the beauty of native flora and fauna. The challenge can be completed in a day or in shorter segments over the course of a year. After completion, visit the Friends of Spring Mill State Park Facebook page to purchase a Trail Challenge T-shirt for $20. If you complete the challenge again in a different year, you can purchase a trail challenge sticker or another T-shirt.
About The Park:
A Glimpse into the Past: The Pioneer Village
One of the park's most captivating features is its meticulously restored Pioneer Village. Centered around a three-story limestone gristmill built in 1817, the village comprises 20 historic buildings, including an apothecary shop, a leather shop, and various homes, all offering a window into 19th-century frontier life. The gristmill, still operational today, grinds cornmeal, providing visitors with a tangible connection to the past.
Exploring the Natural Wonders
The park's karst landscape is dotted with numerous caves and sinkholes, inviting exploration. Among these, Twin Caves stands out, offering seasonal boat tours that venture about 500 feet into the cave, allowing visitors to experience the subterranean beauty firsthand. For hiking enthusiasts, Trail 3 is a must-explore. This 2.5-mile loop meanders through three dedicated nature preserves: Donaldson Cave, Mitchell Karst Plains, and Donaldson Woods, which boasts some of Indiana's oldest virgin timber. Along the trail, hikers can encounter three of the park's largest caves: Twin Caves, Bronson Cave, and Donaldson Cave, each offering unique geological features.
Honoring a Local Hero: The Gus Grissom Memorial
The park also pays tribute to Mitchell native and astronaut Gus Grissom. The memorial features the Gemini 3 space capsule, personal artifacts, and exhibits detailing Grissom's contributions to space exploration, offering a compelling narrative of his life and legacy.
