Lost River - Karst Information Portal

2007 NSS Convention Guidebook
wheel. This structure is a 15-foot-tall by 15foot-square,
cut sandstone block structure. The
massive sandstone blocks are 6 feet long by 4
feet wide by 3 feet tall and must have been an
engineering feat to have been moved into place
using only man and animal power. At the far
end of the meander loop a dam was built using
large boulders. This dam is 100 feet long, 30
feet wide, and 6 feet tall. These structures are
worth studying when visiting the cave.
The walk to the cave is 7,000 feet long, along
an old logging road. This logging road passes
some impressive sandstone bluffs along the
Little Blue River. The property around the cave
is owned by the Hoosier National Forest and the
Indiana Department
of Natural Resources,
Division of Nature
Preserves. The area
is a nature preserve
due to its diversity
of vegetation and its
history.
The cave consists
of one meandering
passage with three
solutional domes.
The cave is best done
from the upstream
direction. Before
entering the cave,
inspect the inlet
structure to make sure
the upstream entrance
is open. Also check the
weather for possible
thunder storms, since
the Little Blue River
is subject to flash
flooding. A wet-suit
is not needed because
the water temperature
is very warm during
the summer months.
The spring entrance
is 4 feet high by 30
feet wide. The floor
300
slopes down to a pool. At the water, the passage
narrows to 3 feet wide, by 4 feet high with 3
feet of water. This foot of air space continues
throughout the cave except for the three domes,
where one can look up and see organic matter
on the walls and ceiling. At the upstream
entrance, the passage lowers to a 2-foot height.
The through trip is fun to do on a sunny, hot,
summer day.
References: Nature Areas in Indiana,
1969, A.A. Lindsey, D.V.Schmelz, and
S.A.Nichols
Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science
#40, 1931, W.D.Thornberry.