A Hiker's Path: See interesting rock formations, seasonal waterfalls at Cagles Mill Lake

This past Sunday, I drove up to Cagles Mill Lake to hike some trails by the lake dam.

Cagles Mill Lake is a reservoir that lies within Putnam and Owen counties. It was designed and built by the Louisville District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, primarily for flood control. Construction began in 1948 and was completed in June of 1953. The lake, which is also known locally as Cataract Lake, contains 1,400 acres.

Volunteers from the Hoosier Hikers Council began construction on the Welch Woods trail in February 2019. It was finished in 2021. This trail at Cagles Mill Lake was named for the state-designated natural area that was dedicated to Winona Welch, a former botany professor at DePauw University.

This 1.7-mile loop trail features views of a creek, the lake, and several interesting rock formations. It also features towering cliffs, intermittent streams, and tall, towering trees. The trailhead begins near the Army Corps of Engineers projects office.

This is located across from the Cagles Mill Lake Dam. The other trailhead is on the other side of the dam in the parking area of the north gate.

It was the last weekend in February when I visited this beautiful place. The weather had been unseasonably warm with highs in the lower 60s.

I had a scenic drive through the country to get there which made a great start to my day. I finally reached my destination and pulled into the parking lot of the projects office.

The trailhead was off to the left by a small shelter house. I took off into the woods and down the path in front of me.

The dirt trail beneath my boots led me between old logs and through a fine hardwood forest.

I came to an intersection where the trail went to the left and the right. I chose to go left and followed the path down a long, steep bluff until I came into view of a beautiful rock formation: a large sandstone bowl.

There were other rock outcrops nearby, but the bowl stood out. There were hues of pink along the walls and lots of small cliffs.

During different times of the year, a seasonal waterfall flows over the edge of the bowl and trickles down into a deep ravine that extends all the way to the bottom of the bluff.

At this point the trail continued down toward the overflow of the dam at the tailwater of the lake. There, the trail followed along a creek.

Leaves were scattered all over the ground and a soft breeze shuffled them about my feet as I walked.

I found the trail easy to follow with white blazes sprayed on trees in strategic places.

Soon, I was climbing back up to a ridge next to a limestone wall.

I hiked around switchbacks to the base of the rock wall, arriving above the cliff I had just walked across. This area was awesome and a great place to blaze a trail. It was hidden away from everything; a small, scenic section of trees and rocks.

I soon came through an area with several downed trees, remnants of a storm that had passed through not long ago.

Overall it was a scenic trail. I could only imagine what it would look like with spring wildflowers gracing the landscape.

My boots stepped easily along the brown earth beneath my feet. I heard the call of a pileated woodpecker in the distance. Soon it will be spring and the forest will be alive with new life!

This was a special place.

I finally made it back to where I started. I was a very happy hiker.

It had been a good hike and an even better day. I am looking forward to going back to this trail later in the spring.

There are two other trails near the dam, The Two Falls Trail and the Tall Pines Trail. They also are very scenic so if you decide to visit this place, it would make for a fun afternoon of hiking. I have included a trail map within this column.

To get to this place: Start from the intersection of U.S. 231 and Ind. 42, north of Spencer. Take Ind. 42 west past the town of Cunot, where Ind. 42 intersects Ind. 243. Continue on Ind. 42 and cross a bridge over the lake, going on a long uphill. After the hill and several curves, including a really tight S curve, continue a short distance and turn right on Fertig Road. There will be a sign for the dam that directs you. You will pass a big cemetery, the road will curve to the left, and it will T-intersect with County Road 830 West. Turn right (north) on County Road 830 West. After a crossroad, you will start going downhill. Continue on this road all the way to the dam. Cross over the dam (go slow here and see the lake on the right, the lake discharge on the left). After you pass the control tower, continue up a small hill to the USACE office on the right.

A quote for your week: “In the woods, too, a man casts off his years, as the snake his slough, and at what period soever of life, is always a child. In the woods, is perpetual youth.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson, essayist, philosopher, naturalist, 1803-1882

Until the next trail, Susan