Carnes Mill Nature Preserve

 

The end of the Backbone Ridge

 

Location: The listing in the directory of Indiana Nature Preserves says "directions are difficult". I didn't find them so, and wonder why anyone did. North of the intersection of I-64 and SR 37, you go to the first road on the right, which is marked "Closed" and "Dead End". This is really old SR 37, and a bridge is out and hasn't been replaced; but the preserve is on this side of the bridge. Go six tenths of a mile and turn into what looks like someone's driveway. It is, in fact, someone's driveway; you go right through their yard, between the house and the garage, and park just past their yard in a pulloff just past some trees. You should let your intentions be known, if anyone is at home. Then start hiking in the same direction for almost a mile, following an old road. The beginning of the preserve is marked.

Description: 73 acres, with a towering sandstone backbone that dominates the whole preserve. Steep landscape (although the trail is not, it runs along the flat), unusual and varied flora. The Little Blue River runs along next to the trail in and apparently does a U-turn around this backbone.  The "Mill" part is because there was once a mill here utilizing an underground short cut the Little Blue takes underneath the backbone. Birding might be worthwhile here.

The Little Blue River

Nearby Points of Interest: Harrison-Crawford State Forest; Hoosier National Forest; Wyandotte Caves; Buzzard Roost, Dewey Hickman, Hemlock Cliffs and Dauby Hollow Nature Preserves.

Cautions: I should point out that the barrier to keep vehicular traffic out has been knocked down by a vehicle.

Ownership: The Nature Conservancy, with plans to transfer to the US Forest Service.

 

 

National Forest