Cataract Falls State Recreation Area in Spencer Indiana

Cataract Falls, where two sets of falls on Mill Creek create a cascade that drops 86 feet, is the largest waterfall in Indiana. The upper falls has a sheer plunge of 20 feet; the lower falls - about a half a mile downstream - has a fall of some 18 feet. There was a primitive bridge across Mill Creek between the upper and lower falls that washed out in the flood of 1875. A 140 ft. Smith Type 3 covered bridge was built at the upper falls in 1876 and was open to traffic until 1988. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources restored the Cataract Bridge in 1995. There are covered picnic pavilions at the upper and lower falls, along with outhouse facilities. There is one nature trail, about .5mi in length, that is located between the two falls. There are trails others have made on either side of Mill Creek. Use state road 225/250W to access the East side of the falls and Mill Creek. At the lower falls, you could hike down Mill Creek toward Cagle Mill Lake. The park is located off Country Rd. 1050 North, 2605 N. Cataract Rd, Spencer, IN 47460.

Upper Falls of Cataract SRA in Owen County Indiana
Captured June 25, 2019
Cataract Falls Covered Bridge in Owen County Indiana
Cataract Falls Covered Bridge ~ Location: Owen County ~ Crosses: Mill Creek ~ Carries: CR-775 ~ Builder: Smith Bridge Co. ~ Year Built: 1876 (Rebuilt 2005) ~ Truss Type: Smith Type 4 ~ Dimensions: 1 Span 140 feet ~ Captured October 21, 2017
Cataract Falls Covered Bridge in Owen County Indiana
Cataract Falls Covered Bridge ~ Location: Owen County ~ Crosses: Mill Creek ~ Carries: CR-775 ~ Builder: Smith Bridge Co. ~ Year Built: 1876 (Rebuilt 2005) ~ Truss Type: Smith Type 4 ~ Dimensions: 1 Span 140 feet ~ Captured October 21, 2017
Cataract Falls State Recreational Area in Spencer Indiana
Captured October 21, 2017
Cataract Falls Covered Bridge in Owen County Indiana
Cataract Falls Covered Bridge ~ Location: Owen County ~ Crosses: Mill Creek ~ Carries: CR-775 ~ Builder: Smith Bridge Co. ~ Year Built: 1876 (Rebuilt 2005) ~ Truss Type: Smith Type 4 ~ Dimensions: 1 Span 140 feet ~ Captured March 29, 2017
Cataract Falls Covered Bridge in Owen County Indiana
Cataract Falls Covered Bridge ~ Location: Owen County ~ Crosses: Mill Creek ~ Carries: CR-775 ~ Builder: Smith Bridge Co. ~ Year Built: 1876 (Rebuilt 2005) ~ Truss Type: Smith Type 4 ~ Dimensions: 1 Span 140 feet ~ Captured March 29, 2017

Cataract Falls Covered Bridge in Owen County Indiana
Cataract Falls Covered Bridge ~ Location: Owen County ~ Crosses: Mill Creek ~ Carries: CR-775 ~ Builder: Smith Bridge Co. ~ Year Built: 1876 (Rebuilt 2005) ~ Truss Type: Smith Type 4 ~ Dimensions: 1 Span 140 feet ~ Captured June 25, 2019
Cataract Falls Covered Bridge in Owen County Indiana
Cataract Falls Covered Bridge ~ Location: Owen County ~ Crosses: Mill Creek ~ Carries: CR-775 ~ Builder: Smith Bridge Co. ~ Year Built: 1876 (Rebuilt 2005) ~ Truss Type: Smith Type 4 ~ Dimensions: 1 Span 140 feet ~ Captured October 21, 2017
Cataract Falls Covered Bridge in Owen County Indiana
Cataract Falls Covered Bridge ~ Location: Owen County ~ Crosses: Mill Creek ~ Carries: CR-775 ~ Builder: Smith Bridge Co. ~ Year Built: 1876 (Rebuilt 2005) ~ Truss Type: Smith Type 4 ~ Dimensions: 1 Span 140 feet ~ Captured October 21, 2017
Cataract Falls State Recreational Area in Spencer Indiana
Captured March 29, 2017
Cataract Falls State Recreational Area in Spencer Indiana
Captured March 29, 2017

Cataract Falls State Recreational Area in Spencer Indiana
Captured June 25, 2019
Cataract Falls Covered Bridge in Owen County Indiana
Cataract Falls Covered Bridge ~ Location: Owen County ~ Crosses: Mill Creek ~ Carries: CR-775 ~ Builder: Smith Bridge Co. ~ Year Built: 1876 (Rebuilt 2005) ~ Truss Type: Smith Type 4 ~ Dimensions: 1 Span 140 feet ~ Captured October 21, 2017
Cataract Falls Covered Bridge in Owen County Indiana
Cataract Falls Covered Bridge ~ Location: Owen County ~ Crosses: Mill Creek ~ Carries: CR-775 ~ Builder: Smith Bridge Co. ~ Year Built: 1876 (Rebuilt 2005) ~ Truss Type: Smith Type 4 ~ Dimensions: 1 Span 140 feet ~ Captured October 21, 2017
Cataract Falls Covered Bridge in Owen County Indiana
Cataract Falls Covered Bridge ~ Location: Owen County ~ Crosses: Mill Creek ~ Carries: CR-775 ~ Builder: Smith Bridge Co. ~ Year Built: 1876 (Rebuilt 2005) ~ Truss Type: Smith Type 4 ~ Dimensions: 1 Span 140 feet ~ Captured March 29, 2017
Cataract Falls State Recreational Area in Spencer Indiana
Captured March 29, 2017

Cataract Falls State Recreational Area in Spencer Indiana
Captured June 25, 2019
Cataract Falls State Recreational Area in Spencer Indiana
Captured October 21, 2017
Cataract Falls State Recreational Area in Spencer Indiana
Captured October 21, 2017
Cataract Falls Covered Bridge in Owen County Indiana
Cataract Falls Covered Bridge ~ Location: Owen County ~ Crosses: Mill Creek ~ Carries: CR-775 ~ Builder: Smith Bridge Co. ~ Year Built: 1876 (Rebuilt 2005) ~ Truss Type: Smith Type 4 ~ Dimensions: 1 Span 140 feet ~ Captured March 29, 2017
Cataract Falls State Recreational Area in Spencer Indiana
Captured March 29, 2017

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