Orangeville Rise
& Wesley Chapel Gulf of the Lost River 

 

Why You Should Visit 
The Lost River, a large sinking and subterranean stream, and an intricate cave system are the main attractions at these preserves.   

Location
Orange County

Ecoregion
Interior Low Plateau

Size
3 Acres (Orangeville Rise)
455 Acres (Wesley Chapel Gulf)

Dedicated
State Nature Preserve, 1975 (Orangeville Rise)

Designated
National Natural Landmark, 1972 (Orangeville Rise)

Owned & Managed By
The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Forest Service (Wesley Chapel Gulf) and Indiana Karst Conservancy (Orangeville Rise)  

How to Prepare for Your Visit
The easy to moderate terrain and existing trails at the preserve will make for a peaceful hike around the preserves. Although it may be tempting, no recreational caving is permitted on Conservancy preserves. The cave complex is not only fragile but dangerous with its twisting channels, vertical shafts and common flash floods. Please read the Conservancy's Preserve Visitation Guidelines for more information.  

Directions
Orangeville Rise: From Bedford, travel south on S.R. 37 approximately 11 miles to Orleans. Continue south on S.R. 37 an additional 2.4 miles and turn right (west) on C.R. 500 N. Travel approximately 5 miles to C.R. 500 W and turn left. Continue about 0.4 mile to Orangeville and park in the pulloff on the south side of Orangeville.

Wesley Chapel Gulf: From Bedford, travel south on S.R. 37 approximately 11 miles to Orleans. Continue south on S.R. 37 an additional 2 miles and turn right (west) on C.R. 500 N. Travel 3.5 miles to the intersection with C.R. 350 W and turn left (south). Continue roughly 0.3 mile to the parking area on the left side of the road.

What to See: Caves and Streams
At Orangeville Rise, a large spring - the second largest in Indiana - is a major tributary of the Lost River. Here the Lost River comes to the surface at the base of a low cliff forming sizable streams. The Orangeville Rise drains 30 square miles north of Orangeville where the water emerges from a cave into a rock-walled pit. The stream runs south to merge with the Lost River. The region is also known for its karst features such as sinkholes, caves, and underground streams.

The Wesley Chapel Gulf offers a rare, more subterranean view of the Lost River. Here the river flows 60 - 150 feet beneath the surface. The preserve also protects a vast cave system found in Orange County. Miles of twisting passages at multiple levels makes these caves a unique and fragile but also dangerous. Recreational caving is not permitted.  

The cave community also provides crucial habitat to at least 25 species - 3 of which were new to scientists when first discovered.  Cave beetles, blind crickets, blind cavefish and blind crayfish are just a few examples of species found underground.

What The Nature Conservancy is Doing/has Done 
In order to preserve the Lost River and protect the cave system, the Conservancy is working to secure the lands overlying the caves between Wesley Chapel Gulf and Orangeville Rise to ensure development does not threaten the fragile ecosystem. Protecting viable cave restricted specie, maintaining the water quality and quantity suppling the cave system are other conservation concerns.

For More Information
U.S. Forest Service
Indiana Karst Conservancy