Cache in with The Natural State Program Offers Two New Geocaches in July

For Release July 1 or after
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Jill M. Rohrbach, travel writer
Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism


Cane Creek State Park in Star City and Mt. Magazine State Park near Paris are the locations of the two latest geocaches in the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism "Cache in with The Natural State" program.

Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunt, where people use Global Positioning Systems to pinpoint spots on the earth where caches are hidden. They are stashed all over the world in locations that range from deep in the woods to city parks to urban locales. Some caches contain only logbooks in small tins or film canisters, while others hold mini treasures inside containers such as ammo boxes.

The coordinates to the Cane Creek cache are: N33 54.762; W091 46.007. It is posted under waypoint GC13ZZK on www.geocaching.com. This official Web site provides information on caches in Arkansas and around the world. In addition to this program’s hide, the park contains two other caches.

The coordinates to the Mt. Magazine cache are: N 35 10 443; W 093 38 836. Visit waypoint GC13ZJM on www.geocaching.com for details. Aside from the state program’s cache, at least four other caches are located in the park and numerous others can be found on the mountain and in the surrounding area.

Through the "Cache in with The Natural State" program, new caches in locations throughout the state are unveiled each month. The treasures in the caches reflect the offerings of Arkansas – from lodging to restaurants to businesses and manufacturers. Each contains a different range of items, most of which represent the region in which the cache is located. Geocachers are asked to observe standard protocol - taking only one item and leaving an item in trade, and signing the logbook.

Caches will be monitored throughout the year and restocked weekly for the first four weeks, as prizes are available. Some treasures will be placed directly in the cache containers. Others will be certificates for prizes that must be redeemed at an indicated locale.

Embracing the fast-growing hobby of geocaching, the department launched its program in January. Coordinates and more information are available at www.Arkansas.com.

The rewards for finding the cache are much more than the material goods found inside. There is the satisfaction of an accomplished quest as well as the joy of experiencing the locale.

Located where the West Gulf Coastal Plain and the Mississippi Delta meet, Cane Creek State Park offers the opportunity to explore two of Arkansas' distinct natural settings in one visit. Hike or bike the park's 2,053 acres of rolling woodlands, or paddle or fish on 1,675-acre Cane Creek Lake and experience the lush beauty and abundant wildlife that inhabit Arkansas' Mississippi delta. Just across the timber-filled lake, anglers and paddlers can also explore Bayou Bartholomew, the world's longest bayou.

Park staff offer guided walking, biking, kayaking, and birding tours, and other interpretive programs throughout the year.

The campground at Cane Creek features 29 campsites and one Rent-An-RV, and a modern bathhouse with hot showers.

Cane Creek State Park also features picnic sites, a screened pavilion, enclosed climate-controlled pavilion, visitor center with exhibits and gift shop, launch ramp, barrier-free fishing piers, hiking trail, kayak trail, bathhouse, restrooms, and a playground. Fishing boats, recreational solo and tandem kayaks, and bicycles can be rented at the visitor center.

At 2,753-feet, Mount Magazine is Arkansas' highest mountain, rising dramatically above the broad valleys of the Petit Jean River to the south and the Arkansas River to its north. Graced with timeless natural beauty, this plateau - a remnant of an ancient sea floor - runs east-west stretching six miles long and up to a mile across. Rugged, isolated, and rich in natural resources including rare and endangered species, Mount Magazine has long lured explorers, adventurers, scientists, and naturalists.

Through the years, the mountain has been a place to enjoy outdoor recreational pursuits like sightseeing, hiking, picnicking, camping, horseback riding, birding, and wildlife watching. The more adventuresome can also enjoy the challenges of backpacking, rock climbing, rappelling, hang gliding, biking, mountain biking, and ATV trail adventure.

Park interpreters present a wide variety of nature programs for the education and enjoyment of visitors and school groups that visit the park. The park's magnificent 60-room Lodge at Mount Magazine and 13 park cabins opened in May 2006.

"Our geocaching program is a fun way to entice people to discover the great outdoors of The Natural State," said Jana Greenbaum, communications director for Arkansas Parks and Tourism. "Additionally, it provides a unique way to highlight the tourism offerings of Arkansas. We want people to travel the state in search of the caches and see areas they may not have visited before."

Geocaching is allowed in 40 of Arkansas’ 52 state parks. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission lists caches on its Web site, www.agfc.com, leading enthusiasts to its nature trails, hatcheries and nature and education centers.

More than 2,500 geocaches are hidden in Arkansas steering people to some of The Natural State’s scenic and historic settings containing waterfalls, caves, wildlife, diamonds and trails amid diverse terrain and picturesque landscapes.

For those new to geocaching, there is some etiquette to be observed:
• Don’t move a cache.
• Tread lightly. The sport never requires digging and cachers are mindful of the environment.
• CITO – “Cache In, Trash Out.”
• Don’t leave food, weapons, alcohol or anything harmful or inappropriate.
• Take something only if you leave something.
• Sign the logbook.