Enjoy Fall at Devil’s Den State Park While Hunting for a New Geocache
FOR RELEASE OCT. 1 OR AFTER
Jill M. Rohrbach, travel writer
Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism
WEST FORK - As if there isn’t enough to lure visitors to Devil’s Den State Park near West Fork this fall – hiking amid autumn hues, crawling through caves, relaxing in a cabin - the newest geocache in the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism “Cache in with The Natural State” program will be located here beginning Oct. 1.
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 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 Devil’s Den cache are N 35 46.460; W094 15.610. It is posted under waypoint GC162A4 on www.geocaching.com. This official Web site provides information on caches in Arkansas and around the world.
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. 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 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’s the satisfaction of an accomplished quest as well as the joy of experiencing the locale.
Located in southern Washington County, Devil’s Den State Park is one of the most intact Civilian Conservation Corps parks in America, and contains the largest sandstone crevice area in the country. The park is known for its numerous recreational opportunities and was designated a Natural Area by the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission. In 1994, the entire park was designated a Historic District and placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Devil’s Den State Park derives a great deal of its identity from the rustic style designs of its historic cabins and its rugged and largely undeveloped terrain.
Situated in the Boston Mountain subdivision of the Ozark Mountains, the park land is on the southernmost, highest and most severely eroded of the three plateaus that form the mountain system. Lee Creek, which runs through the park, has cut through layers of sandstone, shale and limestone to expose them to view. The most unique portion of the park is the sandstone crevice area, which contains approximately 60 crevice caves. The longest is Devil’s Den Cave extending 550 feet into the hillside.
A majority of the park acreage is steep hillsides with level land confined to ridge tops and valley floors. Elevations within the park range from 955 feet to 1,763 feet above sea level. Vegetation is upland hardwood forests, typical to the Boston Mountains subdivision. Mature oak-hickory stands are found on moist and north-facing slopes. Shortleaf pin oak and sandstone glade communities dominate the south-facing slopes and areas of exposed bedrock. Cedar glades exist along stream terraces of Lee Creek.
Devil’s Den has hiking and backpacking trails that lead to caves, crevices and bluff overlooks. Many park visitors come for the express purpose of experiencing the “wild,” unlit Devil’s Den Cave. There are cabins, campgrounds, a café, and swimming pool. A store provides groceries and gifts. The horse camp area includes riding trails and a bathhouse. Interpreters provide hikes along several trails including the 15-mile Butterfield Hiking Trail, plus games and programs daily during the summer.
One of the most popular annual events at the park is Bat-O-Rama, which addresses the park’s expanding colony of big brown bats. A big draw in the fall is the Northwest Arkansas Mountain Bike Championships, a two-day stage race consisting of a cross-country race and a criterium.
“Our geocaching program is a fun way to entice people to discover the great outdoors of The Natural State,” said Jana Greenbaum, communications manager 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.”
For more information on Devil’s Den, visit www.ArkansasStateParks.com. Geocaching is allowed in 40 of Arkansas’s 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 2,700 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 as well as urban areas.
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.
####
Submitted by the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism
One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201, (501) 682-7606
E-mail: info@arkansas.com
May be used without permission. Credit line is appreciated:
"Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism"
Jill M. Rohrbach, travel writer
Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism
WEST FORK - As if there isn’t enough to lure visitors to Devil’s Den State Park near West Fork this fall – hiking amid autumn hues, crawling through caves, relaxing in a cabin - the newest geocache in the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism “Cache in with The Natural State” program will be located here beginning Oct. 1.
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 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 Devil’s Den cache are N 35 46.460; W094 15.610. It is posted under waypoint GC162A4 on www.geocaching.com. This official Web site provides information on caches in Arkansas and around the world.
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. 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 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’s the satisfaction of an accomplished quest as well as the joy of experiencing the locale.
Located in southern Washington County, Devil’s Den State Park is one of the most intact Civilian Conservation Corps parks in America, and contains the largest sandstone crevice area in the country. The park is known for its numerous recreational opportunities and was designated a Natural Area by the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission. In 1994, the entire park was designated a Historic District and placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Devil’s Den State Park derives a great deal of its identity from the rustic style designs of its historic cabins and its rugged and largely undeveloped terrain.
Situated in the Boston Mountain subdivision of the Ozark Mountains, the park land is on the southernmost, highest and most severely eroded of the three plateaus that form the mountain system. Lee Creek, which runs through the park, has cut through layers of sandstone, shale and limestone to expose them to view. The most unique portion of the park is the sandstone crevice area, which contains approximately 60 crevice caves. The longest is Devil’s Den Cave extending 550 feet into the hillside.
A majority of the park acreage is steep hillsides with level land confined to ridge tops and valley floors. Elevations within the park range from 955 feet to 1,763 feet above sea level. Vegetation is upland hardwood forests, typical to the Boston Mountains subdivision. Mature oak-hickory stands are found on moist and north-facing slopes. Shortleaf pin oak and sandstone glade communities dominate the south-facing slopes and areas of exposed bedrock. Cedar glades exist along stream terraces of Lee Creek.
Devil’s Den has hiking and backpacking trails that lead to caves, crevices and bluff overlooks. Many park visitors come for the express purpose of experiencing the “wild,” unlit Devil’s Den Cave. There are cabins, campgrounds, a café, and swimming pool. A store provides groceries and gifts. The horse camp area includes riding trails and a bathhouse. Interpreters provide hikes along several trails including the 15-mile Butterfield Hiking Trail, plus games and programs daily during the summer.
One of the most popular annual events at the park is Bat-O-Rama, which addresses the park’s expanding colony of big brown bats. A big draw in the fall is the Northwest Arkansas Mountain Bike Championships, a two-day stage race consisting of a cross-country race and a criterium.
“Our geocaching program is a fun way to entice people to discover the great outdoors of The Natural State,” said Jana Greenbaum, communications manager 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.”
For more information on Devil’s Den, visit www.ArkansasStateParks.com. Geocaching is allowed in 40 of Arkansas’s 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 2,700 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 as well as urban areas.
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.
Submitted by the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism
One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201, (501) 682-7606
E-mail: info@arkansas.com
May be used without permission. Credit line is appreciated:
"Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism"
Submitted by the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism
One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201, 501-682-7606
E-mail: info@arkansas.com
May be used without permission. Credit line is appreciated:
"Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism"