 Horseshoe Hideaway
A cache by DCexplorer, Really I'm Not Lost, & FireGeek Hidden: 8/10/2003
Size:  (Regular) Difficulty:  Terrain:  (1 is easiest, 5 is hardest)
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This cache is located on Horseshoe Island,
off of the coast of Peninsula State Park in Door County,
Wisconsin.
 Of all the islands visible from
Peninsula's scenic overlooks only one, Horseshoe Island, is
actually part of the park. It lies about one mile north of Nicolet
Bay.
Norwegian immigrant Ole Larsen reportedly traded a few pounds of
tobacco for the island in the 1850s. In 1888, the Folda family
purchased Horseshoe Island for $500. They built an impressive
summer lodge, Engelmar. When the State of Wisconsin established
Peninsula State Park in 1909, E.F. Folda negotiated a selling price
of $5,000 and a life estate for himself as well as his wife and
sister, but they never received payment.
Horseshoe Island is accessible by boat or by walking in winter.
Visitors can also canoe or kayak, with rentals available locally.
The Engelmar Trail, a one-mile rustic path, meanders the
circumference of the island. The astute visitor may detect the
foundation of the Folda's lodge, a root cellar, and openings where
gardens once thrived.
A pit toilet is available. Visitors must carry out their own
garbage. Camping and fires are prohibited.
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Door County are located on busy roads, or places where there's lots
of people. I wanted to place a cache off of the beaten path.
Horseshoe Island is
part of Peninsula State Park. There is no public transportation, so
you will have to get to the island somehow, either with a boat in
summer, or skiing/snowmobiling in winter. There is a boat dock
available, but if full, you may have to moor it and swim/wade
ashore. Horseshoe Island harbor is pretty deep, so most boats are
OK. Closest boat launch is in Nicolet Bay, but a park sticker is
required to park/launch inside the park. Beware of treacherous ice
in wintertime, though, especially on a snowmobile.
Other than pit
toilets and a fire ring, there are no amenities on the island.
Didn't see any water faucets or pumps. There is no overnight
camping on the island itself, but you can moor offshore
overnight.
There is a hiking
trail that follows the perimeter of the island, and the cache is
located off of this trail a few dozen yards.
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The cache is an ammo
can. Once you're on the island, it's not too traumatic to reach, so
little ones should be OK, but strollers will not work.
As you may guess,
this isn't a cache I can keep a close eye on, so if something is
amiss, let me know.
Mini-Spoiler: The
cache is located in a fairly typical fashion, such as under a
fallen log, or in a tree's base, or any of the normal cache hiding
spots. Nothing too sinister about the actual placement.
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If you
don't have a boat, rentals are available in both Nicolet Bay in the
park, or in Ephraim.
Nicolet Bay is the closest departure point to
Horseshoe Island.
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2 user(s) watching this cache.
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