CCCNP - The Waterfall
CAUTION!! THIS CACHE IS VERY CLOSE TO A CLIFF AND WATERFALL WITH A 60 FOOT PLUNGE TO THE ROCKS BELOW! BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL.
THE CACHE IS AT THE COORDINATES LISTED UNDER ADDITIONAL WAYPOINTS. I am planning to archive this series and replace each cache. Until I do that this spring, the caches will remain as they are except that the actual coordinates for each cache will be posted as an additional waypoint.
The actual coordinates for this cache are also in the cache container for Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve.
The CCCNP series contains 8 caches which must be found in order. The only one of the 8 that is at the posted coordinates is the first one, Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve.
The CCCNP Series:
1. Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve
2. CCCNP - The Waterfall
3. CCCNP - The Tree Fern Cave
4. CCCNP - The Nars' (Narrows)
5. CCCNP - The Bottleneck Cache
6. CCCNP - The Pancake Boulders
7. CCCNP - The Sedum Boulders
8. CCCNP - The Balancing Boulders
The Waterfall is about 1/4 mile from cache # 1. The trail starts at the edge of the woods and is marked by an arrow sign which can be seen from the parking area. The trail descends downhill to the top of the waterfall. The falls overlooks Waterfall Creek gorge about 60 feet below. The short trail passes many native plants: native azaleas, mountain laurel, trailing arbutus and an assortment of wildflowers in season.
Waterfall creek flows across a thick, resistant layer of Hartselle Sandstone. The water plunges 60 feet in two stages into the water-carved canyon below. The best and safest view of the falls is from a rock ledge on the far side of the falls and can be reached by crossing the footbridge. There is a small path on the far side of the falls that leads down stone steps to a large rock shelter behind the falls. One may go behind the falls to the other side of the rock shelter to another path that leads down the ledge to the pool at the base of the falls.
Most of the above information is courtesy of the owners of this beautiful Preserve. For additional information including archeology, geology and biology notes, please refer to the information sheet in the packet you retrieved from Cache # 1.
The Cache: Camouflaged waterproof match container containing a log sheet and the coordinates for CCCNP - The Tree Fern Cave. . Due to the location, the coordinates (averaged 500 readings) had only about +/- 15 to 20 feet accuracy. You do not have to go more than 2 feet off the trail to retrieve the cache. In fact, depending on arm length, you may be able to retrieve the cache while your feet are still on the trail.
CAUTION!! THIS CACHE IS VERY CLOSE TO A CLIFF AND WATERFALL WITH A 60 FOOT PLUNGE TO THE ROCKS BELOW! BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL.