CMP-Prairie Oaks Traditional Cache
Trail Jogger: Due to an injury to my feet I am unable to properly maintain this cache so I have to archive it. Congratulations to all who have enjoyed finding it.
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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The 1,600 acre Prairie Oaks Metro Park was named for the large
groves of bur oaks that once dominated this region of the Big Darby
watershed and the prairie communities that flourished here until
the 1800s. (Source: Park brochures and website.)
Prairie Oaks Metro Park
The details of Prairie Oaks Metro Park can be found on
http://www.metroparks.net/default.aspx . Please review this website
for information about park hours of operation and review the
associated detailed map of the park. Trail maps are also available
within the park. The recently developed Darby Bend Lake area
features three large fishing lakes where visitors can hike, jog,
fish, canoe, kayak, and launch small boats. The cache site is on
the Darby Creek Greenway Trail just north of the ponds and the
Indian mound. The cache itself is found only about 12 feet from the
trail and is a 9x9x4” camouflaged plastic container with logbook,
pen, and small trade items. Walking distance from car to cache is
0.7 miles The cache can also be reached by parking near the main
entrance on SR-142 as there is a bridge on the Greenway Trail over
Big Darby creek. The distance from that location to the cache adds
an additional mile each way. Originally gravel mine quarries, these
well-stocked 120’ deep lakes are now home to bluegill, perch,
catfish, and largemouth bass. (On March 30th, when scouting for a
cache location near the ponds I watched an angler land an 18”
largemouth bass, so I know that there is some great fishing here!)
Columbus Metro Parks CMP-Prairie Oaks cache is placed with the
permission of park management using Permit Number 13-2, a
requirement for metro park caches. Due to the level trail,
wildlife, fishing ponds, picnic facilities, and easy find, this
cache is ideal for children. Please view the pictures for hints to
the cache location.
To get to the park, take I-70W 7.5 miles from I-270 or two exits
to Exit 85 SR-142N. Go north 2.1 miles past the main entrance of
the park. Turn right (east) onto Lucas Pike / Beach Road past the
new Beaver Lake region, and across the beautiful Beach Road
suspension bridge. Turn right (south) on Amity Road and go 0.4
miles to the park entrance. Please park in the designated parking
lots and not along the outside roads. The Sycamore Plains entrance
of the park is just 1.4 miles south of the Darby Bend Lake area
where another cache is also hidden in case you want a double header
while you’re out this way.
Other caches in my Columbus Metro Parks series include CMP-Glacier
Ridge, CMP-Slate Run, CMP-Blendon Woods, CMP-Pickerington Ponds,
CMP-Three Creeks, CMP-Blacklick Woods, CMP-Sharon Woods,
CMP-Battelle-Darby, CMP-Highbanks, and CMP-Chestnut
Ridge.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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