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Cache is located beside the horse trail as it meanders up Longs Run, which empties into Beaver Creek. Bushwacking is NOT recommended and could be dangerous, and actually take much longer. Cache is about 5' from trail.
Permission from Todd Metz, Regional Naturalist Supervisor, Portage Lakes Region, Ohio State Parks.
Beaver Creek State Park is nestled in the sandstone hills of eastern Ohio. The park is comprised of various habitats including bottomlands, a gorge, forests and Little Beaver Creek--a state and national wild and scenic river. The valley of Little Beaver is characterized by steep walls, high rock cliffs and numerous gentle rapids. Geologically, the valley of Little Beaver is extremely unique, being the only stream valley in the United States yet described, in which evidence of all four major glaciations is found.
The flora of the park contains several interesting and unusual species, some of which are more commonly found in northern regions. Canada yew, yellow and black birch, hemlock and mountain laurel can be found in the deep stream valley. The stream banks are lined with delicate wildflowers including jewelweed, hepatica, violets and spring beauties.
Many types of wildlife find the park's varying habitats inviting. Red fox, skunk, raccoon and white-tailed deer are commonly seen while the elusive wild turkey is making a comeback in the area. Recently, sightings of black bear and bald eagles have become more frequent. And, numerous accounts of Bigfoot or Yeti. Ghosts are also frequent visitors.
For much of its history, Beaver Creek was inhabited by Wyandotte and Mingo indians until trapper John Quinn settled there in 1790. The area reached its heyday in the mid-19th century with the construction of the Sandy and Beaver Canal. Today, remnants of the canal can be found throughout the park.Gaston's Mill, built in 1837 to harness the creek's water power, today stands completely restored. Beaver Creek was dedicated as a state park in 1949.
This area of the park was once the settlement of Sprucevale.
James Brookes built a small grist mill and flax seed oil mill here in 1810. In 1813 the property was purchased by the Hambleton brothers who built east of the road another larger grist mill. It sits on the Calcutta-Clarkson Road. When the canal was being constructed a new village was platted with twenty lots along the canal. The town was busy when the canal was running. Sprucevale was run mostly by the Hambleton brothers who owned the grist mill, store and post office, woolen factory and family farm; and there was a blacksmith, flax seed oil mill and a saw mill. All were powered by the water from the canal dam. Twelve to fifteen families were supported by the canal work. The village no longer exists except for Hambleton's grist mill(the large sandstone building across the creek from parking), along with the remains of Gretchen's Lock(#41) and lock 42(both are just a few hundred yds. south of the grist mill). Take note of the Sprucevale bridge, whose abutments were made from the stone of Lock 43. The road now goes over where Lock 43 used to be, between the bridge and Hambleton's Mill.
Shortest route is to take lower trail that goes to (GCZJWX) Yeti Or Not, Here I Come!, and (GCV2KY)Rocky Road Ice Cream. After 'Rocky', proceed into open woods and go a few hundred feet where you will come to a horse trail - from this point - BUSHWACKING IS NOT RECOMMENDED, COULD BE DANGEROUS, AND TAKE LONGER! Turn left and follow trail down to and along Beaver Creek. You will see an island and the point where Longs Run empties into the creek. Continue following the horse trail up Longs Run to find the cache. Now, you have 2 options: 1. You can retrace the the way you came, continuing past HT1, up the trail to Solitude Cache. DO NOT TRY TO GO UP THE STEEP SLOPE! 2. If you want to increase the difficulty rating, and see some different trail, after Longs Run Cache, continue on the horse trail. Just before it crosses Longs Run, there's a trail up (and I do mean UP!) the hill. This was a horse trail but you will see a huge tree that fell over the trail, making it impassible to horse traffic. You will cross a pipeline and continue into woods. Trail bends to right and up, then seems to end (since no horse traffic in awhile) but just follow your gps toward Solitude, in only a few yds you will come out on pipeline. Head across it where you will pick up horse trail as it enters woods. Solitude is near. When you leave Solitude, proceed down horse trail to Waypoint HT1 and take Rocky Road Trail back. If you want different way back go back up to pipeline and keep following the horse trail as it turns right and follows the pipeline. At top of hill trail curves left off pipeline into open woods. Trail crosses another pipeline (smaller), then back into older growth woods. At trail marker at intersection, turn right. Trail makes gradual descent and crosses the first major pipeline that you were hiking on before. Trail goes back into woods and continues down. Stay right (down) at next intersection. Parking is at bottom of hill. You may decide to go in this way, if so, just reverse directions!
Because the cache is only a few feet off the trail, it is well camoflaged. PLEASE, rehide exactly or better than you find it!
Once again, ODNR does not want you on the cliff/slope above cache. It is too dangerous!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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