Matsell Prairie Burn___
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This is one of the LCC April caches celebrating the Linn County Conservation's 50th Anniversary activities
In 2008, the Linn County Conservation Board will celebrate 50 years of service to Linn County residents. A yearlong celebration is planned to highlight all the outdoor recreation opportunities available right here in Linn County. In celebration of Linn County Conservation's 50th Anniversary there will be 50 GeoCaches placed within various parks and recreation areas in the next year. Some of the caches will reveal a "clue" that will enable you to be eligible for a special prize drawing at the end of the season (December 2008).There is one featured cache each month.
This is not a featured cache
Additional information can be obtained from the Linn County Parks Website and the Iowa Geocachers Website.
The Pine & Prairie Trail is the largest section of the trail system at Matsell Bridge Natural Area. It is 6.3 miles in length, and would take approximately 4 hours to hike. This trail offers horseback riding, hiking and excellent cross country skiing opportunities. Public Use Areas #3 and #4 are pack-in camping areas along the trail. Also along the trail are stands of various pine, white spruce and walnut that are home for an abundance of native plants and wildlife. There are many wildlife foodplots including sunflowers, sweet clover, brome and orchard grasses. Rows of such shrubbery as dogwood, autumn olive and honeysuckle are planted as wildlife corridors for cover. In the northwest corner of the trail a floodplain area provides a marsh for wetland wildlife.
The cache is located along the trail near the prairie grass stand. A spring controlled burn is scheduled for this prairie grass area in April. Parking is available at the trail head in the horse trailer parking area. The coordinates are provided. This area is not open form 10:30 pm to 4:00 am. Be careful during hunting season since this is an public hunting area. A trail map is included below.