North Jersey Checkpoint Challenge
Checkpoint Xanthe Montes
Welcome to Kittatinny Valley State Park in Andover, NJ. This cache will fulfill the “Xanthe Montes” requirement for the North Jersey Checkpoint Challenge.
Glacial lakes, limestone outcroppings, former railroads, and a small airport are features of Kittatinny Valley State Park. Lake Aeroflex and Gardner’s Pond form part of the headwaters of the Pequest River and are excellent for fishing and boating. This scenic property is home to a variety of wildlife such as whitetail deer, wild turkey, a variety of songbirds, beaver, muskrats, and squirrels.
Hunting, hiking, mountain biking, birding, and horseback riding are popular activities. The four lakes offer fishing, boating, and kayaking opportunities.
The Paulinskill Valley Trail and the Sussex Branch Trail are former railroads that have been converted for use as multiple use trails. Both railroads were critical to the development of Sussex County through the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. The wide cinder surface is ideal for walking, running, mountain biking, and horseback riding. When snow conditions are abundant, these trails provide and excellent opportunity for cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing.
Kittatinny Valley State Park and rail trails are open during daylight hours only. The Lake Aeroflex boat ramp is open 24 hours for fishing from boats.
Cache is located in a section of the park where hunting is permitted. Please wear orange during hunting season.
PARK MAP
Official NJCC Information
The Northern New Jersey Cachers (NNJC) are sponsoring the North Jersey Checkpoint Challenge series. This challenge is intended to take geocachers on a tour of Northern New Jersey (loosely defined as north of I-78) while finding caches placed by members of the NNJC. On the tour, we hope you will find North Jersey an interesting and beautiful part of our great state.
Scattered around the area are 26 checkpoint caches and a final challenge cache - North Jersey Checkpoint Challenge (GC1NNJC). The names of the individual checkpoint caches are based on a phonetic alphabet using mountain names since North Jersey is the mountainous region of the state. The 26 checkpoints do not have to be completed in any particular order. See the NJCheckpoint bookmark for the complete list of caches.
Hidden within the 26 checkpoint caches are numbers to be used in determining the coordinates of the final North Jersey Checkpoint Challenge cache – please be sure to note them while you are there.
While there are no special logging requirements for the 26 checkpoint caches, there are special logging requirements for the final challenge cache. Complete information can be found on the North Jersey Checkpoint Challenge (GC1NNJC) cache page.
Happy caching and enjoy the North Jersey Checkpoint Challenge!!!
This cache is certified North Jersey