CANE CREEK CANYON NATURE PRESERVE CACHE
This is an eight cache series at Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve. The caches in this series were placed with permission of the owners.
While the owners of the Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve welcome visitors to the Preserve and have given permission for this series of Geocaches as well as the others in the preserve, they cannot and do not give permission to access any geocache in the Preserve by crossing adjoining private property except as specifically indicated on the trail map.
Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve is a 700+ acre privately-protected scenic natural area located in the Little Mountains region of Colbert County, Alabama. It was founded to provide a sanctuary for native plants and animals, as well as outdoor educational and recreational opportunities for people of the Shoals area. The preserve is open to the public year-round at no charge, except on special program and activity days sponsored by local environmental, civic, or natural history groups.
In the preserve, there are more than 15 miles of hiking trails, picnic areas, "restrooms" (outhouses) at the picnic areas and other locations, several waterfalls, beautiful bluffs and a multitude of flora ranging from common to rare. I have seen turkeys, snakes (including rattlesnakes), deer, armadillos and other wildlife in this beautiful preserve and there have been two Mountain Lion sightings, as well. Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve is maintained as closely as possible to its natural state, and visitors are advised that this commitment to “naturalness” offers many potential hazards that must be considered in order to be safe while on the preserve.
Enter this area at your own risk!
Please read each cache description carefully for specific cache information and warnings.
Please use caution at all times. Always monitor children carefully. Please be sure to take water and snacks along with you. I don’t recommend drinking from the streams you will encounter nor do I recommend drinking from the Big Spring although it is probably safe. Please wear good hiking boots or shoes since the footing is precarious in many places. Please remember, other than the cache contents, “Leave only footprints and take only memories and photos”.
Please do not arrive at the Preserve in late afternoon and expect to finish this series before dark. The round trip hiking distance to do just this series is approximately 6 miles with terrain ranging from 1.5 to 4. To do all 12 of the caches in the Preserve would require a round trip hiking distance of 10 - 12 miles. A limited number of primitive campsites are available on the Preserve but arrangements must be made with the property owners, Jim and Faye Lacefield who may be contacted by phone at 256-381-6301, or by email at lacefiel@hiwaay.net
Camping rules:
Camping on the Preserve requires prior permission from the owners. If you plan to camp, you must contact the owners at least 24 hours in advance. Camping sites are limited so checking with the Lacefields as soon as possible after you decide to camp is highly recommended. If you wait until the 24 hour limit, you may be unable to reserve a campsite.
Directions to Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve:
From Hwy 72 in Tuscumbia, go south on Frankfort Rd. Please note that Frankfort Rd. runs under Hwy 72. The ramp to Frankfort Rd. (N34 42.711, W87 43.236) is immediately west of the Co-op. At the end of the ramp, turn left onto Frankfort Rd at N34 42.676, W087 43.378. Go 7.5 miles to Loop Rd. (N34 37.391, W87 46.974). About 700 feet after turning west onto Loop Rd., the road forks with the paved road curving to the right and a gravel road veering off to the left. Take the gravel road. Follow the gravel road about 2500 feet to the entrance to Cane Creek Nature Preserve. Hold your breath as you pass the chicken houses on the left if you want to avoid the odor. Continue on into the Nature Preserve and park in the designated area at N34 37.335, W87 47.662.
Including this series, there are 20+ Geocaches on the property. All have been placed with permission from the owners. One can have a wonderful day or two enjoying nature, hiking and looking for the caches in this series as well as the other ones.
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
Begin your journey through Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve at the owner's home. Please sign-in using the registration book on the front porch so that the Preserve owners can have a record of your visit. After you sign the registration book, look under the little desk for the first cache of the 8 cache series. In the cache, you will find a log book, an information sheet and a copy of the trail map for Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve which you may keep. There are larger, higher quality vinyl maps in the mail boxes on the porch. You are welcome to use these while at the Preserve but please return the vinyl maps to the mailboxes upon leaving. The links, top and bottom, will take you to online maps, top and bottom, which may be copied and printed.