All coordinates:
Format WGS84
This stash is located along the Country Club Road horse trail on the north eastern shore of Lake Arthur in Moraine State Park which is near Butler, PA about 35 miles north of Pittsburgh.
* * * * * * * * * CAUTION * * * * * * * * *
Approximately 13,600 acres of Moraine State Park are open to hunting, trapping and the training of dogs during established seasons.
BE EXTRA CAREFUL WHEN HIKING AND GEOCACHING DURING THE HUNTING SEASONS AND ALWAYS WEAR SOME FORM OF ORANGE FOR EXTRA VISIBILITY.
For complete information on hunting rules, regulations and seasons in Pennsylvania, visit the
Pennsylvania Game Commission Web site.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
More information on the park can be found at the MORAINE STATE PARK web site.
For information on nearby attractions, visit the BUTLER COUNTY CHAMBER web site.
To find the cache, one needs to first locate the beginning of Country Club Road located off of Muddy Creek Drive( Old Route 8 ) about 9 miles north of Butler just west of Route 8.
The beginning of Country Club Road is at:
N40 58.194
W79 58.370
This is a dirt and gravel road that has no winter maintenance. A two-wheel drive car is sufficient in the spring, summer and fall months. However, I would highly recommend a four-wheel drive in the winter months. Do NOT attempt this cache if the snow cover is greater than 4 inches.
Country Club Road heads west from Muddy Creek Drive for about 1.5 miles until you reach two gates blocking the road. Beyond the gate facing west is the horse trail and no motor vehicles are allowed.
The gate is located at:
N40 57.782
W79 59.994
There is plenty of room to park, but do NOT block the gates.
The horse trail mostly follows old roads that are now abandoned. The trail is marked with "purple" blazes.
Continue past the gate and head west along Country Club Road. About a quarter of a mile past the gate there is a road going to the right. This is the shortest route to the cache. However, if you feel adventurous, I would recommend going straight and following the trail around in a clockwise direction.
The shorter route, taken by whimps only, is 1.3 miles one way to the cache.
If you decide to go the adventurous route, stopping at all the lake views, be prepared to walk approximately 3.8 miles in about 2-3 hours.
The first good view of the lake is at:
N40 57.054
W80 01.042
And another good view at:
N40 57.027
W80 01.265
The cache is located at:
N40 57.917
W80 01.135
The cache is in a clear 1-gallon container with a white lid. It is in a very obvious location once you arrive at the coordinates,
After visiting the cache, stop at the third view of the lake at:
N40 58.143
W80 01.078
Here you will find an Ospry nest sitting atop an old telephone pole. Osprey may be seen flying over Lake Arthur. Once extirpated from Western PA, these "fish hawks" have been reintroduced to Moraine through a four-year hacking program begun in 1993. The first Osprey pair nest along Lake Arthur as a result of the reintroduction effort raised three young in 1996.
Continue back to the gate but make sure to stop and visit the small tombstone right along the berm of the trail at:
N40 58.156
W80 00.862
This tombstone dates back to December 5, 1867. Please do NOT disturb this gravesite. There are many items left here by visiting relatives.
After returning to the original gate, about 100 yards before it, there is a small trail that heads south into a large field. If you have the time, make sure to walk around this large field.
There is another excellent view of the lake at:
N40 57.338
W80 00.225
And on the edge of this field another old cemetery surrounded by a 4-foot high stonewall. Do NOT go inside the wall. You can easily view the two gravestones from outside. These gravestones go back to the 1830's. The people were born in the 1750's before the American Revolution and Civil War!!!!!!!
The old cemetery is at:
N40 57.688
W80 00.290