This cache is located close to half way thru the 23.8 mile long North Fork Mountain Trail. If you love scenic, mountainous views, this trail is for you. The site of this cache is on top of a cliff that drops from the crest of the mountain. This long trail has too many such cliffs and magnificent views to count. If you ever scale Seneca Rocks and look off the backside and up, you will see the cliffs where the cache has been placed. At that point, it may only be a mile away, but by the time you descend Seneca Rocks, drive 70-80 minutes, and then hike over another mile, the two places seems worlds apart. So it's best not to use your GPS from Seneca Rocks to get to this cache.
The "easiest" way to reach this cache is to approach the mountain from Smoke Hole recreation area. N. Fork Mtn. runs parallel to, and between, the North Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac River and the South Branch of the Potomac River. Talk about a mouthful. You need to get to the Smoke Hole Area (not near the commercial caverns). From the west, you need to get off 55 & 28 (actually the same road) just about a mile north of the caverns, and head up the mountain on FR 74. You will travel this graveled road for many miles before you turn right on FR 79. From the east, get off US Route 220 just north of Upper Tract and follow the road along the river. You need to turn left just before a small store on the left. From there, it is approx. half mile to a fork in the road (left is FR 79 and right is FR 74). FR 79 is the dead end road that scales N. Fork Mtn. from its eastern base. When you reach the top of the mountain, you will peak beside a radio tower, you can still continue south for perhaps another half mile before the road ends in the woods and the trail is running through. Head south on foot along the trail. It is marked with blue plastic blazes. When you approach your GPS location, you will veer right from the trail (west) and find yourself on top of the cliff. There is a large stone propped up as a seat. If you sit in that seat, the cache is approx 12 ft behind you (north-east) at the base of a tree.
The valley to the west is frequented by Peregrine Falcons, and the valley to the east is occasionally visited by Bald Eagles. If you go during warm weather, take plenty of water and be careful of rattlesnakes. The best views are when the leaves are off the trees.
The cache a green plastic ammo can.