This is one of ten caches
placed for the 2011 Cache Across Maryland. Each location was picked
specifically to give you a taste of the state and show you just a
part of its beauty. By combining all ten, you'll be able to see why
Maryland is truly "America in Miniature". We hope you enjoy
them!
Purse State Park is located
on the Potomac River on Wades Bay. Purse is a wooded undeveloped
area that is used for hunting, bird watching, fishing and fossil
hunting. Purse is available for public use year round, sunrise to
sunset. You are looking for a camoed lock and lock .3mi from
parking near the end of an easy but not wheelchair accessible
trail.
In the park the Aquia
Formation which was deposited about 60 million years ago, in warm
shallow water, a wide variety of organisms lived including sand
tiger sharks, mackerel sharks, Eagle Rays, Cownose Rays, and
Turritella (snails) among many other lifeforms.
A pond that is stocked
annually is an ideal place for anglers, young and old alike. Picnic
tables are located throughout the park, and include accessible
tables. Four pavilions are available for family and group picnics.
One features a huge stone fireplace. Another has a panoramic view
of the pond. Two pavilions are located in close proximity to the
swimming pool.
The primary feature of the
park is an Olympic size pool that offers an accessible ramp for
visitors with disabilities and a fenced wading pool. A modern
bathhouse and concession stand serves the area from Memorial Day to
Labor Day. The day use area, with additional picnic tables and a
playground, overlooks the pool. Dan's Rock Overlook is the highest
scenic overlook in the park at 2,898 feet (883 m).
Park
activities:
Hunting - Permitted in the park but is restricted to the
portion of the park east of the paved road. The area in which the
cache is located is outside the hunting portion of the park, thus
there is no need to be concerned about entering the cache area
during hunting season.
Fossil Hunting - Fossil hunting has become a popular
activity at Purse. Fossilized sharks teeth, bones and shell
fragments are often found at low tide in the rocks and sand along
the waters edge. Check the tides before you come. At high tide
there is very little beach available.
Birding - There are a couple of unmarked, hunter created
trails on the same side of the road as the parking area that bird
watchers enjoy walking. These trails meander through a forested
area and along the edge of a small wetland. Note: These trails are
not marked and you should come prepared with map and compass when
using unmarked trails.
Fishing - Fishermen will need a Bay Sport (Tidal) Fishing
License to fish this area. Wades Bay is a great fishing location
for carp, large mouth bass, white perch and many other fish
species. During the summer months Wades Bay tends to fill with
submerged aquatic vegetation often making fishing a challenge. This
cache is located on a 'peninsula' formed by the Potomac
River
Nearby caches:
We Lost It! Can You Find It?
GC2NDV0 in Purse Park
A Day at the Beach GCKZXR in
Purse Park
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da GC1E4B7
in Purse Park
Lil Hunter's Cache #2
GC2FQGT a few miles north
Lil Hunter's Cache #1
GC2FQG1 a few miles north
End of the Road GC1BVZT a
few miles south
A&C Cache GCKZYB a few
miles east
Where Eagles Dare GC11D1W a
few miles southeast
P.O. Box - Welcome GC1EDVD
a few miles east