ABOUT THE AREA: Welcome to beautiful Fort Fisher! This place is not only rich in history, but has one of the most dynamic ecosystems that you will find in the Carolinas! Please observe the parks rules and regulations while you are here, and remember to CITO while you go. The focus of this geocache series is the scenic Basin Trail, a meandering 1.1mile out-and-back that will take you through the salt-marsh, ending at a scenic observation deck overlooking The Basin. I’m told this can be an amazing spot to do some bird watching! The Basin itself is part of the Zeke's Island component of the North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve, an 1160-acre area of outstanding estuarine and ocean resources with extensive marshes and tidal flats. On your way there you will visit the World War II Bunker, home to the Fort Fisher Hermit, and the namesake of this series! From 1955 to 1972, Robert E. Harrill, who became known as the Fort Fisher Hermit, lived out his days in this WWII bunker. He became a celebrity and philosopher of sorts, becoming known to the thousands of visitors who came to Fort Fisher during those years. While placing these caches we imagined Robert’s life down here for so many years, living off the land and teaching from what he called “The School of Life” to his many visitors. Please take time to visit the Fort Fisher Hermit Mystery Cache while you are down by the Hermit's former home!
ABOUT THE SERIES: This is a series of log-only micro caches so BYOP! The first cache in the series will take you to the head of the Basin Trail, located at the Fort Fisher Recreation Area, which is where this journey begins! Plenty of parking nearby, and the park’s operating hours are listed below. We recommend plenty of water and bug spray, depending on the time of year, if you are going to be making to full hike! This is a 1.1mi out-and-back trail, so that’s 2.2mi round trip if you complete the entire series. The second cache will only come after you have proven you are committed to the hike by covering some ground, making your way through the “canopy”, hiking a short stretch of “desert”, and following the trail into the salt-marsh! From there, you will be greeted with more frequent “smileys”, and many fiddler crabs along the way!
This series of geocaches has been placed with the permission of the Park Officials, and special care has been taken to ensure that you will NOT need to set foot off the trail to retrieve any of these caches. This is in order to protect the many flora and fauna in this busy ecosystem, as well as to prevent spur trails and potential harm to hikers.
Park Operating Hours November,December,January,February, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. March, April, May, September, October 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. June,July,August, 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Park gate is closed and locked at park closing time. Office Hours 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily
Open most state holidays, closed Christmas day.
CACHE SPECIFICS: "Hermit's Backyard" Almost to the Observation Deck! You are looking for a camo bison tube.