Cache Description:
You are looking for a small cache container located inside Red Top Mountain State Park. The distance to the cache depends upon which way you begin your journey on the Iron Hill Trail. As always when hiking or biking, please prepare well before you go out with (at the very least) plenty of water and a first aid kit. Also, this cache contains a log only, so bring your own pen!
The Iron Hill Trail is open to hikers as well as mountain bikers and is just a hair under 4 miles as it makes a loop through an old 1800's mining area within Red Top. Please be sure to pay special attention to the directions of travel on the signs at the trail heads, since cyclists travel a different direction than hikers. This is a moderate crushed gravel double track trail, so the terrain should be suitable for all ages. Helmets are REQUIRED for cyclists. The gate to the parking area is closed at dark, so please be sure to give yourself enough time to make it back to your vehicle in time to not get locked in.
This geocache is placed with permission by the park manager.
Enjoy your visit at the park and remember to re-hide the cache like or better than you found it and practice, "Leave No Trace." While visiting any Georgia State Park, please obey all park rules and remain on the marked trails as you make your way to find the geocaches. You can discover more than 15 miles of hiking trails in the park.
Parking and trailheads:
You may park in the area designated specifically for the Iron Hill Trail (coordinates provided). The trail head is at the end of the parking area and is clearly marked. There is a $5.00 parking fee, unless you have a season pass. A collection box is conveniently located on the left side of the entrance road to the parking area. Trail maps are provided at no charge at the park office and the visitor center, or you may download one from the park's website here.
The trails are closed after dark. You will notice signs that state this at every trailhead. This is for your own safety, so please abide by this rule.
Dogs are welcome but must be on a 6' leash at all times.
Geocaching 101:
Geocaching is an outdoor adventure game similar to a treasure hunt played with a GPS device. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, take a trinket from the cache, leave something of greater or equal value in return for the next person and then share your experiences online. There are over a million active geocaches around the world. Be sure to ask a park representative about the Georgia State Parks Geo Tour!
Disclaimer to New Geocachers:
Please take care to understand the basic rules of geocaching in order to help keep the game enjoyable for all who participate. Please do not move or vandalize the container. Replace the cache like or better than you found it (exactly where you found it), and, when you leave, and make sure the cache is completely covered. The real treasure is just finding the container and sharing your thoughts with everyone who finds it.
Trackables:
Occasionally, you may find trackables (travel bugs and/or geocoins) inside geocaches. Some of these may have dogs tags attached to them, but all trackables will have a unique number stamped on them. If you take a trackable, please remember to log it on www.geocaching.com. The purpose of trackables are generally to move from cache to cache; some may have specific "missions", which you may find on the trackable's page when you log it. For more information on trackables, including how to correctly log them, please visit www.geocaching.com/track.
Enjoy!
