Brown's Woods
Carney Marsh
Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt
Chichaqua Valley Trail
Easter Lake Park
Engeldinger Marsh
Fort Des Moines Park
Gay Lea Wilson Trail
Great Western Trail
High Trestle Trail
Jester Park
Mally's Park
Sycamore Trail
Thomas Mitchell Park
Trestle to Trestle Trail
Yellow Banks Park
As an extra incentive, if you “find” all 16 geocaches you will be rewarded with a special collectable trackable Geocaching coin!
Only one special / collectable trackable coin will be given per household. Additional geocoins may be purchased at $10/coin for other family members completing the challenge. This special geocoin may not be purchased by the general public.
How is this accomplished?
Download your “Passport" HERE.
Take this Passport with you when you are seeking these caches.
Each of these 16 caches will contain a popsicle stick with a secret word embossed on them.
Use the enclosed crayons to create a rubbing of the secret word on your 'Passport' to prove that you have found this cache!
Once your Passport is complete, turn it into the Jester Park Office or by mail to claim your special coin.
Jester Park: N 41 46.777 W093 46.539
(11407 NW Jester Park Dr., Granger, IA 50109)
There is not an "end date" for this special Polk County Parks Geocaching Challenge. You have plenty of time to complete this fun and rewarding geocaching experience!
Sycamore Trail
The 6.5 mile Sycamore Trail will take you through some of the most wild areas of the Des Moines metro area. The Sycamore Trail is open to bicycling, hiking and cross-country skiing. The following are not permitted in this natural area: motorized vehicles, horseback riding, camping, and firearms.
Trailheads are located at the east end of the River Place building parking lot on Euclid Ave. in Des Moines and on NW 66th Ave., about 1 mile east of Beaver Ave. in Johnston. Follow signs along the trail to direct you on the correct path.
This land along the west bank of the Des Moines River is relatively undeveloped since it is located in the river’s flood plain. Once Saylorville Reservoir was constructed in 1976 to the north, the floods have decreased in frequency and severity. This has allowed plant life to stabilize and has benefited wildlife.
Facilities are not available along this remote trail. Restrooms, water, and snacks need to be thought of in advance.
Motorized vehicles are prohibited on all trails within PCCB lands. The only exceptions are for maintenance, law enforcement, and emergency vehicles. This restriction does not apply to a manual-operated or power-driven device designed primarily for use by an individual with a mobility disability, e.g. wheel chair.
Parking lot at: N41 40.806 W093 40.332