Sponsored by Harris County Precinct 4, the Precinct 4 GeoChallenge features a series of 101 geocaches that participants can find for the opportunity to earn pathtags and geocoins.
The 84th geocache is located in Mercer Botanic Gardens.
The arboretum and botanic gardens are divided by Aldine Westfield Road. On the east side is the botanic gardens, where over 20 acres of beautifully maintained gardens feature bamboo, color displays, daylilies, endangered species, ferns, gingers, herbs, tropicals, to name a few. The east side also has an extensive walking trail system, a Remembrance Walk for memorials and honorariums, ponds, a visitors’ center, courtyard plaza, plus much more.
The arboretum on the west side of Aldine Westfield features two playgrounds, a picnic area nestled in a woodland setting with 58 picnic tables, two barbecue pavilions, hickory bog, boardwalk, cypress swamp, maple collection and several miles of walking trails that wind through beautifully preserved woodlands.
Mercer employs a team of experienced botanists, horticulturists, and gardeners who offer a wealth of knowledge and information, and will gladly assist you in anyway they can during your visit.
About the GeoChallenge
Each geocache contains unique collectible bottle caps and a unique code, either of which can be used to earn pathtags. Simply write down the code on your Precinct 4 GeoChallenge Series Passport and/or collect a bottle cap to prove that you have found the cache. Those who collect 25, 50, or 75 unique codes/bottle caps can earn bronze, silver, or gold-level pathtags. Geocachers who find all 101 geocaches will receive a custom-minted geocoin. Only one of each bottle cap is allowed per participant. Please visit the Precinct 4 GeoChallenge Series web pages for more information or to download your passport.
Geocaches are located throughout Precinct 4 from Greens Bayou Wetland Mitigation Bank in the east to Dyess Park in the west and Roy Campbell Burroughs Park in the north and Memorial Park in the south.
About Harris County Precinct 4
Precinct 4 is one of four precincts located in Harris County, Texas and boasts a population of over 1.2 million people. With a population of 4.3 million, Harris County is the largest county in Texas and the third-largest in the United States. It encompasses the Houston area, the largest city in Texas and fourth largest city in the nation. Both its total area and land area are larger than the state of Rhode Island.
With an area over 390 square miles—3,800 acres of which is conveniently located parkland—Harris County Precinct 4 has plenty to explore and scores of 'gems' to find!