The Panther Point trail is the newest hiking/biking trail in Polk County
To find the cache park at Marshall Hampton reserve and walk to where you pick up the Osprey Overlook trail and follow the trail around the lake clockwise, follow the signs to Panther Point trail. You will need to cross two automatic gates. Push the button to open the gates. The gates will automatically close after you. Between the two gates is an active cattle area. Please DO NOT feed, chase or try and pet the cattle. See wayponts below.
The hike is over six miles round trip to the cache. Only part of the trail is open to the public right now. When the trail is open completely it will run from Marshall Hampton to Fort Fraser trail. The open part of the Panther Point trail is not paved and is currently a ten mile hike round trip. Don't forget water and any snacks you may want on the trail.
This is a Letterbox Hybrid cache. For anyone not familiar with Letterboxing there is a log in the cache for you to sign and stamp (with your stamp), then you stamp your own log or paper (with stamp that is in the cache). If you do not have your own stamp, then stickers or handrawn artwork is acceptable or if you do not have your own stamp, just sign the log. DO NOT TAKE STAMP WITH YOU; IT IS NOT A TRADE ITEM!!!
This geocache is a part of the Trek Ten Trails 2016-2017 program. Participation in that program, while a lot of fun, is not required to log this cache here.
Trek Ten Trails 2016-2017 program marks the continuation of the Friends of the Parks Foundation’s call to explore the outdoors in Polk County. Several new caches and a bonus cache have been hidden at nature trail locations throughout Polk County this year. Each nature trail includes geocaches with a self-inking stamp for validating your visits to at least ten of the featured trails. To receive a completion certificate and be eligible for a other prizes you must find ten caches. Of course you may trek all trails we have added this year and we hope you do!
New validation game cards, which participants stamp are available at various locations and are listed on the Friends of the Parks website and OUTPOST 27 CACHE. Trek Ten Trails 2016-2017 program maps, game cards and other information about each of the featured nature trails may be downloaded from the Friends of the Parks website. Check out our Profile for more details.
Cache placed with permission