This is a wonderful spot that i think not many people really know about. This cache is located within the West Oak Forest park, by permission and i have a cache-permit from the Mills County Conservation Board for it, so please please be respectful of the area, and stay on the trail. The trailhead is just a bit further north along that road, and is obvious when you see the entrance and parking lot to the area. THAT is where to start hiking....NOT ALONG THE ROAD WHERE THE GPS SAYS YOU ARE NEAREST THE CACHE---DO NOT CLIMB UP THE SIDE OF THE HILL, AND WRECK THE AREA OR WE WILL HAVE TO REMOVE THE CACHE.
The reason for the 4.5 difficulty is for the initial climb up the hill/trail. the rest of the trails are more like a 2. the tough part is only for the climb UP the hill, then it kinda levels out. Once you find the cache, please continue along the trail till you get to the look out. Than is why i placed the cache here....to get people to see the lookout. Once you have found the cache, continue on to the end of this part of the trail, which is only about another 700 feet away...you are almost to the lookout!
West Oak Forest street address is 55877 195th St. Pacific Junction, IA (2 miles North of Hwy 34 on L31) West Oak Forest is 308 acres located in the Loess Hills. It consists of forest, numerous hilltop prairie remnants, 7-acres of restored prairie, and well over 3 miles of hiking trails. The park is basically a rectangle that is 1 mile by 1/2 mile. The area is very steep with rough hills. On the highest bluff the elevation reaches 1,100 feet above sea level. Located on the lower south trail, you will find an interpretive panel with information about Iowa’s Loess Hills and native prairie. Work is presently underway to restore part of the park to an Oak Savanna. West Oak Forest is inhabited by some threatened and endangered species of the Loess Hills. This park is rich in cultural history as well, once occupied by the Glenwood Culture; a pre-historic people whose earth-lodge sites and burial mounds have been documented within the park’s boundaries. This park is open to non-consumptive recreational use. It is illegal to remove, injure, destroy, or deface any natural or man-made structures or materials, including trees, flowers or wildlife except with written permission of the Mills County Conservation Board. Mushrooms, fruits and nuts can be harvested for personal use. West Oak Forest is a great place for hiking, photography, bird watching, nature viewing, prairie enthusiasts, and nature lovers in general. Please read over these basic rules for the park: No motorized vehicles beyond the parking area. No hunting or trapping. No firearms. No camping. No open fires or fireworks. Pets must remain on a leash at all times
There are no restrooms here. The main trails are about a 3 mile loop, with spurs going to lookout points for awesome flood plain views over to Nebraska. There are other smaller trails that add up to another mile or two. there are several spots you will come across, that have WONDERFUL views.
I placed this cache in a safe place for kids to be also, not right where the cliffs are, but it is still necessary to watch the kids when approaching the cache. keep going down that path and you will see the best view in the whole forest.
The meadows at the top of the hill are easy walking, but the climb up to them, is tough, and steep. Wheelchairs will not make it up. Plus, it is not approachable it it just rained the day or maybe two before. The trail up will be too slick. This is one of those "if you can get up the hill, it will be worth it." views.
I ride my bicycle up the hill sometimes, and that is fine. the Mills County Conservation Board who issued the permit said that if I can get a bike up that hill....they wont say no. but its a tough climb!!! No motor bikes allowed tho.
Their link for this Forest is : https://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Mills/Park/West-Oak-Forest.aspx