UPDATE: 3/1/2024:
2019 was the 100th Anniversary of Michigan State Parks and we're still celebrating!. Join the Michigan Geocaching Organization (MiGO), the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Geocaching.com for the first official GeoTour in Michigan.
This tour was originally scheduled to run for three years, kicking off on Friday of Memorial Weekend in 2019 and continue through May 31, 2022. The success of this awesome tour has not gone unnoticed. On February 2, 2022, The DNR announced the extension of the GeoTour through September 24, 2024! Join us in making a final push to complete this very popular and very successful GeoTour before the sun sets on it.
Each geocache is in one of Michigan's state parks. The geocaches are arranged by MiGO Region, with twenty-five geocaches per region. The Ticket to Celebrate 100 is available for download from the DNR's Geocaching page. It explains how to qualify for prizes in each of the four regions and for the GeoTour as a whole.
Day use areas of state parks are open from 8AM to 10PM. Geocaching is limited to those hours. Entry into Michigan's State Parks requires a Michigan Recreation Passport. See the Resources section below for more information.
The sun will set on the MSPCGT at midnight Tuesday, September 24, 2024. The MSPCGT will go off the air as a GeoTour and the caches will disappear from the map. There is a lot of construction going on in our State Parks in 2024. Some of the GeoTour caches will have to be pulled earlier. The remaining geocaches in the tour will be archived October 1, 2024. Players will have until December 31, 2024 to claim any prize they have earned. Hiders will be contacted to request removal of the geocaches they hid unless they have made arrangements with park managers and have their own permit in place to keep the geocache in play, with a new GC Code.
To improve park amenities, Craig Lake State Park's campground will close May 29-June 17 for road repairs and cabin upgrades in partnership with the Michigan Army National Guard. During construction, the park will remain open for those with existing camping reservations, but no new reservations will be accepted during this time. There will be limited access to backcountry sites, lodging, hiking trails, etc.
Now for some good news: MiGO and the DNR are busy working on a new project that will kick off in the Spring of 2025, code named MSPGT 2.0. Are you interested in helping? Keep your MiGO Membership up to date and stay tuned to the website.
Cache:
This cache was hidden as part of the Michigan State Parks Centennial GeoTour, presented by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Michigan Geocaching Organization. Record the codeword printed on the log book and on a label inside the cache container to the appropriate box on the Ticket to Celebrate 100 form. See the instructions on the form to claim prizes.
This is a traditional cache hidden at the posted coordinates. The container has a combination lock that you may need the hint for, or simply look at the cache. You are looking for a Regular size container. Please return everything as good or better than you found it.
Thank you
2277
for creating, hiding and maintaining this MSPC GeoTour cache.
Photo courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Craig Lake through the trees
Craig Lake State Park:
Craig Lake State Park is the most remote state park in the system, spanning more than 8,400 acres in Baraga County. Craig Lake offers a touch of wilderness and access into the park is somewhat of an adventure. Vehicles with high ground clearance are recommended due to the rocky conditions of the road.
The park contains six full lakes and numerous small ponds along with a variety of wildlife such as deer, black bear, beaver, loons, and a portion of the Upper Peninsula′s moose herd. Craig Lake is 307 acres and features six islands and high granite bluffs along its northern shoreline. Craig Lake is known for its muskellunge, bass, walleye, and northern pike fishing. Teddy Lake is a good fishing site for pan fish.
There are several portages ideal for canoes on both lakes. Keewaydin Lake offers the only
boat launch in the park and is the only lake that allows motorboats; motorized boats are not permitted on any other lakes to preserve the area′s pristine qualities
Photo courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Waterfall at Craig Lake State Park
History:
The property that makes up Craig Lake State Park was once the playground of Fred Miller, former president of Miller Brewing. Lakes in the park are named for his children. When Miller passed away in the early 1950s, the State of Michigan purchased two thousand acres from the estate. Cabins on the property were refurbished in the 1970s.
Map courtesy of Michigan Courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Activities:
ACTIVITIES
Fishing and hunting are the obvious activities at Craig Lake State Park. Fishing is limited to artificial lures only. Artificial lures are construed to include any form of commonly accepted fishing lure. NO live, dead, preserved bait or organic food substance of any type may be used or possessed. These exceptions to the General regulations apply on Craig Lake State Park water: Clair, Crooked, Craig, Keewaydin, Nelligan, Teddy, and Thomas Lakes.
In addition, hiking, cross-country skiing, paddling and snowmobiling are popular pastimes. Seven miles of the North Country Trail are within the park. Access to the park is limited by marginal roads and trails to high clearance, four wheel drive vehicles, but once in this isolated paradise, you will be amazed.
Information:
For more information, reservations and a calendar of events, follow this link to
Craig Lake State Park.
Special thanks to
Traveling Dave
for help with this geocache.
Special thanks to Cherry Capital Cachers for the Upper Peninsula regional prize.
Resources: