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.
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 Letterbox Hybrid cache. Start at the posted coordinates, N 45° 17.132' W 085° 20.616', where you will see an information sign. Walk down the trail towards the beach. Turn right just past the last evergreen tree and walk to the first clump of birch trees, a distance of less than 150 feet; you will be able to easily see the clump once you are in the open. When you arrive at the birch clump stand with the birch clump to your left and another large evergreen to your right. Go up the slight incline and look behind the evergreen tree for the treasure you seek! The stamp was handmade by the Letters From Home crew (an archived series of caches). Thanks to them for donating this stamp to this letterbox. Please leave the stamp and ink pad in the cache, they are part of the geocache and are NOT swag. On the way back you will see what is left of Fisherman's Island, now a spit of land.
Cellular coverage in the park is spotty at best. GPS receivers are far more reliable here. Also, this tour will take you along the beach and dogs are not allowed on the beach. If you attempt to find this cache in the winter, be aware that the roads to and in the park are not plowed.
You are looking for a Regular size container. Please return everything as good or better than you found it.
Thank you
TJPost
for creating, hiding and maintaining this MSPC GeoTour cache.
Photo courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Sunset over Lake Michigan at Fisherman′s Island State Park
Fisherman′s Island State Park:
Fisherman′s Island State Park, a 2,678-acre park just southwest of Charlevoix, features over 6 miles of unspoiled Lake Michigan shoreline and a park road that provides easy access to most of it. The island for which the park was named no longer exists. Due to years of lower water levels in Lake Michigan the island has become a peninsula now lush with native wildflowers.
Photo courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Creek through Fisherman′s Island State Park
History:
Ever wonder how Fisherman's Island got its name? An old story that has been passed down is that there were some fishermen on the island who had ventured inland and engaged in gambling. They returned victorious to their cabins on the island but were followed by some unhappy losers who wanted their money back. The fishermen ended up losing their winnings and their lives... at least, that's how the story goes!
Map courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Activities:
There are 80 rustic campsites with 15 of those nestled in the dune area along the Lake Michigan shoreline. The interior terrain consists of rolling dunes covered with maple, birch and aspen broken up by bogs of cedar and black spruce.
There are also over 3 miles of designated trails that form a pair of inter-connecting semi-loops through the undeveloped interior of the park. The North Campground Loop is available to mountain bikers while the South Campground loop is closed to all off-road cycling.
Information:
For more information, reservations and a calendar of events, follow this link to
Fisherman′s Island State Park.
Special thanks to
navychief98 & 23Peanut
for help with this geocache.
Special thanks to Are You Geocacher Enough? Road Rally for the Northern Lower regional prize.
Resources: