MSPCGT:Menominee River RA Traditional Cache

Michigan State Parks Centennial GeoTour (GT93)

UPDATE: 3/1/2024:

2019 was the 100^th 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 traditional cache hidden at the posted coordinates. It will take you along walkways along to see four different parts of the Piers Gorge. There are two more caches along the way. Please be careful on the walkways. They could use some TLC. A word of caution. Take precautions to avoid tick bites. Lyme disease is endemic in Menominee County. You are looking for a Regular size container. Please return everything as good or better than you found it.

Thank you 2_UP_Geologists for creating, hiding and maintaining this MSPC GeoTour cache.

^{courtesy of Wisconsin and Michigan Departments of Natural Resources}
Piers Gorge

Menominee River Recreation Area:

Menominee River Recreation Area encompasses nearly 10,000 acres of public land along a 17-mile stretch of undeveloped river. The park is home to 17 miles of undeveloped river corridor with both rocky gorges and wide-open stretches that offer a destination for whitewater rafting and kayaking, as well as hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing. There are three units in the park, including Piers Gorge Unit in the north, Quiver Falls Unit and Pemene Falls Unit in the south.

^{Photo by Lori Schultz © 2018, used with permission}
Menominee River in Winter

History:

The Recreation Area was established in 2010 with the purpose of protecting the scenic values of the Menominee River and associated natural resources while providing opportunities for public access and recreation. Management of the Menominee River Recreation Area is a collaborative effort between the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Michigan DNR. With public ownership on both sides of the river, this joint management plan will help create a "one place, one feel" experience for visitors.

^{Map courtesy of Wisconsin and Michigan Departments of Natural Resources}

Activities:

ACTIVITIES

1. Piers Gorge Unit
   • Piers Gorge: 2.9 miles (Class II-IV)
   • Sand Portage Falls (Pier 4)
   • Mishicot Falls (Pier 3)
   • Two Sisters (Pier 2)
   • Terminal Surfer (Pier 1)
2. Quiver Falls Unit
• Quiver Falls Rapids: 0.3 miles (Class II-IV)
3. Pemene Falls Unit
• Pemene Falls: 0.2 miles (Class III-IV)

^{Photo by Lori Schultz © 2018, used with permission}
Piers Gorge in Winter

Please note: these rapids are not for novices. If you want to experience them first-hand, several whitewater rafting companies are available in the area that offer guided trips.

Information:

For more information, reservations and a calendar of events, follow this link to Menominee River Recreation Area.

Special thanks to *WoodBadger for help with this geocache.

Special thanks to Cherry Capital Cachers for the Upper Peninsula regional prize.

 

Resources:

• State Parks Centennial GeoTour - Download the Ticket to Celebrate 100
• Michigan.gov/StateParks100
• Michigan DNR Recreation Passport
• When were Michigan state parks and recreation areas established?
• Michigan Geocaching Organization (MiGO)