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 traditional cache hidden at the posted coordinates. It is hidden at a nice lookout. You are looking for a Regular size container. Please return everything as good or better than you found it.
Thank you
angelsunshine
for creating, hiding and maintaining this MSPC GeoTour cache.
Photo courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Sunset at Onaway State Park
Onaway State Park:
Onaway State Park is located on the southeast shore of beautiful Black Lake in Presque Isle County. The park encompasses 158 acres of rugged but picturesque land, including sand cobblestone beaches, large unique rock out-cropping and a diverse variety of trees. You may observe all these natural features by hiking the park′s three-mile nature trail. The campground, set among virgin white pines, offers solitude and serenity and plenty of family fun. Native Americans frequented the area and some artifacts have been found.
Photo courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Onaway Waterfall
History:
In 1919, Michigan created the Michigan State Park Commission to acquire lands for state parks. In 1920, Presque Isle County deeded 150 acres of land to the state for this purpose. The acreage included a city park then known as The Indian Orchard and some surrounding private lands. In 1921, the state began developing the park, adding two small bathhouses and toilet facilities to the picnic pavilion already in place. The two existing farmhouses were remodeled for use as a park store and manager′s residence. In 1924, an entranceway and campgrounds were installed, and in 1927, a campground loop road was installed. A new residence was constructed after the original one burned in 1931.
In 1933, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) established a camp at Black Lake, with 15 men assigned to Onaway State Park. They regraded the entrance road and installed a foot trail, and the next year began excavation of a basement for the already existing pavilion. In 1935 and 1936, a 100-space parking area was created and a stone campground toilet, designed by Ralph B. Herrick, was erected. In 1937, the pavilion was remodeled (also to a design by Ralph B. Herrick) and stone shelters added. In 1942, the campground was expanded.
Unfortunately, the pavilion burned down, but much of the park still reflects the 1930s master plan developed with the assistance of the National Park Service and implemented by the CCC.
The park was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. The application has since expired but an excellent resource for those wanting more information is archive #09001066.
Map courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Activities:
Fishing is a big draw at Onaway State Park. Black Lake, the seventh largest lake in Michigan has excellent opportunities for walleye, muskelenge, pike, perch and smallmouth bass. There are also sturgeon in the lake but they are a rare catch. Swimming and paddling are also prime attractions. Boat rentals are available.
Information:
For more information, reservations and a calendar of events, follow this link to
Onaway State Park.
Special thanks to
South Lyon Trekkers
for help with this geocache.
Special thanks to Are You Geocacher Enough? Road Rally for the Northern Lower regional prize.
Resources: