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 multi-cache with a field puzzle and is not at the posted coordinates. To determine the location of the cache, go to the posted coordinates and answer the following questions with information there.
- N 44° 25.ABC W 084° 40.DEF
- A = Third digit of the first year Arthur served as "Chief".
- B = Which world war did Arthur serve in?
- C = Second digit of the larger number of acres.
- D = Fourth digit of the first year Arthur served as "Chief".
- E = Number of letters of the fourth from last word on the plaque.
- F = Fourth digit of the last year Arther served as Chief.
- Checksum: A+B+C+D+E+F = 33
You are looking for a Regular size container. There is somee parking available ear the final but it does get busy. Certain times of year, boots will help with this cache. Please return everything as good or better than you found it and conceal the container with nature's bounty.
Thank you
aghudley
for creating, hiding and maintaining this MSPC GeoTour cache.
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Photo courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Beachfront Sunset at South Higgins Lake State Park
South Higgins Lake State Park:
South Higgins State Park is a 1,000-acre park split in half by County Road 100. To the north is Higgins Lake and to the south is Marl Lake and 700 acres forested in maple, oak and pine. The park contains almost one mile of shoreline along Higgins Lake, which is a large spring-fed body of water known for its clarity and fishing potential. Marl Lake is considerably smaller, shallower and less developed.
Higgins Lake stretches seven miles and can reach 135 feet in depth. It is best known by many anglers for its perch and lake trout populations. Marl Lake also provides for excellent fishing opportunities. Perch, smallmouth bass and northern pike are commonly caught in the lake. Most anglers use a canoe or small boat and fish in the center of the lake. Anglers also have good success ice fishing on Higgins Lake.
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Photo courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Camp Store at South Higgins Lake State Park
History:
The park was first opened as a campground in 1927 with 15 campsites on a 100 acre parcel. Over time, the developed portion of the park, between Higgins Lake and County Road 100, grew to 300 acres with 400 campsites, making it the second largest camping facility in Michigan. In 1984, after private development efforts failed, the DNR purchased 700 additional acres that completely surround Marl Lake.
The park store, pictured above, was built in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. It is constructed from Michigan White Pine and was originally used as the park caretaker′s residence as well as the park store. It has been renovated and added on to over the years. The store has a large variety of food, beach toys, books, and anything a camper could imagine they might need.
Map courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Activities:
Besides camping, boating, swimming and fishing, there are self-guided nature trails around Mark Lake that offer wildlife observation. Hunting is also allowed in the Marl Lake portion of the park.
Through the summer, there are several events hosted here at the ‘South Park′. Sailboat regattas, a car show and motorcycle show, Higgins Lake Sunrise Run marathon, DNR park Explorer Program, special events, and the popular Higgins Harvest Fest, quickly gaining legend status.
Information:
For more information, reservations and a calendar of events, follow this link to
South Higgins Lake State Park.
Special thanks to
TreePlanter
for help with this geocache.
Special thanks to Are You Geocacher Enough? Road Rally for the Northern Lower regional prize.
Resources: