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. You are looking for a Regular size container. Please return everything as good or better than you found it.
Thank you
Merlin1392
for creating, hiding and maintaining this MSPC GeoTour cache.
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Photo courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources
White Pine Trail Linear State Park
White Pine Trail State Park:
Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park makes tracks from a bustling Grand Rapids community to the forests, farmlands, and friendly towns of Northern Lower Michigan. At nearly 93 miles, it is the state′s second longest rail-trail (the State Line Trail on the Upper Peninsula is longer, at 107 miles) and the state′s longest linear park. More than a dozen towns that tended to trains running between Grand Rapids and Cadillac now cater to hikers, bikers and geocachers by offering food, lodging, or camping.
Asphalt now covers about 62 miles of the trail. A ten mile segment from Reed City to Leroy was paved in 2018 and funds have been allocated to pave the last 29 miles from Sand Lake to Big Rapids.
Horses are prohibited from the trail, but snowmobiles are allowed from Russell Road (north of downtown Rockford) to the trail′s north endpoint in Cadillac. The trail isn′t groomed for cross-country skiing, although it is an approved use.
History:
Officially opened in 1995, the trail follows the rail bed of the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad that laid the first tracks from Grand Rapids to Cedar Springs in 1867. By 1873, the railroad ran from Cincinnati to Little Traverse Bay. Its prime business of hauling lumber out of Michigan′s old-growth forests dwindled at the end of the century, replaced by a brisk tourism trade to northern fishing camps and resorts. Subsequent owners include the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1918 and the state in 1975. Operations ceased between Grand Rapids and Cadillac in 1984.
Linear Description:
Beginning near the stadium for the West Michigan Whitecaps Minor League Baseball team just north of Grand Rapids, you′ll head north on 21 miles of paved trail through mostly rural terrain. The first of several historic railroad trestles crosses the Rogue River as you enter Rockford about 8.2 miles from the trail′s start. Rockford has many opportunities for dining; you can also enjoy a picnic at the scenic overlook of the Rogue River Dam. After passing through Cedar Springs, the pavement ends as you approach Sand Lake, about 12 miles past Rockford.
It is another 7 miles to Howard City; a short stretch of asphalt heads through town, where you′ll find groceries and cafés. Morley, in 7 miles, has an ice-cream shop, and Stanwood, in 6 miles, has a convenience store and café. You′ll enter the Muskegon River Valley and return to paved trail before you arrive in Big Rapids in 9 miles.
Six miles north is Paris, where the trail runs through Paris Park, featuring camp-in cabins, a canoe launch, and a fishing concession along the banks of the Muskegon River. Continuing 6.4 miles to Reed City, trail users can catch a view of the Yoplait Yogurt factory and cross the junction with the Pere Marquette Rail-Trail before taking a covered bridge over the Hersey River.
The trail is freshly paved for the next 12 miles to just south of Le Roy, and in another 5 miles you′ll arrive in Tustin, which has railroad memorabilia at the Pine River Museum. Heading north another 11.2 miles takes you to the trail′s end in Cadillac on Lake Cadillac, where you can enjoy swimming beaches and an outdoor amphitheater for concerts
Parking and access to the trail are provided at each community along the trail. Camping is available in Belmont, Cedar Springs, Sand Lake, Morley, Paris, Reed City, and Cadillac, and Hersey and Evart (both on the Pere Marquette State Trail).
To reach the trailhead in Comstock Park from I-96, take Exit 31B, and drive 1.5 miles north on US 131. Take Exit 91 to West River Dr., and turn right. Go 0.8 mile, turn left onto Lamoreaux Dr. NE, and look for the parking lot immediately on the right. The trail endpoint is just over a half mile south, in Walker, at N. Park St. NE.
To reach the trailhead in Cadillac from US 131, take Exit 177 onto northbound Bus. US 131/
S. 43 Mile Road toward Cadillac. Go 1.9 miles, turn left onto South St., and then turn right onto S. Lake St. Go 0.2 mile, and look for parking on the left, just across W. Chapin St. Take the pathway in the back of the parking lot 0.2 mile south to reach the trail endpoint at South St. and S. Lake St.
Information:
For more information follow this link to
White Pine Trail State Park.
Special thanks to
Allen Cachers
for help with this geocache.
Special thanks to Cold Cache Crew and Silent Whistles for the Southwest regional prize.
Resources: