This earthcache is located in Palisades-Kepler State Park between Mt. Vernon and Cedar Rapids, IA. No sticker is required to enter the park.
When I grew up in Cedar Rapids, this was one of my favorite state parks, especially in the fall when the leaf foliage colors are wonderfully stunning! This 840 acre park was built by the CCC in 1934 and a great deal of the stone handiwork remains to this day. Take time to admire the stonework that is still standing in the walls and shelters and along the trails as a tribute to the fine craftsmanship of those early masons.
The park features deep ravines, majestic hardwood trees, wildflowers, wildlife, and most prominently, the dramatic river cliffs or palisades. Within the walls of the palisades are numerous small caves, formed when the waters of the ancient glacial meltwater flowed through here and eroded the limestone rock.
Limestone, the primary type of rock in the cliffs, is a relatively soft rock composed of the remains of ancient marine life such as fish bones, corals, and shells. These remains became hardened and layered on top of each other over the course of millions years!
As the force of the ancient river current lapped against the cliffs, the soft limestone broke free and revealed the holes or cave openings you can see across the river. Some are shallow caves, but some go deeper into the cliff wall. The caves are now above the river’s waterline, but the freeze thaw cycle that occurs each winter continues to crack some of the rock away and can potentially make more holes or “caves”.
To receive credit for this earthcache, email to me the answers to the following questions:
- How many cave openings can you see across the river on the cliffs?
- How did the caves form?
- Describe the color of the rock near the cave openings.
- Do you think more caves will be formed? Why or why not?