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. Millions of years ago, these lines of steep cliffs, or palisades, were the result of erosion from the rivers that flowed from the melting glaciers. When the rivers finally receded, these palisades were exposed and the Cedar River remained. The palisade cliffs you can see across the river are composed primarily of limestone which is an organic sedimentary rock formed millions of years ago from the hardened remains of layers of ancient marine life, such as fish bones, corals, and shells. In fact, these cliffs are still laden with fossils!
To receive credit for this earthcache, email to me the answers to the following questions:
- Estimate the height of the highest cliff.
- What colors do you see in the cliff walls?
- What type of rock is the most predominant in the palisade walls?
- How were the palisades formed?