#4 - All Aboard to Mt. Vernon
Welcome aboard as we collect your ticket to ride on the Pennsylvania RR also known as the Cleveland, Akron, Columbus (C.A.&C.) Railroad that once occupied our (3) multi-use trails in Knox County. In the late 1990s, Knox County began to explore the idea of taking the abandoned rail beds and converting them to multi-use recreational trails, this project is nearly complete as our trails include the Heart of Ohio, Kokosing Gap, and Mohican Valley trail which make up a greater trail system called Ohio to Erie Trail and spans 326 miles from Cincinnati to Cleveland. On our GeoTrail you will discover scenic views our county has to offer. This trail features (11) Geocaches which are numbered to follow in sequence. As you visit each cache we encourage you to become engaged in learning the history of Ohio Railroads and the significance they contributed to the growth of these towns. We hope that you enjoy our 2020 GeoTrail.
The Kokosing GapTrail
This trail begins in Mount Vernon and runs to Danville. To search for the fourth cache in our series travel to 404 S. Gay Street, Mount Vernon and park in the Riverview Public Parking lot. Riverview Park is fairly new to downtown. It is managed by Ariel-Foundation Park which is a breathtaking City Park across the Kokosing River. As you locate this cache and scan the QR code you will learn the history of the C.A.&C. Freight Depot which you will see still standing from the parking lot to the East. Enjoy the view of the Kokosing River which is designated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources as one of 15 Ohio State Scenic Rivers. Before you leave, walk across the Kokosing River Iron Truss Bridge, this bridge has been in existence since the early 1900s.
This geocache stands in front of the old Pennsylvania Railroad freight depot and off to the east is where the train yard was once located. Many have asked why the cache is located here but there is a little bit of history of days gone by. Be sure to place this cache back where you located it with a firm touch. Scan the QR code before you leave and enjoy a visit to Stein's Brewing Company.
- Bring a Pen. There are no writing utensils in the cache to record your name on the log sheet.
- Once you locate the cache, grab a trinket and leave one behind if applicable.
- Our geocaches are handicap accessible but someone will need to accompany the visitor to aid in retrieving the cache.
- Record your Geocaching username on the log sheet inside the cache and place the cache exactly where you found it.
- Log your find on the www.geocaching.com cache profile. PLEASE LOG WHERE YOU ARE FROM IN YOUR COMMENT
- To take the adventure one step further and obtain the GeoCoin (OPTIONAL) Scan the QR code in the cache box or take a picture of the website link and go on a virtual trip as you learn about each cache location. Here you will find a lot of information about the trail town and what you might have seen on your visit as well as a featured Hospitality Stop exclusively for YOU, click on the coupon icon!
- Unlock the opportunity to receive our Geocoin by completing our "test your knowledge" challenge as you scan QR code #11.
- Be sure to follow our caches in sequence (1-11) and enjoy our trail.
Upon completion of all (11) of our GeoTrail caches and our virtual challenge, you will receive a Knox County Park District Geocoin. The challenge will ask for your name, email, and mailing address to which your coin will be sent. Our coins are available to the first 200 to locate the cache, one will only be given to the Geocacher listed with each find and we prefer a family to share a coin.
Enjoy the Adventure in Knox County!