What is this all about???
Jasper County Conservation wants YOU to visit their parks and find some geocaches!
Discover wildlife areas, trails, and, most importantly, geocaches while exploring the numerous parks and recreational areas that Jasper County has to offer. The Jasper County Conservation Geocaching Challenge (JCCGC) will take you to 12 of these parks and recreation areas.
List of caches in the Jasper County Conservation Geocaching Challenge:
JCCGC: A.C. Lela Morris Prairie
JCCGC: Ashton Wildwood Park 1
JCCGC: Ashton Wildwood Park 2
JCCGC: Clear Creek Wildlife Area
JCCGC: Chichaqua Valley Trailhead
JCCGC: Hartley Heritage Fen
JCCGC: Jacob Krumm Nature Preserve - Ahrens Access
JCCGC: Jacob Krumm Nature Preserve - East Access
JCCGC: Jacob Krumm Nature Preserve - Skinner Ridge
JCCGC: Mariposa Recreation Area
JCCGC: Red Rock Prairie Trail
JCCGC: Reimer Refuge 1
JCCGC: Reimer Refuge 2
JCCGC: Rock Creek Recreational Trail
JCCGC: Roorda Wildlife Area
JCCGC: Wagaman Mill
JCCGC: FINAL
How are these caches linked?
In each cache, there will be a popsicle stick with either a part of the final coordinates or a digit to a lock combination. When you find all 16 caches in the series you will have the coordinates to the “JCCGC: Final” cache as well as the combination to unlock it.
Hartley Heritage Fen
The Hartley Heritage Fen is a 33-acre undeveloped natural area. A fen is a remnant of the tallgrass prairie landscape occupying the southern portion of the Des Moines Lobe landform. Fens are a rare system, fed primarily by groundwater and upland drainage, rather than precipitation. This alkaline water creates a system rich in nutrients and contributes to the special flora and chemical make-up of fens. To date, 42 species of grasses and forbs have been identified at Jasper County Fen, including spring cress (Cardamine bulbosa), and marsh marigold (Caltha palustris), both offering evidence of the presence of fresh water. Other species that have been located and are specifically characteristic of fens include: flat topped aster (Aster umbellatus), turtlehead (Chelone glabra), swamp lousewort (Pedicularis lanceolata), mad-dog skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), and Riddell’s goldenrod (Solidago riddellii), as well as numerous sedge species. The fen also has many species of animals. The upland area of the fen is a favorite spot for wildlife such as deer and pheasants. The many sedges and forbs throughout this site attract a variety of birds and butterflies throughout the year, and crayfish homes are often found, their distinctive towers making good use of the rich peat.
Source: https://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Jasper/Park/Hartley-Heritage-Fen.aspx
Location: 3 miles west of Mingo off of N. 59th Ave W.
Activities:
-Hiking
-Educational prairie hikes