Welcome to Marengo Ridge
For this cache, you will need to go off the trail about 15 feet or so.
Marengo Ridge Conservation Area is one of McHenry County’s most popular and treasured areas. It contains over 818 acres of oak and hickory woodlands interspersed with spruce, aspen, ash and sumac groves.Visitors to this site have several recreational opportunities available to them. Hike the 5 miles of trails that travel through avariety of ecosystems. Camp at one of the individual campsites available at the Thomas Woods campground May-Oct. For a frosty winter excursion Marengo Ridge is also open for winter camping from December–March. Reserve one of the 2 available picnic shelters to enjoy an outdoor meal with friends and family.
This site is truly unique because over 24,000 years ago, the retreating Wisconsin Glacier left behind a moraine, or ridge, that we now call the Marengo Ridge. This glacial feature is 40 miles long, 3 miles wide, and creates one of the steepest, vertical moraines in Illinois at 1,050 feet above sea level.
Cache Your Way Question
In 1843, Daniel Stewart was the first settler to claim 80 acres in the area. Over the years, the land was primarily used for agriculture. In 1950, the land was bought by another person who wanted to restore and reforest the property. What is the name of the person who planted 15 different spcieies of conifers on the overly grazed land in an effort to reforest the area?
Geocachers
Please join us in playing! Geocaching is a high-tech “treasure hunting” game played throughout the world by adventure seeker. All are welcome who observe and obey the rules.
- Please do not move or vandalize the container.
- Once you find it, log your name in the book, take a trinket and leave one of your own behind for the next person.
- Replace the cache in the same spot that you found it, and make sure it is completely covered.
- Please do not remove the informational card from the containers, this is an essential game piece for cachers completing the GeoSeries.
- The real treasure is finding the container and sharing your thoughts with everyone who finds it.
For a complete list of rules and instructions on how to earn a special district geocoin visit MCCDistrict.org/Geocache
Email geocaching@MCCDistrict.org with any questions or concerns
McHenry County Conservation District Information
Visit our website at MCCDistrict.org or call (815) 338-6223
Photo Release
5/20/2021 Photos posted here may be featured on the McHenry County Conservation District's various social media accounts including Facebook, Instagram, and twitter, as well as our website (MCCDistrict.org) and print material such as Landscapes Magazine. By posting photos to this log you agree to allow us to share your work. Photographers will be acknowledged in any shares or posts of photos, so please include your name in your post if it is different from that of your username.