THE CACHE IS NOT LOCATED AT THE POSTED COORDINATES, and involves a walk along well-maintained trails at Cedar Valley Retreat Center. See below for directions and a map. This is one of many geocaches placed for the 2023 West Bend $1,000 Cache Ba$h, with this year’s theme being Blast From the Past. The cache here – THE LAND BEFORE TIME, based on the beloved animated movie series – is at an incredible and very appropriate location that you won’t want to miss! The movies follow the friendship of a group of young dinosaurs as they embark upon adventures, learning lessons about life and friendship along the way.
There are 5 geocaches located here on the retreat center property, all in close proximity to trails and placed with permission. Parking is available in the parking lot at N43 28.120 W 88 18.265, and the trails are open from dawn to dusk. Since it is private property please stay on the trails as much as possible. There is no need to go off trail more than several feet.
This is a letterbox hybrid cache, which is a type of geocache that can include both coordinates AND directions to get you to the final location. Follow the instructions in the following paragraphs to be directed to the actual cache location. Contents include a stamp (do not take) for letterboxing, as well as a log book and swag for geocachers and letterboxers.
YOUR ADVENTURE AWAITS
1. This is the fifth and final cache currently on the trails. The starting coordinates for this cache are N43 28.090 W88 18.497, which are on the mowed connecting trail that connects the Whitetail Deer Trail to the Apache Trail. They’re also the coordinates of birdhouse #9.
2. There are two trails at this location: one north and one mostly west. Take the west trail about 427 feet, which swings slightly NW then west again as it makes its way to the Apache Trail. You’ll pass a number of evergreen trees on your left and a hill on your right along the way.
3. You are now at the intersection of the connecting trail (which mainly runs east-west) and the Apache Trail (which runs north-south) at N43 28.110 W88 18.588. No need to enter these coordinates unless you wish to do so; just follow the directions! Off in the distance straight west is some huge artsy structure of some sort. We have no idea what that is, but let’s not go there.
4. Okay no more coordinates are given; you'll need to follow the simple directions the rest of the way. J Turn left and follow the Apache Trail south for about 430 feet. You’ll pass up birdhouse #11 along the way, and at times the trail will curve a bit, but when you reach that 430 feet mark you will KNOW you are there. JEEPERS that’s a big one. Photo op time!
5. The Apache Trail ends at the intersection here with another east-west trail. From the nearby metal pole - um, I mean “tree” - go about 30 feet S/SW past the pole to the intersection and you’ll find the cache at the multi-trunk tree, only about 4 feet from the trail. It’s just south of that east-west path.
6. To get back the easiest way, head straight north again on the Apache Trail, passing up the connecting trail and simply heading north all the way until you’re crossing the Kohlsville River on the Moon Flower Bridge again, about .2 of a mile away. From the bridge take the path eastward back to the parking lot.
We hope you enjoy the trails at Cedar Valley!
THE GROUNDS
Cedar Valley Retreat Center is a 100-acre private property with trails, ponds, a river, a creek, woods, prairies, farmland, sculptures, and numerous buildings that host people and events, including retreats and many kinds of art workshops. As part of the United Church Camps Outdoor Ministry, they welcome people to stroll the grounds to enjoy the peace and quiet of the outdoors. Suggested route if you’re looking for all five caches is to start with the Old MacDonald Had a Farm cache near the entrance and go in a “mostly” counter-clockwise direction, as shown on the helpful map presented below. Without the map it can be easy to get lost as there are numerous trails, some of which are not always marked. None of the caches are near the main buildings. Two of the caches are letterbox hybrids so that geocachers have directions on when and where to turn on the trails. Total distance if following the map to the geocaches is approximately 1.5 miles round trip.
Usually most visitors are requested to check in at the main lodge when walking the grounds (they’re friendly folks), but for those seeking the geocaches here they can go directly to the caches without checking in. Since it is private property please stay on the trails as much as possible. There is no need to be off trail more than several feet.
This cache placed by members of the
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