Michigan State Parks GeoTour - (MSPGT2):
The geocache which you are about to seek is one of fifteen geocaches that are each a part of one of the three separate GeoTours making up the Michigan State Parks GeoTour, or MSPGT2 for short. MSPGT2 and each of its three GeoTours have a beautiful multi-part geocoin for you to earn. To qualify, you will need to download and print the Michigan State Parks GeoTours OFFICIAL LOGBOOK and follow the instructions on it. See the Resources section below for information.
Cache Details:
Welcome to the Island Lake Shooting Range. Beyond the gates is a very large range for a variety of practice. Much like shooting a clay, this multi-cache will have a geocacher stand at one spot and "shoot" a clay. That "clay" will be the final geocache.
If the gate is open to the shooting range please park in the primary lot. If the gate is closed, park in the alternate parking. The Park Manager has given permission to park here for the brief time it takes to find this cache, if the gate is closed.
Geocaching apps and most GPS devices are capable of performing a projection. You can also do it from the following website: Geocaching Projection. The projection must be done on site.
1. Near the posted coordinates you should see a sticker with shooting instructions (distance and angle information). Get the information from the sticker to make your projection from the posted coordinates.
2. Using the projection you calculated, proceed to that point and search for the cache. Stay on the road side of any fence you encounter along the way.
Your geocacher name on the logbook is required to claim a find. Don't forget to record the Codeword on your OFFICIAL LOGBOOK. Please return everything as good or better than you found it. Please report problems in your log and send a message to MSPGT2. Our hiders do not see message traffic. If you need to contact the hider, their geocacher name is in the Information section below.
Tyler Leipprandt and Michigan Sky Media LLC for the MI DNR
Islands in the Lake
Island Lake Recreation Area
Island Lake Recreation Area offers 4,000 acres of state land in southeast Michigan. The park is a popular destination for mountain biking, paddling, hiking, swimming, triathlon training, picnicking, hunting, fishing and trapping and is home to a modern shooting range. The park has an undeveloped and natural feel, featuring four inland lakes, the Huron River and a mixture of open brush, mature hardwood forest and pockets of open meadows.
The Huron River meanders through the park and offers breathtaking scenery and paddling opportunities that resemble an "up north" experience. The river is managed as a Designated State Natural River and National Water Trail System.
Tyler Leipprandt and Michigan Sky Media LLC for the MI DNR
Island Lake Recreation Area Shooting Ranges
Activity: Shooting Range
Island Lake Recreation Area is host to the Island Lake Shooting Range. The range offers a variety of clay target shotgun sports plus rifle and pistol ranges.
Visit this DNR page for more information: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/things-to-do/shooting
MSPGT2 - Southern Lower Peninsula Edition
Michigan’s Southern Lower Peninsula is a hub for outdoor adventure, with state parks, trails, and waterways that showcase the region’s natural beauty and diverse landscapes. From sandy beaches along the shores of Lake Michigan to serene inland lakes and winding rivers, there’s something for everyone to explore.
State parks like Holland, Muskegon, and Grand Haven offer stunning stretches of Lake Michigan shoreline perfect for swimming, picnicking, and catching sunsets. Inland, Yankee Springs Recreation Area features miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, fishing spots, and campsites. Waterloo and Pinckney Recreation Areas are favorites for backpackers and kayakers, with scenic routes like the Potawatomi Trail and waterways like the Huron River.
For paddlers, the Grand, Kalamazoo, and St. Joseph Rivers provide calm waters ideal for kayaking and canoeing. Fishing enthusiasts will find plentiful opportunities in the area’s lakes and streams. Trails such as the Kal-Haven and Mike Levine Lakelands Trail cater to cyclists, runners, and walkers, weaving through picturesque countryside and historic towns.
In winter, these trails transform into snowshoeing and cross-country skiing destinations, while parks like Fort Custer provide winter hiking and fat-tire biking options.
With its blend of rolling hills, forests, wetlands, and shorelines, Michigan’s Southern Lower Peninsula offers a diverse outdoor playground. Whether you're seeking adventure, relaxation, or family fun, the region’s state parks, trails, and waterways promise an unforgettable experience.
Beautiful five-part GeoCoin by Chris Mackey
Rewards:
The image above shows the five-part Finder Geocoin for starting this adventure and the rewards for completing the three GeoTours that are part of the Michigan State Parks GeoTour (MSPGT2). The oversized coin is trackable. When you complete one or more of the three GeoTours, the Finders Geocoin is available to order from the MSPGT2 Page on the MiGO Website. It will ship with the horseback rider insert (lower right in the third image) included free, and also with any or all of the other three inserts that you have earned by completing one, two or all three GeoTours that are part of the overall MSPGT2 experience. There is also a Supporter Coin available in the store that will not accommodate the inserts. Download the OFFICIAL LOGBOOK (see Resources Section), record the codewords included with each cache as you find them, and follow the instructions on the OFFICIAL LOGBOOK to claim your prize(s).
This geocache is one of fifteen that make up the Southern Lower Peninsula Edition of the Michigan State Parks GeoTour (MSPGT2). The reward for completing the Southern Lower Peninsula Edition is the Fishing insert shown in the upper right position.
MSPGT2 Team:
Thank you, South Lyon Trekkers, for creating, hiding, watching and maintaining this MSPCGT2 Cache for the DNR, MiGO, and your fellow cachers.
Thank you, PROBOB and ca11mecupcake for contributing to help make this MSPGT2 Cache a success for MiGO and the Michigan DNR.
Thank you, park supervisor Andrew Haapala and the team from Island Lake Recreation Area for help and cooperation placing this geocache.
Thank you, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, for this GeoTour and for providing the beautiful trinkets for the players.
Thank you, MSPGT2 Core Team Members who helped create and maintain this GeoTour:
IsabellaRoad - DNR Team Lead
kzooOtters- MiGO Team Lead
Merlin1392 - MiGO Geocaching HQ Liasion and Coin Design
LynnGeoGin - MiGO Rewards Manager
JellyFish - MiGO Hider Liaisons and Problem Management
aghudley - MiGO Cache Page design and implementation
IFollowRoads, MsPackrat - MiGO GeoTour planning
fox-and-the-hound - Coin Design and Implementation
Resources
Follow the links below for additional information:
MSPGT2 Upper Peninsula Edition (GT4F8) - GeoTour page on Geocaching.com
MSPGT2 Northern Lower Peninsula Edition (GT4F7) - GeoTour page on Geocaching.com
MSPGT2 Southern Lower Peninsula Edition (GT4F6) - GeoTour page on Geocaching.com
MSPGT2 Official Logbook - Download and print to record your progress and claim your rewards. Instructions are included.
Michigan DNR Geocaching Page - Information about MSPGT2 and other DNR Geocaching activities
Michigan DNR Recreation Passport - Required for entry into Michigan State Parks, Recreation Areas, State Campgrounds, State Harbors and State Access Points.
Michigan Geocaching Organization (MiGO) - MiGO Website with lots of information for geocaching in Michigan.
Michigan Geocaching Organization GeoTour Page - MiGO's MSPGT2 GeoTours page with information about the rewards.
Presented By:
The three GeoTours (Editions) making up MSPGT2 are a colaboration between the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MI DNR) and the Michigan Geocaching Organization (MiGO). The MI DNR is the owner and MiGO is the creator and operator. There are fifteen caches in each of the three Geo Tour "Editions". Each of the geocaches were created and hidden by volunteer members of MiGO. Rewards for completing each "Edition" are described above. The GeoTours are currently under contract to run for two years, starting Memorial Day Weekend, 2025.