Lilyfrog04 and I enjoyed our hike on the new Poplar Bend Loop trail at the Confluence Natural Area so we immediately contacted the Eno River Association to seek permission to hide some caches along it. The Eno River Association graciously granted us permission subject to certain parameters to protect this natural area. You will find these caches along the Poplar Bend Loop (blue) and Poplar Bend Connector (orange) trails plus one in the parking lot.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
THERE IS A GOOD DEAL OF SIGNAL BOUNCE HERE, BUT ALL CACHES ARE WITHIN 10 FEET OF THE TRAIL. PLEASE STAY ON THE TRAIL UNTIL THE LAST FEW FEET.
YOU LIKELY WILL HAVE LITTLE OR NO CELL SERVICE. BE SURE TO USE A METHOD TO LOAD THE CACHES THAT YOU CAN ACCESS OFFLINE.
PLEASE OBSERVE POSTED HOURS (Dawn to Dusk at the time the cache was hidden).
Access to these caches requires crossing the West Fork of the Eno River on a set of stepping stones (rocks) spaced relatively close together. During, and for a while after, heavy rains, it is possible these rocks may be under water. Use caution when crossing. If the crossing looks unsafe, wait for another day to find these. On the way back from hiding the caches, we saw people with some larger dogs doing the crossing without a problem. Small children and small dogs might need to be carried.
To get to these caches, take the trail from the parking area to the Rocky Water Path (yellow) which is a loop trail. The distance to the river crossing is about the same either way you go on this trail. The Poplar Bend Loop begins after crossing the river on the stepping stones/rocks. The most efficient way is likely to do the entire loop on the blue trail (in either direction) with a side trip on the orange trail from the west end to get the caches on that trail and then retracing your steps back to the blue trail. There are a couple of places where the blue trail splits in two, then reconnects a short distance later.
To find all caches in this set will require about three miles of hiking from the time you leave the parking lot until you return to it.
This cache is on the blue trail at one of the places where there are two branches of the trail. Check the cache name to know which branch to choose.