Welcome to Cache Across Maryland 2025. This is one of the caches placed for the 2025 Cache Across Maryland. Each location was picked specifically to give geocachers a taste of the state and show you its beauty. By combining all ten, you'll be able to see why Maryland is truly "America in Miniature". We hope you enjoy them! You must find a minimum of ten caches prior to the picnic held on Saturday, May 31, 2025 in order to receive a free Maryland Geocaching Society CAM geocoin.
Make note of the code word found inside each cache container. You must enter all the words into an online decoder in order to print a claim form to print and submit to receive your geocoin at the picnic, as well as your CAM certificate. More info on CAM is available HERE
Palmer State Park
Hours: Sunrise to Sunset
No fee required
Palmer State Park is one of Maryland’s smaller parks, with just 555 acres adjacent to Deer Creek. As you hike under the second growth forest, the park’s three trails offer a view into the history of the communities and industry that thrived in the area during the 19th and early 20th centuries. In the 1960s, Gerald and Ruth Palmer donated 463 acres for use as a public park; the park’s historic industrial sites include remnants of the Husband Flint Mill and Deer Creek Iron Works.
Husband Flint Mill
Originally built in the late 1800s by Joshua Husband, this historic mill was purchased by George J. Kroeger and rebuilt in 1909. The mill ground quartz, mined from quarries in the surrounding hills, for use in porcelain dishes and pottery. Before being dismantled in the 1920s, the mill was one of the best-equipped mills in the state of Maryland. Two kilns, a chimney, and part of the mill office are still visible today.
Deer Creek Iron Works
The forge was built in the middle 1800s and became a thriving community center with a general store and gristmill until the iron works ceased operations in 1878. The old foundation and covered bridge abutments are still visible today.
Palmer State Park Trail Map
Hiking Trail Map Link
When hiking to this geocache, obey all trail signs. There are lots of ravines and sharp drops. This geocache is placed along the Iron Works Trail (yellow blaze). Go right from the parking lot and you will be starting out on the Hornbean Trail (white blaze). After a short distance the trail splits, and this is where you will pick up the Iron Works Trail. The GZ is a very short distance up slope from the trail. Stay on the trail until you get to about 30 feet from the cache. Due to the switchbacks of all of the trails, you will get close, then further away, then close again. DO NOT BUSHWACK!!! The Iron Works Trail will take you along some of the deep excavations from the past quartz quarry sites. The remnants shown in the pictures would be located along the Flint Mill Trail (red blaze) down at Deer Creek. The trail map provides a brief description of the Park’s 3 trails in addition to the area layout. If you would like to continue to the bonus caches, continue on the Iron Works Trail. You will go past both bonus caches, then back to the parking lot.
When searching for this cache, please use stealth and replace as found or better. There were hikers and runners in the park during the dry run.
