There are a few places at the forest preserve where you'll find old trail markers. Some, like the wood and acrylic numbered posts along the Indigo Trace, go back even farther than Geocaching does, and were put out 30 years ago. Other maps were placed 25 years ago, while the newest trail markers were put out in 2020. Some will help you more than others, as our trails have changed in that time! Not sure how long these outdated things will last, but at least this cache isn't likely to get burned during a prescribed fire!
This cache is part of the "My Favorite Places" series, and counts toward earning a new Byron Forest Preserve Fox Snake geocoin. Find 15 caches with a Difficulty and Terrain rating of 2 or lower in this series to earn a geocoin. Take note of the code word on each log book, and visit the Jarrett Prairie Center during open hours (M-F 8 am-4:30 pm; Sat 9-4; Sun 12-4). Coins are at the front desk and staff will be happy to get them for you. If you aren't caching during open hours or log later and live farther away, please message me and I will mail you a geocoin. All caches in this series are geared toward beginners and families. Trails are well maintained and caches are available year-round, and are placed at the Jarrett Prairie Preserve, Barrick Oaks Homestead Preserve, HeLeo Two Rivers Preserve, and Bald Hill Prairie Preserve.
Caches in this series:
At the Jarrett Prairie Preserve (main site):
GCB80TV Skyview
GCB80XG Old Trail, New Trail
GCB80WQ Sunflowers and a Sinkhole
GCB80WW Hen of the Woods
GCB80XA Down Low, Up High
GCB80V8 Gulley Overlook
GCB80VT End of the Road
GCB848B Remnants of Days Gone By
GCB76DQ Fossil and Rock Exchange
GCB80W2 Greater Prairie Chicken
GCB80WA Garden Walk
GCB82AT Monkey See, Monkey Do Travel Bug Hotel
GCB8497 Clyde James Prairie
At the HeLeo Two Rivers Preserve:
GCB82DQ Duck, Duck, Goose
GCB847X Out of Bounds
Bonus cache, counts for both geocoins:
GCB82DD Frog Watch
At the Bald Hill Prairie Preserve:
GCB84B5 The Easy Way or the Hard Way
GCB84BR Milkweed
At Barrick Oaks Homestead Preserve:
GCB84C2 BFPDBOHPPnG
GCB84CJ Baby Cedar
Coming soon! The forest preserve is also putting out a series to earn an Environmental Education Association of Illinois geocoin. Find 8 caches in the EEAI series that have a D or T rating of 2.5 or higher to earn the EEAI geocoin.