Note: Due to the extreme flooding this past spring, there will be extra challenges getting to Goose Island this year. Please see the Announcement logs on 9/14/25, 9/22/25, and 10/9/25 for details.
In September 2008, AirRaidFan (ARF) hosted the first Falls of the Ohio Extreme Hike. In the years since, it has become an annual tradition attracting adventurous cachers from all around the country and even Canada and Great Britain.
390 million years ago, this area was covered by a shallow sea. Abundant wildlife lived on the sea floor and fish swam the waters. Over time, particularly during major storms, animals on the sea floor were buried in lime silt. A 10,000 year process converted the animal remains into fossils. This created a gigantic fossilized coral reef that extends from Louisville to Indianapolis. Most of that coral reef is buried below the Earth's current surface. But glaciers and the Ohio River have exposed the fossilized reef at The Falls of the Ohio. Nowhere in the world is there such a large and easily accessible example of the Devonian period.
This event is a 30 minute Meet & Greet. There will be a brief overview of the area and Devonian fossils will be on display. At 9:30, the hike to the outer fossil beds (Goose Island) will begin. We will cross behind the dam as a group. Once on Goose Island, cachers are free to explore as they see fit. For anyone interested, the CO will provide a guided tour of the entire island stopping at all caches.
Note: Joining the hike is not required to attend this event.
If you do choose to participate in the hike (and I highly recommend you do), here is some of what you can expect:
- Knee deep (perhaps thigh deep) water crossings.
- A stroll past the base of the CLOSED McAlpine Upper Dam gates holding back a billion gallons of the Ohio River.
- Moonscape terrain ... like nothing you have experienced before.
- Some of the best Devonian fossils you can discover anywhere on Earth. Corals and sponges and crinoids ... oh my!
- 20 EarthCaches (5 star terrain) that can only be accessed a few months each year.
- 20+ non-EC caches with 4.0 - 5.0 terrain ratings, including ~10 new ones.
- A 1.0/4.5 CITO event (GCB9GMY). Help clean the island and earn the Season 2 CITO souvenir!
- The toughest terrain AdventureLab you have likely ever done.
- 6+ miles round trip if you do all the caches on the island.
What to bring:
- A sense of adventure.
- UV protection. The sun reflects off the limestone so it hits you from above and below.
- Plenty of fluids. See the bullet above.
- Nutrition. You can choose when to return, but it's an amazing place and you can easily spend 4-6 hours out there.
- Lace-up shoes with good traction. Waterlogged shoes get heavy, so light footwear is better. But please no sandals ... for your own safety.
- Hiking stick. Even if you do not normally use one ... bring one. Or two! Algae covered rocks are slick. Maintaining 2 points of contact at all times will help keep you on your feet.
- Phone/camera. This is a hike like no other. You will want pics.
- Zip-lock bags or other means of protecting your phone and valuables from getting wet. Someone will fall in the water. Someone always does.
- Bug spray.
- A permanent marker for signing vinyl logs.
Important ...
This hike is only possible if the upper gates are CLOSED. Standard Operating Procedure is for the Army Corps of Engineers to close the upper gates from mid-August until mid-October. However, if river levels increase above normal, the gates will be opened. The watershed for the Ohio River extends all the way to parts of New York and North Carolina. Heavy rains anywhere in the watershed area can result in the gates being opened. Dam status can be found on recording at 1-502-775-5056. For the hike to happen, we need the upper gates CLOSED and less than 12 feet on the lower gage. Updates will be posted as "Announcements" on this cache page during the two weeks preceding the event.
If the upper gates are open, the caches are inaccessible. The event will still happen, but the hike will be a NO GO!!
Also Important ...
Fossils and rocks in this area are federally protected. You cannot take them with you! Driftwood on the other hand ... take all you want. Replenishment shipments from upstream will be received throughout the winter.
Here are a few photos from years past to give you a feel for what to expect ...
Feet wet by 9:45
Moonwalking
The Falls
Patch Reef Beach and the Lower Gates
Fossils (and EarthCaches) galore
And one more thing ...
The Friday night before this event, there will be a Community Celebration Event (GCAVZ7X) at the State Park to welcome our out-of-town guests. This would be a great time to get the EarthCaches on the Indiana side of the river. Those will not be on the route for the Extreme Hike.