Welcome to Sleepy Hollow State Park. This cache, HH2025-Purple Coneflowers, was placed for the Haunted Hollow 2025 Event on August 16, 2025. This year's theme is Michigan Flowers.
A popular perennial with smooth, 2-4 ft. stems and long-lasting, lavender flowers. Rough, scattered leaves that become small toward the top of the stem. Flowers occur singly atop the stems and have domed, purplish-brown, spiny centers and drooping, lavender rays. An attractive perennial with purple (rarely white), drooping rays surrounding a spiny, brownish central disc.
The genus name is from the Greek echinos, meaning "hedgehog," an allusion to the spiny, brownish central disc. The flowers of Echinacea species are used to make an extremely popular herbal tea, purported to help strengthen the immune system; an extract is also available in tablet or liquid form in pharmacies and health food stores. Often cultivated, Purple Coneflower is a showy, easily grown garden plant.
This cache is located just off one of the many trails located in Sleepy Hollow. Most of the trails are well groomed and hard packed making a bike a great way to get to the caches in the area. Keep in mind during hunting season to be aware of hunters in the area. Hunting is allowed from September 15 until April 1st each year, so please be careful and dress appropriately when hunting is allowed.
A Recreation Passport is required for all vehicles entering Sleepy Hollow State Park. They are best purchased with your Michigan license plate, but are also available at the park. Camping is not available in the park this summer.