Overlook Cache Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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Just off the hiking trail near Stone Mill Spring at Fort Leonard Wood.
Take exit 161A off I-44. Take Missouri Ave. south INTO Fort Leonard Wood.
Go 4.2 miles to 1st street, where you turn LEFT.
Travel 3.8 miles on First Street to a sign for HAPPY HOLLOW PICNIC ground where you turn RIGHT.
Go 3.4 miles and turn left to cross a bridge over big Piney River. (bridge coordinate is N 37 44.243 W 092 04.844)
Go 1.7 miles (you'll pass a golf course on your left) Turn right at a sign for STONE MILL SPRING.
Go .7 miles and park in the lot for the spring and trail (the lot is at N37 44.243 W 092 02.661)
Look for a small YELLOW SIGN on a tree that says "AREA 5". There is a ridge just behind that sign. *The yellow sign may be missing now*
There is a trail up that ridge, it is not well marked from the parking lot, but if you walk a few feet toward the base of the ridge you will see the trail. The trail is short, about 850 feet but very steep with an elevation change of about 215 feet. NOT recommended for people with joint problems or heart conditions, but since it is so short, it is easily hikeable for most people or kids.
Trail goes straight up the ridge to a spectacular vista overlooking the surrounding hills. It is a wonderful place to take a picnic lunch. After pausing for a look at the overlook, the trail winds up through some boulders to the top of the hill.
There the path comes to an intersection at N 37 44.131. Keep hiking straight ahead until you see a very LARGE OAK TREE (it is very close to the intersection). There are lots of trees, but this one is easily the biggest around.
At the oak tree, look west toward the Big Piney River. A short distance from the path you should see a tree with a hole in the side.
You have found the cache!
It should be at N37 44.134 W 092 02.555 inside an ammo box. Take a picture of yourself with the disposable camera and sign the book. If you have a video game you are through playing with, bring it and swap it for one in the box. We put some PC games in the box...some for little kids, some for older kids/adults.
After you find the cache, you can either go directly back to your car, or you can finish the hiking trail.
To complete the regular trail, go back to the nearby intersection and go down the other path (heading east).
At N37 44.144 W 092 02.322 the path splits again. Take the path to the LEFT and head back toward the west along a new ridge.
Along that path you will soon encounter odd depressions near the path. These depressions are old foxholes dug by soldiers in training.
You will eventually get to a bench that has another good view of the big Piney river. A short ways down the path past the bench is a picturesque cedar tree growing precariously on an outcropping of rock. Although the age of this tree is unknown, some similar blufftop cedars in Missouri are over 700 years old.
The trail zigzags down the hill to a manicured trout stocked spring that flows at a rate of 18 million gallons per day.
FISHING is permitted in the spring, but you have to have state fishing license, trout tag, and on-post fishing license from the on-post recreation office.
There is a flat .5 mile gravel road from the spring back to the parking lot. The entire loop is 1.9 miles long.
If you haven't had your fill of hiking yet, go back to the bridge you crossed to get over the Big Piney river.
Cross the bridge and go 1.2 miles to road TA 256 and turn Left.
Go 1.4 miles and turn right just before reaching training area 70.
Go 1 mile and park on the side of the road.
There is a short .2 mile trail on the left that goes to MILLER CAVE.
The cave has a opening in the side of the bluff that provides yet another scenic view of the Big Piney River. You don't need a flash light, but it if you do bring one, you can hike a little further back. Wear clothes that you don't mind getting dirty if you go to the cave.
Hope you have a great day at Fort Leonard Wood,
The Trailhawks.
** Note Several hikers report the final coordinates are off by 70-80 ft. However the above description has allowed all to find the cache without problems. The payoff is the view/hike. It's not hard a hard cache to find. send me the correct coordinates by e-mail and I'll update the page. * The coordinates has been updated to N 37° 44.134 W 092° 02.555
** Also note that a few hikers couldn't find the beginning of the hiking path. It starts a few feet up the road from where the cul-de-sac parking lot begins...very close...but not right at the parking lot itself. Please use the trail, I'd feel bad if someone broke their neck trying to scale the steep hill without a rope while trying to find our cache.
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