Junction Creek Geocache Traditional Cache
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Size: 
(regular)
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A pleasant stroll beside a mountain stream brings you to this trailside cache.
Directions: Begin on Rte 550/Main street in Durango. Turn west onto 25th street, opposite the fairgrounds. The street immediately changes its name to Junction Street. Drive about 3.5 miles. If you follow the signs for “Junction Creek Campground” and “Colorado Trail”, you are heading the right way. Park in the lot at N 37 19.886 W 107 54.162. Start at the Colorado Trail interpretive sign, about 10 yards southwest of the parking area. Follow the Colorado Trail about .35 miles. When you come to the rock sculpture, the cache is just ahead at N 37 20.034 W 107 54.488, between the trail and the creek. The walk is along a fairly flat, well-traveled trail. The point of interest near the cache site is the Junction Creek Popular Rock Sculpture. Some trail-users add to the sculpture, others break it down, some build it up again, so it is different week-to-week. Be sure to add your touch to the rock pile. This is a good summer cache with kids. Little people (and big people, too!) may enjoy putting on their river shoes and bathing suits and splashing around in the water. If you follow the trail further on there is a swimming hole where you can (usually) get all the way into the water (N 37 20.070 W 107 54.609). Be careful in spring, though, as the creek may run too fast to be safe to play in during spring runoff. The trail is a nice easy stroll for another mile or so after the cache, then switchbacks up the hillside to a pretty overlook viewpoint. After that it connects with a mess of trails, one of which is the Colorado Trail, which goes all the way to Denver. This trail gets a lot of use, even in winter. Watch out for mountain bikes. If you feel like exploring further by car, follow Junction St. on up the mountain beyond the parking spot (after the gate where the road turns to gravel) until it comes to Animas Overlook, which has a little trail system with nature interpretive signs, some wheelchair-accessible trails, and lovely views of the Animas Valley. This road usually closes in winter. Box: smaller size Original Contents: music trivia game, plastic toy, cat-shaped earring stand, pair of earrings, bag of cavemen, women’s quotes book, hot air balloon suncatcher, music CD, necklace, child’s book. Note, 9/30/03: My original waypoint was slightly off, pointing people up the hillside, which is the wrong way! The waypoint as now posted is the corrected coordinates.
Additional Hints
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