Savannah River Bluffs Cache Traditional Cache

This cache is located on the Savannah River Bluffs Heritage Preserve.  This is a little-known, but great place to do some easy to moderate hiking.  Please read the Rules and Regulations below before visiting.  Also consider donating property, funds or your time for the upkeep of this and other heritage preserve projects

Plan on a couple of miles of hiking, taking around 90 minutes.  Some sections are hilly and you may have to scramble over some downed trees, get your feet damp, and wade through some waist-high grasses.  Not really strenuous, but it is rolling terrain.  The trail is marked (see pictures below), but make sure you mark your vehicle as a waypoint before you start.  It is important that you read the Preserve Directions below. 

Please take a trash bag and bring out some trash - there always seems to be some jetsam and flotsam washed up by the river at an otherwise pristine site.

The cache is in an ammo can.  It is well concealed, so please cover it back up.

This is a link to the original map and description of the preserve. (c. 1986).  Please note that the trail has changed routing somewhat since this map was published (see notes below), but it is still good reading, and has a much more detailed description than the website.

This is a link to the official Savannah River Bluffs Heritage Preserve website.  This is a link to the Heritage Trust Program.

Preserve Directions (You MUST read this before attempting to locate this cache)

Caution: Do not attempt to access this cache by bushwhacking from any surrounding residential areas.  Doing so will involve illegal trespassing.  Sure, you can park within 1/4 mile of the cache according to your GPS signal, but this is cheating and it is illegal.  If you're too lazy to park at the designated area and hike in on this beautiful trail, you're involved in the wrong sport. 

The hiking trail begins just beyond the parking lot. Walk around the closed pipe gate, and follow the old roadbed down to the power line at .18 miles.  You will want to set a waypoint for the spot where the trail meets the power line.  It'll come in handy on your return trip, especially if you'll be coming back late in the day with fading light..  Turn left on the power line and head to the next ridge.  You'll cross a small seasonal creek at .24 miles, with a little wooden foot bridge.   You'll need to take a turn to yor right at about 60 paces past the creek to get to the actual trail head.  The trail loops from this point down to the river and back up to a point about a 10th of a mile further up the power line ridge.  You can take the trail either direction, but it seems to be blazed a little better if you go counterclockwise (taking the first entrance).  You may have to do a little bushwhacking to get to the trailhead from here depending on how soon they've done mowing on the power line right of way, but trust me, go right.   The trail signs are few and far between, but there are a lot of pieces of faded surveyor's tape tied to branches along the trail. Look for those. Basically, you'll follow the creek down for a while on it's left bank, then you'll cross a small wooden bridge to the right bank. You'll pass the ruins of some old stills by the creek.  A few hundred feet from the river you'll come to a large tree down on the trail that you'll have to scamper over. Then you cross a larger bridge to the left bank again. As you follow your GPS down along the river bank, just as you make a left on the flat area, note the trail signs leading up the hill side to your left - that is the trail you take for your return loop back.  After you locate the cache take some time to hike downstream about 80 paces to see the sheer rock cliffs that give this place it's name.  Be careful to not disturb the native flora and fauna.  This cache was originally located near the bluffs but had to be relocated due to excessive traffic.

Click here for some important and informative information about the Highlights, Natural History, and Rules & Regulations of this great park.  Trust me - this is good reading, and it will add to your experience if you read it BEFORE you go looking for this cache!

Enjoy,

GeoDoozer

Visit my other caches: Mocking Bird Hill, Sewage Swamp, Stevens Creek Cache, Savannah River Island Cache, & Georgia Gold Mine Cache.

Cache Photos !

The first camera filled up between October 8, 2003 and February 22, 2004. 

Click here to see the first Gallery of Savannah River Bluffs Cache Pictures.

The second camera filled up between February 23, 2004 and July 23, 2005. 

Click here to see the second Gallery of Savannah River Bluffs Cache Pictures.

The third camera filled up between July 24, 2005 and July 22, 2006. 

Click here to see the third Gallery of Savannah River Bluffs Cache Pictures.