Rattler! Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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You'll find the cache in a 50mm ammo box near the overlook of the first natural stone arch in Rattlesnake Canyon (a wilderness study area). The terrain immediately around the cache itself is not difficult, but you'll need either a 4wd vehicle or a sturdy pair of legs to get there (or both). The elevation is 5653 at the cache.
Rattlesnake Canyon is the 2nd largest concentration of sandstone arches in the world, next to Arches National Park in nearby Utah. It is a part of Colorado Canyons National Conservation Area, administered by the BLM. To get there you have two options: 1) Get off of I-70 at the Fruita exit, then drive south for just under 2 miles and turn right at "Kingsview Estates". Continue on this road until you come to the Pollock Canyon trailhead. It is a 5-mile hike, one way, to the Rattlesnake Canyon trailhead, which can take you another 2 miles. Since there is no overnight camping, you will need to retrace your route in the same day. 2) After leaving the interstate in Fruita, continue on to the entrance to Colorado National Monument. Enter and proceed to the Visitor Center. They have maps of the area that will really help. You can also find out about current conditions of the road as well. Then continue on for 6.6 miles to the "Glade Park Road". Turn right, then after .2 miles you will see the sign, "Black Ridge Hunters Access Road" (this takes you outside the National Monument boundary). Here is where the fun begins (39 03.310 N, 108 44.689 W). Follow the signs for the upper or lower road, depending upon season, all the way to the end (39 08.226 N, 108 50.001 W). Then it is a mile to the overlook of the first arch! From there you can go down through the first arch, or go back to regular trail and go around the butte to see the arches. You may also hike to the top of the arches (which face west).
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Gur pnpur vf nobir gur bireybbx fvta sbe gur svefg nepu, nobhg unysjnl hc gur uvyy. Or pnershy bs gur pelcgbtnzvp fbvy!
Treasures
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