This
cache is located in West Alton at the confluence of the
Missouri and Mississippi rivers. Located in West Alton at 1000
Riverlands Way off Hwy. 367/67 east, turn right on Riverlands
Way just before the Clark bridge (at the Fisca service
station).
The confluence point is one of the area’s best places for bird
watching as millions of birds migrate along the Mississippi River
corridor each spring and fall. The Mississippi River flyway is used
by 60 percent of all North American bird species, including 40
percent of all waterfowl. Common birds seen in the area include
great blue herons, bald eagles, geese, gulls, pelicans and many
kinds of songbirds.
Because it is located in a floodplain, the park’s development
has been limited to day-use facilities. The park features outdoor
interpretive exhibits that give the history of the rivers and
explain the role they played in the Lewis and Clark Expedition. A
short interpretive trail leads directly to the point at which the
Mighty Mississippi and the Big Muddy merge into one.
There is a 4.3 mile gravel road, wide and smooth, which leads to
the the confluence and WP1 area. NO NEED TO WASH YOUR CAR BEFORE
GOING HERE. This is an easy to do offset cache with close parking
(1/4 mile) and a flat concrete trail to WP1 and the confluence.
WP 1 consists of a brass plaque placed on a flat octogon
concrete paving stone. It consists of a 3 digit number (elevation)
and there are several other plaques in the area with different
numbers so the checksum for the number you need is 7. Call this 3
digit number "X".
Also notice the flagpole near the 1st WP. The top of a pole was the
depth of the water during the 1993 flood.
FINAL- To locate the final, Subtract "X" from the decimal
minutes of N38 49.620 and W90 07.708.
This will require a 400 foot easy flat bushwhack from the concrete
trail to reach the cache.
Contents of the ammo box are normal geocaching items along with
some DNR items placed by Dusty L. Reid- Park Superintendent
of Jones Confluence Point/KATY Trail State Park. He will also be
the caretaker of the cache if problems should arise. A DNR-Div. of
State Parks geocaching permit has been approved.
Park is open daily only during
daylight hours.
Map and other park details are available at
the Park
Website
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NOTICE: Please be respectful of the posted park
hours. If you enter the park after hours you are trespassing.
If you are stopped you can be ticketed or arrested and will
put the future of geocaching in the parks in
jeopardy. |