1880 Flume
Cache #5
This is the 5th
cache (Number 5) along the 17 mile long 1880 Flume Trail (Sheridan
Lake to Rockerville) series of Geocaches. This is our most
difficult of the Flume caches as you will have to pick your way
through a couple of washouts but it results in some of the most
spectacular views. If you park at the Bolder Hill Trailhead, this 3
point multipoint cache will take you on an easy 2 mile (round trip)
hike along the flume the trail. The cache is a camouflage painted
ammo can that is hidden in the rocks above the trail at point
number 3.
The Historic
Flume Trail takes you back in
time to the mining boom of the 1880's. The Rockerville Flume
carried water 20 miles, from Spring Creek west of present day
Sheridan Lake, east to the placer diggings near Rockerville.
Miners used the water to separate the gold from the rest of the
debris in the Rockerville area. The flume operated until 1885, and
enabled miners to take over $20 million in gold. This trail follows
the actual flume bed for its length. Along the way you'll see
historic artifacts and parts of the flume itself. Please treat
these historic objects with respect, so that others who follow can
enjoy this rich history of the Black
Hills. Please don't
remove artifacts from the flume or the trail. Because of these
fragile artifacts, this is a hiker’s only trail. The 1880 Flume
trail is one of two National Recreation Trails in the
Black
Hills and is on the top
ten hikes to take in the hills list. Along the trail you'll find
several informative signs that explain the history of the
Rockerville Flume.
This Flume Trail
hike takes you through tall pines, meadows dotted with wildflowers,
and deep shaded canyons. You will have some spectacular views of
Spring Creek and may glimpse the area's abundant wildlife which
includes white tail deer, turkeys, wood peckers as well as numerous
other small animals. This trail is on a less traveled
section of the flume and will require walking and some climbing
around a few areas where the flume trail bed has collapsed over
time. This makes it a little more difficult for small
children or dogs. There are a lot more remains of the flume for you
to enjoy along the way. Be sure to watch for some of the 125
year old square nails scattered along the trail!
Bolder Hill
Trailhead Parking and how to get there:
The Bolder Hill
Trailhead is located on Bolder Hill Road
between
Highway 16 and Sheridan Lake Road. The easiest access
is to travel just west of Rockerville on Highway 16 between
Rapid City and the Keystone Y. Just southwest of Rockerville
turn North on Silver Mountain Road (N43 57.30’ W103
21.941’) and travel along it until you find the gravel
road named Bolder Hill Road (N 43 56.675’ W103
23.733’). Travel down Boulder Hill road until you reach
the trail head at N 43 58.132’ W 103 23.932’. You might
like to mark your vehicle as a waypoint on your GPS should
you have any question where to find it after completing the
cache. The hiking trail starts on the far side of
the parking lot from the sign and winds down the forest
service road a short distance until you reach point #1 when
you will be on the flume bed. Notice the old
lumber piled along the walk as this is the remains of one of
the construction camps dating back to when the flume was
built.
Cache Hunting
Clues:
·
The
first two points of this multipoint
geocache are aluminum tags 1.5” x 3” with GPS coordinates stamped
into them.
·
Look about waist high on the back sides of the trees within
20 feet above the trail at the coordinate points.
·
Need a clue? -The last point is a standard camouflaged green
container hidden in some rocks and junipers.
·
Total time to do this cache at a leisurely pace is about an
hour
·
If
you liked the adventure of this cache then continue down the trail
past Cache #5 and complete our 1880 Flume Trail Cache
#6.
There is a lot
of foot travel and hiking in the area so please leave the cache
well hidden.
Again- Please
make sure you LEAVE THE CACHE WELL HIDDEN!
We hope you
enjoy this cache as much as we did creating it!
-Team Family
Affair