UPDATE: 3/1/2024:
2019 was the 100th Anniversary of Michigan State Parks and we're still celebrating!. Join the Michigan Geocaching Organization (MiGO), the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Geocaching.com for the first official GeoTour in Michigan.
This tour was originally scheduled to run for three years, kicking off on Friday of Memorial Weekend in 2019 and continue through May 31, 2022. The success of this awesome tour has not gone unnoticed. On February 2, 2022, The DNR announced the extension of the GeoTour through September 24, 2024! Join us in making a final push to complete this very popular and very successful GeoTour before the sun sets on it.
Each geocache is in one of Michigan's state parks. The geocaches are arranged by MiGO Region, with twenty-five geocaches per region. The Ticket to Celebrate 100 is available for download from the DNR's Geocaching page. It explains how to qualify for prizes in each of the four regions and for the GeoTour as a whole.
Day use areas of state parks are open from 8AM to 10PM. Geocaching is limited to those hours. Entry into Michigan's State Parks requires a Michigan Recreation Passport. See the Resources section below for more information.
The sun will set on the MSPCGT at midnight Tuesday, September 24, 2024. The MSPCGT will go off the air as a GeoTour and the caches will disappear from the map. There is a lot of construction going on in our State Parks in 2024. Some of the GeoTour caches will have to be pulled earlier. The remaining geocaches in the tour will be archived October 1, 2024. Players will have until December 31, 2024 to claim any prize they have earned. Hiders will be contacted to request removal of the geocaches they hid unless they have made arrangements with park managers and have their own permit in place to keep the geocache in play, with a new GC Code.
Now for some good news: MiGO and the DNR are busy working on a new project that will kick off in the Spring of 2025, code named MSPGT 2.0. Are you interested in helping? Keep your MiGO Membership up to date and stay tuned to the website.
Cache:
This cache was hidden as part of the Michigan State Parks Centennial GeoTour, presented by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Michigan Geocaching Organization. Record the codeword printed on the log book and on a label inside the cache container to the appropriate box on the Ticket to Celebrate 100 form. See the instructions on the form to claim prizes.
This is a traditional cache hidden at the posted coordinates. You are looking for a Regular size container. Please return everything as good or better than you found it.
Thank you
Cyclops
for creating, hiding and maintaining this MSPC GeoTour cache.
Photo courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources
East Graham Fishing Pier
Bald Mountain Recreation Area:
Bald Mountain Recreation Area is home to some of the steepest hills and most rugged terrain in southeastern Michigan. Camping is limited to rustic cabins, but the extensive trails, inland lakes, trout streams and wild game provide year-round recreation opportunities.
History:
In 1935-1936, 45 recreational demonstration projects were by the department of agriculture. These areas were sited in marginal areas near large population centers to provide outdoor recreation activities and temporary employment. Many of these sites were around old CCC camps created by the Works Progress Administration during the depression. These sites were eventually transferred to the State of Michigan Department of Conservation, later the Department of Natural Resources, and turned in to the Recreation Areas we know today. Bald Mountain is a classic example.
Bald Mountain includes significant historic resources, featuring some of the earliest known development in Southeast Michigan, including Rudd Mill, one of Orion Township's first sawmills, and the Decker Settlement, the first settlement in Orion Township.
Rudd's Mill was a nineteenth century mill powered by the Paint Creek waters. Built in 1825, In 1835, the sawmill was purchased and converted into a complex including a blacksmith shop, grist mill, cooperage, and a school. One of the last industrial activities was a brick factory. In 1926, the mill was shut down and demolished. The creek dam lasted for another twenty years until it was washed away by a storm in 1946. The foundation for Rudd's Mill still remains and is located north of the Decker Settlement at the intersection of Kern and Clarkston Roads.
Decker's Settlement was the first European community in Orion Township. This settlement centered around a sawmill, which was built in 1825, and was named by pioneer Jesse Decker. Over the next ten years, the community grew to include a tavern, post office, general store, blacksmith shop, school and cemetery. The relocation of the post office and the construction of a railroad bypass in 1837 led to the community's decline. The only remnants of the Decker settlement are traces of the dam and cemetery. The settlement had an effective life span from 1825 to circa 1850, however, the sawmill functioned until 1930. A historic site identification sign is located at the intersection of Greenshield and Kern Roads.
Map courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Activities:
Bald Mountain Recreation Area is a multi-use park with a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities. One of the most important features of Bald Mountain is its untarnished natural state in a region that is primarily suburban and urban. The two most developed recreational areas are the Graham Lakes in the northern region of the park and Lower Trout Lake in the south region of the park.
Canoeing/Kayaking: Canoeing and kayaking are popular activities on the smaller lakes in the northern section of the park. These lakes are not conducive to powerboats.
Cross Country Skiing: There are eight miles in the northern section of the park groomed for cross country ski use in the winter.
Fishing: With 11 lakes and two trout streams in the park, fishing is a popular recreation activity. The Graham Lakes in the north draw the most activity. Trout Creek and Paint Creek are designated trout streams. There are two universally accessible boating access sites to make fishing available to all visitors, one located on East Graham Lake and the other on Lower Trout Lake. Pan fish, northern pike, and largemouth bass are dominantly found throughout the park. In the winter, ice-fishing is permitted on all bodies of water within park boundaries.
Hiking: The park provides close to 15 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing, split almost equally between the North and South units. The hiking trails are some of the steepest and most rugged terrain in Southeast Michigan.
Hunting: Approximately 90% of the park is open to hunting during regular seasons from September 15 to March 31. Common species found within the park are goose, deer, rabbit, squirrel, woodcock, duck, raccoon and woodchuck. Some success in trapping for muskrat, mink and beaver has been reported. Typically, little success is reported for partridge, pheasant and turkey seasons.
Boat Launch: Boating access sites within the park are located at East Graham Lake, Lower Trout Lake, Prince Lake, Chamberlain Lake, and Shoe Lake.
Camping: Camping within the park is limited to the available rustic cabins. There are 2 rustic sites located within park boundaries.
Mountain Biking: There are nearly 15 miles of mountain biking trail available to visitors. Permitted on all marked trails, mountain biking is discouraged during peak winter season. Access to Paint Creek Trail is available within the park as well. In the northern section of the park, the Green, White, Blue and Orange trails are shared with hikers and are accessible from Lake George, Premore, Miller and Harmon roads. Red, Yellow, Orange, Blue, Green and White trails in the southern section are also shared with hikers and are accessible from Greenshield and Kern roads.
Picnic Areas: All picnic areas within the park include tables, fire pits and/or grills. There are two picnic shelters within the recreation area that can be reserved. Visitors should contact the park for more details.
Shooting Range: The recreation area includes a modern, supervised shooting range. The range is open year-round, Thursday-Monday, 10AM-5PM, although hours sometimes change throughout the year. The range also supports a 25-position sporting clays course.
Snowmobiling: There are 7 miles of trail for winter snowmobiling that are designated within the southern section of the park.
Swimming: This activity is permitted on all lakes within the park. The beach at Lower Trout Lake was honored in 1986 as Detroit Monthly's "Best of Detroit".
Metal Detecting: Designated metal detecting sites exist within the park - this recreation is limited to these identified areas. All findings must be reviewed by park staff. The staff has the right to retain all findings for further investigation. Such recreational activity is allowed so long as natural and cultural resources are not put at risk within Michigan State Parks.
Skymasters R/C Model Flying Field: The Skymasters Club offers a variety of activities for model airplane enthusiasts at the designated field located in the West Unit.
Geocaching: Although not mentioned on the Bald Mountain Recreation Area website, geocaching is available. There are close to 15 miles of trails for geocache placement. Geocaches in any Michigan State Park, Recreation Area or Scenic site require that a land use permit be filed with the Park Manager.
Map courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Information:
For more information, reservations and a calendar of events, follow this link to
Bald Mountain Recreation Area.
Special thanks to
TeamLareau
for help with this geocache.
Special thanks to beenhere, LynnGeoGin and HNY Event Staff for the Southeast regional prize.
Resources: