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
C and Z's Loot
for creating, hiding and maintaining this MSPC GeoTour cache.
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Photo courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Round Lake Fishing Pier
Hayes State Park:
Walter J. Hayes State Park is a public recreation area covering 654 acres on the southeast
corner of Wamplers Lake in the heart of the Irish Hills. The entrance to the park is located on US-12, just 9 miles west of Clinton and 4 miles east of M-50. M-124 cuts directly through the middle of the park. A channel connects Wamplers Lake with Round lake, entirely within the park.
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Photo courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Swimming beach on Wamplers Lake
History:
Dedicated in 1920, this park was among the first 25 established by the Michigan State Parks Commission. It went by the early names of Cedar Hills State Park and Adrian State Park. The park was the result of land purchases and donations of 200 acres. It was renamed for former Michigan State Senator Walter J. Hayes in 1930 as a stipulation for additional land donations by his descendants. The Civilian Conservation Corps established a camp, Camp SP1, in the park from 1933-1935 and made several improvements.
Map courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Activities:
The modern campground at Walter J. Hayes State Park includes 175 sites with electricity and 10
sites with electricity and water. Mini cabins are also available to rent. All camp sites have
access to modern toilets and showers.
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Photo courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Campgrounds
Close to Michigan International Speedway and Hidden Lake Gardens, there is plenty to do in the immediate area. Unique shops, wineries and golfing are some of the nearby activities.
While you are here, there are several geocaches of interest in the area that you may want to visit. Popular ones include GC1KHE3: Cache Across America - Michigan, and a pair of old virtuals, GC9932: W.H.L. and GCJDP0: HLG Pothole
Information:
For more information, reservations and a calendar of events, follow this link to
Hayes State Park.
Special thanks to
Stuffedcabbage
for help with this geocache.
Special thanks to beenhere, LynnGeoGin and HNY Event Staff for the Southeast regional prize.
Resources: