Parking can be anywhere along the Highline canal trail as this cache starts at an intermediate end of the very popular Highline canal trail. Should you want close in parking start traveling south on Santa Fe from C-470. The parking area GPS coordinates are at 39.31.469 & 105.01.719 You can park on the shoulder of the road.
Do not park near the railroad tracks. This is private property
This is a intermediate ending point for the very popular Highline canal bike trail so there is always bicycle traffic and hikers in the area. Safely cross the first railroad track and 100 year old bridge (to the left of the gate there is a entrance for foot and bicycle traffic) and proceed west over the second railroad track to the start of the trail which is at 39.31.432 & 105.01.799. Stay off of the railroad tracks!!
Keep your kids off of the railroad tracks!!
This area which you are at now was once the town site of 'Acequia' over 100 years ago. There actually was a small town here with it's own post office (which opened on Jan 30, 1874!) Acequia was actually incorporated as a town in Douglas County on 11/4/1885. (See the photo) This section of railroad track is still called Acequia. This 'section' was used to refill the steam locomotives with water. On many current day road maps the town of Aqequia is still shown and present even though the whole town of Aqequia burned down over 100 years ago. In July of 1900 the post office closed. For more information on the historical site of 'Acequia' go to the Douglas County Library historical section as they have some photograghs and an actual post card mailed from 'Acequia' over 100 years ago! If anybody has any other information on Aqequia, please let me know as I am curious and live close-by.
At this point head west into the foot trail to find the cache. You should be at the site within 10-15 minutes. This is a very peaceful area as you will soon find out. There is a very shallow creek in the area. The weeds along the foottrail do have some 'stickers' so long pants may be wise. It has been reported that wild animals have been seen in this area. As this is a 'urban wilderness area' close to the mountains, please use caution as animal encounters are possible in this area!!
There is a restaurant coupon within the cache with only GPS coordinates on the coupon. I purposly crossed out the actual address and wrote on the coupon it's GPS coordinates. This restaurant is withein 10-15 mins of the parking area. The parking lot of this restaurant shares the parking with several other restaurants should you become hungry after your 'treasure hunt'.
If you have a digital camera take a pic & post it on this cache. It's nice to see people having fun geocaching!
A few of the items inside of the cache are model railroading related. This was decided because of the proximity and necessity of crossing the railroad tracks. Try to put something in the cache that is railroad related or model railroad related. Use prudence, Safety and common sense when crossing the railroad tracks. Please teach your children to respect the railroad tracks and to NOT play on the railroad tracks. If I hear from railroad officials that geocachers are being careless with the safety of their children around the railroad tracks, I will shut this cache site down in a heartbeat. Please don't take the safety of your children lightly!!
As I have found, this is a family activity with many people bringing their young children on these 'treasure hunts'. Please if possible put something into the cache that a young girl or boy would enjoy. It's not family fun if Mom or Dad gets something out of the cache but junior or juniorette finds nothing. (Think kids!!) If you are anything like me, the enjoyment of the hobby is when one of your kids finds a nice toy inside the cache!!
There is a bunji cord securing the lid tightly on the cache. Please place the bunji cord over the cache securing the lid when you leave. Please cover up the cache very well with the branches and tree bark so it won't be accidently found and vandelized. When returning, you may want to enjoy a walk along the highline canal bike path. There is also many trails for mountain bikes in the area. You may want to experience this cache with your mountain bike as this cache is accessable with a mountain bike.
The only rule of this cache is that I would like everyone to put something into the cache that is better than you take out. If you can affort $100.00 or more for a GPS, then you can afford to put something into the cache worth value to a youngster.
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Please do not leave any food (Bears) or flammables in the cache!!