Welcome to Marion County West Virginia, the middle of everywhere! The 'Gadgets of Marion County' geocaching trail is designed to bring you to the most unique places the county has to offer all while challenging you to complete tasks, solve puzzles, or otherwise engage with unique gadgets. Fifteen special gadget-style geocaches will be placed around the county for you to discover; built and placed with the help of local area cachers Killlerbee and Troopbiz. After completing 14 of the 15 geocaches on the tour and exploring everything Marion County has to offer, stop by our visitor center (GC9CY1G) to claim a FREE custom coin, trackable at geocaching.com! More information including a full list of caches and the playing card is available here: https://marioncvb.com/gadgets
GMC #7: Adventure Is Out There
About This Location.
Once the site of a lumber and grist mill community, the scenic treasure of Valley Falls State Park is located only a short drive from Fairmont and Grafton. This 1,145-acre day-use park hosts a variety of outdoor recreation including fishing, picnicking, kayaking, and 18 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. The beauty of the park is enhanced by the spectacular series of foaming falls which were created by the dark, rushing waters of the Tygart Valley River and provides a boundary between Marion and Taylor counties.
The prevalent rock formation known as Connoquenessing Sandstone forms the cap of the falls over which the river plunges and swirls and appears both as ledges and huge room-size boulders for over a mile down the narrow canyon floor. Before Valley Falls became a state park, this section of the Tygart Valley River in the 1800s was a thriving railroad community and a popular recreation area.
During this "boom" period, Valley Falls had a B&O Railroad Depot Station, grist mill, post office, sawmills, shops, and a ferry. Between 1886 and 1888, a fire and flood swept through the community. Some repairs were made but the town never fully recovered. In 1964, the state park system acquired the falls and the surrounding land. This picturesque river gorge became Valley Falls State Park.
CAUTION! THIS CACHE IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART. IT CAN BE EXTREMELY DEMANDING AND POSES A HIGH RISK OF UNWANTED WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS. CELL PHONE SERVICE IS NON-EXISTENT HERE; DO NOT ATTEMPT ALONE.
About This Cache.
This cache is a little bit different than the other gadgets on the trail in the fact that you won't need to test your mental strengths but rather your physical ones. Marion County is home to a plethora of recreational opportunities and Valley Falls State Park is just one example of all the great outdoor adventures you can have while in the area. This cache is located near the posted coordinates, but there are letterbox type instructions to make locating the cache even easier.
The round trip hike for this cache is about a mile with some mild rock climbing required. Don't push yourself harder than your limit and if you need help accessing the cache don't hesitate to reach out to the number below. As with any cache, PLEASE watch for critters that pose a threat to children and pets, as there is an increased risk of such encounters here.
Although this is a LARGE container, there are a lot of places to look. Plan to spend some time here as this might be the most well-hidden LARGE cache in the area. Luckily, I have included explicit directions below, if you can decipher the meaning. I really hope you enjoy this unique stop on the trail!
Start in the lot and let this serve as your guide,
turn up the hill where the shabang exit their ride.
At the posted coords, seek an 8' tree on the divide,
look towards the north under the rock of pride.
Through the passage and at the tree, you'll need to decide
up two big steps, or around the outside?
You're almost there, a tight squeeze if your chest be too wide,
at the bottom and tucked in black, you'll find the hide.
THANKS FOR VISITING!
Need help? Call 304 - 216 - 6620