Follow me to Cascade Falls. Enjoy the scenery and pay attention
to the signs on the trail. The signs will determine your final
destination. There will be many elevation changes, two stream
crossings each way and the trail can be muddy after rain. But this
is a wonderful hike in Patapsco Valley State Park.
Park here: N 39 14.452 W076 45.004. This a parking lot at
the end of river road in Patapsco Valley State park. Bathrooms and
the Trailhead are right here.
Trailhead Coordinates: N 39 14.452 W076 45.004 Cascade
Falls Trail Starts here. The entire trail is marked with blue
painted marks on the trees. You will have to cross the stream
twice. Once at Cascade falls and again just before you head off the
trail. There are two signs that are on the trail that you will need
to read to get the final coordinates of the cache.
Sign #1is at the Cascade Trail Trailhead. The sign is
titled “Back to Nature in the Patapsco Valley” On the
left side of the sign, there are 5 paragraphs. Write down the last
word of each paragraph (5 words total). You will need these words
later. N 39 14.452 W076 45.004
Follow the trail up the hill and turn left. Follow the trail
markings to the beautiful Cascade Falls. Cross the stream and
follow the trail up the hill. You will reach Sign #2:
coordinates N 39 14.361 W076 45.098. This sign is titled
“Ridge Trail.” Write down the last word on the bottom
line of the emblem located at the bottom left of the sign. You will
need this word later.
Turn away from the Ridge Trail Sign. Continue to follow the blue
markings of the Cascade trail until the trail crosses the stream
again. Head up into the draw to the listed coordinates. N 39°
14.282 W 076° 45.265 This is former location of the
Cascade Falls cache. Sit down for a spell on the fallen tree. We
will now put those two words from the signs to use.
Take the number of letters from each of the words from Sign #1
and add them together (X), Subtract 17 from the total (X-17) and
add this to the last 3 digits of the North coordinates. (ex. 282 +
(x-17)). N 39° 14.(282+(X-17)). Take the number of letters from the
word from Sign #2 (Y), subtract 3 from it (Y-3) and add this to the
West coordinates (265 +(Y-3)). W 076° 45.(265 +(20+(Y-3)) with room
for small toys, trinkets, etc. NO TRACKABLE ITEMS. Bring your own
pen/pencil. The container is not long enough for a normal pen.
Please sign the log.