The Cache
Two suggested routes to the cache site:
- Park at the Skookum Flats trailhead by the west side of the bridge (see WP), then hike south along the trail for about a mile.
- Drive along the east side of Ranger Creek airfield, park on the south end (see WP), then an easy, no bushwhacking walk through the woods toward the White River.
Walking to the cache can be pretty simple if you look about and find the easier way down. It's just north of a campfire ring alongside an old river bank. Below, on the wet ground, you may see elk tracks.
Watch for muggles, as the area is a popular campground, especially on holidays, for summer camping, and during the fall hunting season.
The Location
Ranger Creek is a great spot to enjoy the outdoors. Snuggled deep in the White River Valley, you can marvel at the sheer cliffs and towering ridges around this regional airport and camping area.
Ranger Creek State Airport has a 2,875-foot asphalt runway and is a favored location for fly-ins, military training exercises, search-and-rescue training, and glider operations. The gorgeous ridges and narrow valley, coupled with its 2,650-foot elevation, make Ranger Creek a good test of a pilot's mountain flying skills. The airport is generally open from June 1 to Oct. 1.
The airport is surrounded by the Buck Creek Recreational Area, which has a popular Forest Service campground and offers activities ranging from hiking and mountain biking to fishing, horseback-riding, and target shooting. The glacial White River is just a few hundred feet away, and nearby hiking trails lead to waterfalls, Suntop Lookout, the Pacific Crest Trail, and Mount Rainier National Park. Deer and elk are commonly seen on the airfield and in the surrounding forest. For those who really want to explore, you can search out the old wooden dam on nearby Doe Creek.
Ranger Creek was once a state airfield, one of many throughout the Cascades that provided an emergency airstrip. It's now managed by the Washington State Department of Transportation Aviation and has been adopted by the Washington Pilots Association, Green River Chapter.
There are varying accounts on how the airstrip came into existence. One story declares: “When the U.S. went to war with Japan in the 1940s, there was great fear that our air bases would be hit. Ranger Creek Airstrip was built as a place for our war planes to evacuate to.” A different version states, “During the war years, Ranger Creek (Buck Creek) airfield may have also been a training field for Army Rangers and Air force P-51 Tank Busters as they prepared for war in Europe.” There is probably some truth in both historical accounts.
More recently, the airport is known for its role in setting state altitude records and some significant cross-country flights by gliders using the lee wave formed off Mount Rainier.
Parking Fee
A Northwest Forest Day or Annual Pass is required.
More Info
2016 was the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, and to celebrate, Visit Rainier and WSGA hosted the Visit Rainier Centennial GeoTour - 100 caches placed in and around Mount Rainier National Park. The geocaches highlighted the rich history, scenic wonders, quaint communities, and hidden gems of the Rainier region. Participants received geocoin and pathtag prizes for finding all the caches.
