This cache is one of nine traditional caches necessary to find The Golden Cache. To find The Golden Cache you will need to bring a camera with a large display (e.g., a smartphone) with you when finding the nine traditional caches. Please see The Golden Cache cache entry for full information before starting your quest!
The Blue Trail at Plainsboro Preserve
At 1.9 miles (3 kilometers), the Blue Trail — represented by the blue line on the trail map below — is by far the longest and most varied trail in Plainsboro Preserve. Covering nearly all of the Preserve space northwest of Lake McCormack, visitors to the Blue Trail can expect changes in elevation, paths of different sizes and surfaces, and an incredibly active and diverse collection of fauna including squirrels, chipmunks, deer, snakes, salamanders, birds, and a truly brilliant display of insect life. The Blue Shortcut — represented by the dashed blue line on the trail map below — divides the trail by roughly one-third, allowing weary hikers a faster path back to the White Trail and Maggie's Trail.
Much of the habitat along the Blue Trail is considered forested wetland. Many of the plants here, including red maple trees, blueberry bushes, and skunk cabbage, can tolerate moist soils and being in standing water for periods of time. Skunk cabbage emits heat to attract pollinating flies and can even melt surrounding snow. Some of our earliest flowers, called "spring ephemerals", thrive in wooded wetlands and bloom before the trees leaf out in the spring.
Many species of wildlife are also dependent upon forested wetlands including wood ducks, barred owls, red-shouldered haks, red-backed salamanders, and wood frogs. Even if there is no standing water now, some trees can give you a clue that they spend part of the year flooded; trees that are buttressed and flare out at the bottom are a good indicator of a wetland. Keep your eyes open and see if you can spot some!
Don't forget to pick up a trail map inside the Nature Center before you start your adventure!
The Blue Trail at a Glance
- ENVIRONMENT: Forested Wetland
- TRAIL LENGTH: 1.9 miles/3 kilometers
- TRAILHEADS: Via the northern ends of the White Trail and Maggie's Trail, also via the Pink Trail
- HIDDEN TREASURES: Vernal pools, old railroad ties, osprey platform, abandoned mining equipment, the Blue Shortcut.
About This Cache
You're looking for a camouflaged 30 caliber ammo can in a child-accessible place. Inside you'll find a log book kit, a fact card, and some kid-friendly trinkets for trading. At launch, each of the ten caches contain a limited number of themed trinkets to commemorate the new geotrail. Be one of the few to collect them all!
For the enjoyment of the Preserve and the protection of the habitat and wildlife, the following are not permitted in Plainsboro Preserve:
- Smoking (including electronic devices).
- Littering.
- Picnicking, fires, camping, or woodcutting.
- Drugs or alcoholic beverages.
- Bicycles, skateboards, or other vehicles on the trails.
- Fishing, hunting, or trapping.
- Pets and horses.
- Picking, cutting, removing, collecting, or otherwise harming any plants or animals.
- Digging holes or other forms of "landscaping".
- Swimming or boating.
- Feeding the wildlife.
- Agricultural and developed areas are off-limits.
Special thanks to JessicasDaddy for creating and maintaining the current Plainsboro Preserve geotrail.