UPDATE: 3/1/2024:
2019 was the 100th Anniversary of Michigan State Parks and we're still celebrating!. Join the Michigan Geocaching Organization (MiGO), the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Geocaching.com for the first official GeoTour in Michigan.
This tour was originally scheduled to run for three years, kicking off on Friday of Memorial Weekend in 2019 and continue through May 31, 2022. The success of this awesome tour has not gone unnoticed. On February 2, 2022, The DNR announced the extension of the GeoTour through September 24, 2024! Join us in making a final push to complete this very popular and very successful GeoTour before the sun sets on it.
Each geocache is in one of Michigan's state parks. The geocaches are arranged by MiGO Region, with twenty-five geocaches per region. The Ticket to Celebrate 100 is available for download from the DNR's Geocaching page. It explains how to qualify for prizes in each of the four regions and for the GeoTour as a whole.
Day use areas of state parks are open from 8AM to 10PM. Geocaching is limited to those hours. Entry into Michigan's State Parks requires a Michigan Recreation Passport. See the Resources section below for more information.
The sun will set on the MSPCGT at midnight Tuesday, September 24, 2024. The MSPCGT will go off the air as a GeoTour and the caches will disappear from the map. There is a lot of construction going on in our State Parks in 2024. Some of the GeoTour caches will have to be pulled earlier. The remaining geocaches in the tour will be archived October 1, 2024. Players will have until December 31, 2024 to claim any prize they have earned. Hiders will be contacted to request removal of the geocaches they hid unless they have made arrangements with park managers and have their own permit in place to keep the geocache in play, with a new GC Code.
Due to planned park enhancements – installing full-hookup sites and repaving the roads – the park's day-use area and modern campground will close this spring and summer. The construction timeline is still being determined; however, schedule updates will be posted here. This cache will disabled or more likely be archived at the beginning of this construction.
Now for some good news: MiGO and the DNR are busy working on a new project that will kick off in the Spring of 2025, code named MSPGT 2.0. Are you interested in helping? Keep your MiGO Membership up to date and stay tuned to the website.
Cache:
This cache was hidden as part of the Michigan State Parks Centennial GeoTour, presented by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Michigan Geocaching Organization. Record the codeword printed on the log book and on a label inside the cache container to the appropriate box on the Ticket to Celebrate 100 form. See the instructions on the form to claim prizes.
This is a traditional cache hidden at the posted coordinates. You are looking for a Large size container. Please return everything as good or better than you found it.
Thank you
BigTom5776
for creating, hiding and maintaining this MSPC GeoTour cache.
Photo courtesy of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Family fishing with passing freighter at Algonac State Park
Algonac State Park:
Algonac State Park contains approximately 1,500 acres and has a half-mile of St. Clair River frontage. Home to rare habitats, the lake plain prairies and oak savannas provide places to view prairie plants, birds and butterflies. One of the park's major attractions is viewing freighters of the world along the St. Clair River frontage. Archery and trap shooting are available. The park is open all year for a variety of activities including camping and a day use area. Two campgrounds are available, the Water Front and the Wagon Wheel. The day use area has a picnic area, picnic shelter, and restroom facilities.
Of additional interest are Algonac's lake plain prairies and oak savannas which are considered globally significant and contain 19 species on the state list of endangered, threatened and special concern list.
Map courtesy of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Activities:
The park offers beautiful trails for the use of visitors including:
- Algonac-Blazing Star - 0.5 (Miles), Hiking, Cross-Country Skiing
- Algonac-Oak Savanna Trail - 2.5 (Miles), Hiking, Cross-Country Skiing
- Bridge to Bay Trail - Trail Length: 1.00 (Miles)Biking, Hiking
Located near the park there are wonderful opportunities for visitors including Historical Museums, a visit to St. John's Marsh, a 3000-acre wildlife sanctuary, a ferry boat ride to Harsens Island, World class fishing and freighter watching along the 1800-foot boardwalk along the St. Clair River.
Information:
For more information, reservations and a calendar of events, follow this link to
Algonac State Park.
Special thanks to
Port-ah
for help with this geocache.
Special thanks to beenhere, LynnGeoGin and HNY Event Staff for the Southeast regional prize.
Resources: