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.
Construction projects scheduled for fall, 2024, in the modern campground should not impact access to the geocache.
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 simple mystery gadget cache at the posted coordinates. To get into the box, you'll need to figure out the combination of the lock. Do you need a hint? Remember, when closing the cache, make sure the lock is in the "solved" position, close the lock, then spin the dials.
You are looking for a Regular size container. Please return everything as good or better than you found it.
Thank you
Traveling Dave
for creating, hiding and maintaining this MSPC GeoTour cache.
Photo courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Shooting Range at Pontiac Lake Recreation Area
Pontiac Lake Recreation Area:
Pontiac Lake Recreation Area is a 3,745 acre mixture of marshes, ponds, heavy forests, old farm fields, river bottom and lakes that support a variety of animals and excellent hunting. Designated trails throughout the recreation area are available for horseback riding, hiking, back country hiking and mountain biking. All trails are open to pedestrian traffic. The Recreation Area has the largest public beach in Oakland County and maintains a rifle range for public use.
Photo courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Home of the Pontiac Miniature Aircraft Club
History:
Pontiac Lake is a man-made lake created in 1926 when Lime Lake, a small lake in the upper Huron River watershed, was dammed. The State Recreation Area was created in 1944.
Map courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Activities:
The park is home to 17 miles of equestrian trails and has horse camping. Paddling, hiking, cross country skiing and snowmobiling are popular on miles of trails. The eleven mile mountain bike trail has been ranked in the top 100 in the country. The shooting range at the park is well maintained. Hunting of small game and deer are popular during their respective seasons. The Pontiac Miniature Aircraft Club has a dedicated airstrip on White Lake Road, near the northern boundary of the park.
There are over 80 geocaches presently in the recreation area. Most are family friendly and are in the difficulty 2-3 range with terrain in the 2.5-3.5 range. There are a few caches that will help you fill your grid. The park manager here is not only cache friendly, he is a cacher. Among the caches here are these notable high favorited cached: GC455R0 (Premium) and GC752V1. Bordering this park to the northwest lies Indian Springs Metro Park which has 4 Earthcaches if you are so inclined. Note: Metroparks have separate entrance requirements and are not park of the State Park system.
Information:
For more information, reservations and a calendar of events, follow this link to
Pontiac Lake Recreation Area.
Special thanks to
Brummelbear
(RIP)
for help with this geocache.
Special thanks to beenhere, LynnGeoGin and HNY Event Staff for the Southeast regional prize.
Resources: