Geowoodstock has set the tradition of being "all about the numbers". Many of us consider that part of its charm AND part of the fun. But we're not all number crunchers.
For those who prefer to collect their smileys at the end of nice hike, Northeast Florida has a great deal to offer. This is a round up of some of our great hike-able caches. It's not an exhaustive list. There are many wonderful hikes not included here. However, this should provide plenty of caches to keep that hiker in all of us hoofing it to the next ammo can stuffed with boodle.
Any roundup of hiking caches in the Jacksonville area has to begin with Guana Quest. This cache takes the hunter on an adventure that covers the length and breadth of Guana River State Park. It is a grand location offering beautiful vistas and abundant wildlife. Many cachers have spotted feral hogs.
This one is definitely NOT for the weak kneed urban micro hunter. It is a five-stage multi. Assuming that no wrong turns are taken and no back tracking is done, it runs approximately 9 1/2 miles from the parking lot, to the final, and back to the parking lot. Some loggers have said they ended up doing closer to 13 miles. The trails can also be biked.
Geowoodstock 3 offers a great opportunity to do this fantastic cache. There will be a group going out on Friday, May 26th. Please advise Dave&Michelle if you're interested in joining them on this adventure.
These Florida barrier islands offer a series of great hikes along a variety of trails. None of the hikes are particularly long but they are all through natural environments that are uniquely Florida. The most challenging is Jungle Cache. The name explains the challenge. There are rumors that there is a trail-like absence of brush that leads to the cache, but I'm skeptical. This one is for the bushwhacker in all of us. Nearby is the fantastic virtual Tabby Mystery. There is a trail but it is difficult to follow. The canopy is thick, making reception dicey but it is well worth the challenge.
Nearby is The Simpson’s Are Crabby. On a trail further north, you will find The Great Pumpkin Florida Style. On the same trail, by following the infamous red panties, you will find Big Pine Cache - NE Florida. Continue north on A1A and you be able to pick up Christmas in Florida (sort of) and North Carolina Style North.
Finally, while not officially on Big or Little Talbot Islands, We Did Say Fore! is close enough that I'll include it here. The cache is at the highest point on the Atlantic Coast south of the Outer Banks. A very unique spot and a cache I highly recommend.
These caches will figure prominently in the Hecksher Drive/A1A/Fernandina Cache Run being planned for Geowoodstock3. Those interested in participating should contact Carloopy.
The University of North Florida campus includes a large natural area with an extensive system of trails. Two great hikes along the trail system are Oneida's Ring and the letter box hybrid Bald Cypress. There is also a great deal of educational information on the area's flora and fauna. On a couple of shorter hikes along the same trails, you may want to pick up Alexa's Cache and Kelly's Cache. Another short walk in the same area is Paint's Anti Micro campaign - Picnic King.
This beautiful park is right in the heart of an urban area but offers natural beauty that is often only found beyond the city limits. The highlight is the Ring's Challenge multi-cache that will give you a whirlwind tour of the park. Along the way you will want to do one the Letterbox hybrid, Ringhaver Park Letterbox. Finally, will you're out there, be sure to do Gopher Tortoise Hideaway. The final stage of the multi puts you close to the best starting point for it. All three caches are about three miles round trip.
This is another expansive urban park along the banks of the Timiquana River. It offers a couple of nice hikes, including Westside Regional Jungle. Cachers will soon find themselves in deep bamboo and will have no problem seeing where this cache gets it's name. In the opposite direction is Treasure Chest Cache. Along the way you can also pick up Don't Get stuck in the MUD! and Need brunch? . Another short walk in this great park will lead to Island Trail, NOT!
This natural area Southwest of Jacksonville offers the best of both worlds - wonderful hikes and lots of caches. It is also easy to adjust the distance to suit any level of activity, from a quarter mile round trip to pick up one find, to an ambitious seven miles to find all nine caches along this system of trails. Perfect for the hiker who doesn't mind picking up a pile of smileys.
contains dozens of caches. Many of them are accessible by (dirt road capable) vehicle with only short walks at the end. There are, however, several caches for those who like a good hike. Checkmate! is a great multi involving up to a 5 mile hike. Nearby, Fire & Water Bird Blind offers a shorter but still beautiful hike. On the other side of the forest Dunn's Farm Trail, Dunn's Farm Camp and Dunn's Cheater can all be found on a hike of about 3 miles. These caches all offer the best hikes in Jennings State Forest, but the other caches are fantastic and lead hunters to very unique locations. You might want to take a day to explore the entire forest through its caches.