November Geocache Set at Cossatot River in Arkansas - by Jill Rohrbach

First posted on 11-05-2007

Outdoor recreation, river preservation, and environmental education are the emphasis of Cossatot River State Park–Natural Area, which is also the location of the latest geocache placed for the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism “Cache in with The Natural State” program.

Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunt, where people use Global Positioning Systems to pinpoint spots on the earth where caches are hidden. They are stashed all over the world in locations that range from deep in the woods to urban locales. Some caches contain only log books in small tins or film canisters, while others hold mini treasures inside containers such as ammo boxes.

The coordinates to the Cossatot cache are: N 34 17.643; W 094 10.695. It is posted under waypoint GC1734K on http://www.geocaching.com. This official Web site provides information on caches in Arkansas and around the world.

Through the “Cache in with The Natural State” program, new caches in locations throughout the state are unveiled each month. Each contains a different range of items, most of which represent the region in which the cache is located. Geocachers are asked to observe standard protocol - taking only one item and leaving an item in trade, and signing the log book.>

Caches will be monitored throughout the year and restocked weekly for the first four weeks as prizes are available. Some treasures will be placed directly in the cache containers. Others will be certificates for prizes that must be redeemed at the park visitor center.

Embracing the fast-growing hobby of geocaching, the department launched its program in January. Coordinates and more information are available at http://www.Arkansas.com.

The rewards for finding the cache are much more than the material goods found inside. There’s the satisfaction of an accomplished quest as well as the joy of experiencing the locale.

The Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area extends for 12 miles along the wild and scenic Cossatot River, Arkansas’s premier whitewater experience renowned as the best whitewater float stream in mid-America. The river forms Cossatot Falls, a rugged rocky canyon that challenges the most experienced canoeists and kayakers with its Class IV rapids. In this watershed basin, flow levels are dependent on rainfall. Floatable river levels are usually limited to late fall, winter and spring. No floater services are provided on the Cossatot River.

The Brushy Creek Recreation Area at the Ark. 246 bridge offers day-use facilities including picnic sites, restrooms, and river access. A walkway high above the river provides barrier-free access on the west side.

Tent sites with no hookups are located at the Cossatot Falls Area and the Sandbar Area.

For hiking enthusiasts, this 5,484-acrea state park-natural area features the 14-mile River Corridor Trail and 3.5-mile Harris Creek Trail.

The park visitor center features an exhibit galley, wildlife observation room, two classroom/lab rooms, and a gift shop. Meeting rooms are available for rent. Exhibits tell the geology, flora and fauna that are found in this remote and protected river corridor.

“Our geocaching program is a fun way to entice people to discover the great outdoors of The Natural State,” said Jana Greenbaum, communications director for Arkansas Parks and Tourism. “Additionally, it provides a unique way to highlight the tourism offerings of Arkansas. We want people to travel the state in search of the caches and see areas they may not have visited before.”

The visitor center is located on U.S. 278, eight miles east of Wickes near where the highway crosses the Cossatot River. The park is south of Mena. The northern route is via Ark. 246 between Vandervoort and Athens. The southern route is via U.S. 278 between Wickes and Umpire.

For more information on the Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area, visit http://www.ArkansasStateParks.com. For river stage in feet from the Ark. 246 access, phone 870-387-3141 or visit the U.S. Geological Survey Web site for Cossatot River real time data at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?07340300. For free stream maps, phone 501-682-7777 or visit http://www.Arkansas.com.

Geocaching is allowed in 40 of Arkansas’s 52 state parks. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission lists caches on its Web site, http://www.agfc.com, leading enthusiasts to its nature trails, hatcheries and nature and education centers.

More than 2,700 geocaches are hidden in Arkansas steering people to some of The Natural State’s scenic and historic settings containing waterfalls, caves, wildlife, diamonds and trails amid diverse terrain and picturesque landscapes as well as urban areas.

For those new to geocaching, there is some etiquette to be observed:
• Don’t move a cache.
• Tread lightly. The sport never requires digging and cachers are mindful of the environment.
• CITO – “Cache In, Trash Out.”
• Don’t leave food, weapons, alcohol or anything harmful or inappropriate.
• Take something only if you leave something.
• Sign the log book.