AMNHA: Stephenson Creek Narrows (LLV) Traditional Cache

AMNHA Geo-Path Series

AMNHA: Stephenson Creek Narrows

Series: Lands Less Visited

Cache Info: This is a medium sized plastic ammunition container.

Stephenson Creek is one of the smallest streams in the South River watershed. The headwaters of that stream begin on Vaughters' farm in the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area. The farthest reach of the headwaters can be traced through the narrow ribbon of woods that extends up towards the barn and ends in a seasonally wet patch of meadow. The wet patch is evidenced by a change in grass type to one of water tolerance.

The stream flows generally south through the Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve until it merges with Pole bridge creek, just before that stream flows into the South River. Because of its location, almost entirely within the Nature Preserve, the stream is protected from the many damaging effects of development. As a consequence, the stream flows noticeably crystal clear. The stream provides inflow to two beautiful lakes, Retreat House Lake and Arabia Lake, as well as a significant wetland area. Beaver activity is evident from the Retreat House Lake on south to the merger with Pole Bridge Creek. Both lakes have a fisheries resource and fishing is especially prevalent at Arabia Lake, which is over 100 years old..

The Arabia Lake geocache has a fact sheet with information about that lake

A Beaver Dam At The Head Of The Lake.

Retreat House Lake.

Park at the Arabia Alliance Parking Lot on Klondike Road. Take the Bike Path north a short distance to the mowed trail that leads to Vaughter’s Farm Barn. From the barn, take either the north fork or the south fork of the Meadow Loop Trail, marked by orange tipped guide posts. Either fork will lead a hiker to the Woodland Trail head (coordinates as noted below) at the west end of the meadow. Then take the Woodland Trail, marked by orange stripes on trailside trees and on the rock outcrop. The Woodland Trail will intersect the pink marked Retreat House Loop Trail. If you are searching for the three caches on the loop trail, go either right or left to take the loop and find the three caches. While hiking the Woodland Trail, be alert for the next marker ahead, as it is easy to stray from the trail due to the open understory.

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Cell service will be limited in various areas on the AMNHA Geo-Path. If you are using your cell phone, you can download the cache info to your phone and travel the trails using the offline mode.

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See additional waypoints for parking coordinates, points of interests and trailheads.

Each cache is classified in one of following series:
Arabia Mountain Adventures
Lands Less Visited
Lithonia's Historic Hike
Panola Mountain Pathways
Past and Present Passages
South River Stroll

Download the passports to collect the passwords:
Geo-Path Passport
Lands-Less-Visited Passport
Past and Presents Passages Passport

Hours:
Sunrise to Sunset