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.
Scheduled construction in the campground beginning September 3rd should not have an impact on access to this cache.
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. Please use the day use parking area. This will also give you a nice walk to the earthcache in the opposite direction. Please not park at the office or stop on the side of the road. You are looking for a Regular size container. Return everything as good or better than you found it.
Thank you
GeoDachers
for creating, hiding and maintaining this MSPC GeoTour cache.
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Photo courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Lake Huron Sunset at Tawas Point
Tawas Point State Park:
Tawas Point is located off US-23, two and a half miles southeast of East Tawas on Tawas Beach Road. It is just over an hour drive from the Tri-Cities and only three hours from the Detroit area. The park contains 183 acres situated on the end of a sand spit that forms Tawas Bay. It has been referred to as the "Cape Cod of the Midwest." The campground is located on Tawas Bay where the water is shallow and warm for swimming. Located within the park is the Tawas Point Lighthouse. Although it has been remodeled several times, the station serves as the sole representative of a true Victorian-era style station built on the Great Lakes.
Tawas Bay itself has long been considered one of the finest sailing areas in the country due to the winds and protected waters. If you would prefer to fish, several nearby launches are available. Boats can be moored in the bay off the campground. A DNR-owned ramp is located on US-23 behind the state police post. Many charter boats in the area are available as well. Ice fishing is also a very popular sport on Tawas Bay. In 1987 a limestone reef was constructed in Tawas Bay and it has helped to make the bay one of the best fishing areas around. The reef is 800 feet long and 25 feet wide. It is located along the northern side of the bay and provides a natural habitat for smaller bait fish, which in turn attracts larger predator fish. Since the construction of the reef, fishermen have found greater success in the walleye, pike, perch and smallmouth bass fishing.
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Photo courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Tawas Point Lighthouse at Night
History:
Tawas Point is the site of a lighthouse that has been in service since 1876. Tawas State Park was established in 1961 after the State of Michigan purchased 175 acres of US Government surplus land.
Map courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Activities:
Fishing is the predominant activity at Tawas Point State Park, but biking, boating and paddling, cross-country skiing, swimming and wildlife watching are also popular. History Programs are also provided by the Michigan History Center.
Information:
For more information, reservations and a calendar of events, follow this link to
Tawas Point State Park.
Special thanks to
ReichyDDom
for help with this geocache.
Special thanks to Are You Geocacher Enough? Road Rally for the Northern Lower regional prize.
Resources: