Must-do caches in Eau Claire?

Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 7:19 pm

I will be in Eau Claire over Thanksgiving weekend. Since I would rather cache than do Black Friday shopping I thought I'd ask for suggestions. There are lots to choose from but are there any really good ones? Or a good park with several? Thanks!

Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 9:11 pm

I'll be up in E.C. starting tomorrow, and my plan was to hit either Lowes Creek or Tower Ridge as I know zuma just redid a bunch of the caches there. There are also a handful of old 2001 caches right near Eau Claire on my to-do list.

Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 7:07 am

We did some of Zuma's caches in L.L. Phillips county park and nearby Tower Ridge yesterday and had a lot of fun. The whole area is a very cache-rich environment and we always enjoy caching here. GCF748 (UWEC area) is a nice multi that we recommend. Note: Hunting is allowed at Tower Ridge so wear orange if you cache there.

Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 8:58 am

Being from Eau Claire and traveling back as often as possible, I'm always looking for interesting caches to grab when I visit my sister.

Zuma's Rusophycus, GC105P6, is one of only 2 Earth Caches I'm presently aware of within the city and even though it is in kind of a trashy area is really great if you like fossils.

In addition, Zuma has placed quite a few historical caches dealing with Eau Claire's history. Many are multi/puzzle type and even a guy who grew up in Eau Claire has learned some additional history about the city. GCF748 may be still missing a sign, but if it isn't, that's one I would also select.

Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 10:31 am

Beaver Creek Reserve to the east of Eau Claire has some nice trails and caches, too. It was even featured on Cornell's E-bird site as a birding hotspot!

Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 10:33 am

P.S. Heck, I'd rather clean toilets than go Black Friday shopping! As it is, we'll be having a little girl here for the day, so probably I'll just get to play.

WGA Member Joined: 2004-05-19 Posts: 730

Trekkin and Birdin wrote:

Beaver Creek Reserve to the east of Eau Claire has some nice trails and caches, too. It was even featured on Cornell's E-bird site as a birding hotspot!

I second this area! We stay at the youth camp across the road for an astronomy event every year! The Trivial Pursuit series is in this area. Just down the road is Big Falls County Park (admission required) and is home to a GREAT series of caches (Like 20+) that are named after spacecraft. Also comes with a few 'bonus' caches if oyu collect all the codes form the other caches. Not sure if hunting is allowed in this area though.

Either way - Have fun!!

Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 3:06 pm

I hope this is in the right place! Its my first day here. Remember its deer season so make sure to were orange in beaver creek area it was open for hunting years ago (I'm not sure about now). I was also wondering where to find any info on these areas? Sorry if this is not the place for this post, I'm just not sure how to get started.

Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 9:30 pm

Hunting is not allowed in any of the Eau Claire County Parks, except in parts of Tower Ridge.

I was out at Lowes Creek today, and there are no hunters there, and am currently in the process of placing more caches in Lowes Creek. Placed 4 new ones today, and it is one of my favorite places to hike with the dogs. It is also mountain bike friendly. I plan on being out in Lowes Creek tomorrow also, as it is one of my favorite places.

As mentioned above, there are a bunch of new caches in LL Phillips Co Park. Hunting is not allowed there either, except the border between the park and the adjacent EC Forest is not marked, and the EC County Forest is heavily hunted, so I would wear orange at LL Phillips, since hunters may wander into the park easily.

So, if you like your caches to be a nice walk in a wooded area, I would suggest Lowes Creek and LL Phillips. Most of the caches are ammo boxes, with a few other containers mixed in.

On the other hand, if you like interesting historical caches, maybe these would be of interest:

GCTFWT Ruins at Half Moon Lake
GCNMTC Bridge to the Past
GC185F4 Eight Days Before the Music Died
GCH77G The S Ence of Eau Claire
GCT6QV WSQ: Time Fades Away

If you like PNG caches with lots of trackables:

GC1D6XJ Sally's Geocoin Bank
GC1Z9RK ECCC Where Stones Hit Targets

If you like nice containers:

GC1VD3Y Owen Park on the Chippewa River Trail
/GC28E0W Wilson Park Micro
GC260HW Wood Eye

Cool views in town:

GCPZ41 Night Lights
GC260JN Cliff Dweller
GC1H7AZ Eau Claire Hobo Camp

Fossils:

GC105P6 Ruscophycus

So those are a few suggestions. Also GC341CV - Airport View is great, according to reports but I have not done that series of 4 caches yet. If any of you guys who are in Eau Claire this week want to email me, I would love to have company to do those 4 caches, either Wed, Thur or Friday, available in the mornings only. Just email me if interested.

zuma

Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 10:38 pm

Zuma, you missed GC2680C - Turn the Page. Cool view of the city at this one.

Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 8:54 am

Thanks everyone! Especially thanks to Zuma with so many recommendations. I really appreciate it! I was in the middle of researching which caches I wanted to do in Eau Claire when I discovered Zuma's Busy Day Challenge (and Icon challenge) and that got me distracted planning out a day where I could meet those requirements. I just gotsta do it! Wink

I think on my best day I've done 5 different kinds so I need to start from scratch. Fortunately, I think I've made a plan.

Anyway, thanks again for the recommendations. I will try and cook up a plan and get some caching done this weekend. I could also possibly do Thur or Fri morning if a group wanted to get together.