Sign Up  /  Login

A Baker's Dozen LbNA #69387

Owner:Atom 118
Plant date:Nov 8, 2015
Location: Ecastl Kroc Ts Kpar
City:Oregon
County:Ogle
State:Illinois
Boxes:1
Found by: Not yet found!
Last found:N/A
Last edited:Nov 10, 2015
This box is placed in memory of the 2015 Great Lakes Gathering we hosted at this park. The stamp is the actual event stamp from the gathering. Bring a large black ink pad!

Go to Ecastl Kroc Kpar's northern trails. Castle rock is a beautiful state park in the north central portion of Illinois just south of Oregon Il. The park boasts several miles of trails separated into a 'northern' and 'southern' sections. In addition to rolling hills nestled among gently forested trails, you will notice occasional sandstone outcroppings. The north trails are featured in Susan Post's book "Hiking Illinois" and is named one of the state's 100 best hikes. This hike will give you a taste of what the park offers, but we encourage you to explore more of it.

NOTE: In the winter and spring, parts of the park are closed for hunting season. For winter 2015, the park will be closed: Nov 20-22; Dec 3-6, 11-13, 31; and Jan 1-3, 15-17.

To find this box, you will need to make your way to the Heather Valley trail. For ease, you can park at Aspen Ridge parking lot and cross the road. From there, take the Wildlife Viewing Trail to the left and downhill. Stay to the right, and eventually you will find the trailhead. You can also go the other way on the Wildlife trail, maybe find another box, and eventually end up at the trailhead. At the Heather Valley trail sign, turn left to enter the trail. At the 'Y' go right. Take 40 steps and stop on the small rise, near the 'Y' tree touching the right side of the trail and guarding a fallen giant. From there, look to 80 degrees to a large tree about 15 steps up the hill. The easiest route might not be the most direct. Look at the base for a SPOT and SPOR. Please rehide under the rocks. If you continue forward, you will find a nice, but strenuous at times, hike. To get back to your car, either turn around, or follow one of the loops and you'll eventually get home.

Hike length: 1 mile