INDIANA STATE PARK SERIES

MYSTERY LETTERBOX # 1

Placed: 11-2-02

Clues: Easy

Terrain: Easy

Hider: Hoosier Honey Bee

STATE PARK CLUES:

This park is located just beyond the southernmost extension of the glaciers that once covered the state. Formed at the bottom of a shallow sea 250 million years ago, regional uplifts and gradual erosion gave rise to the winding ridges and deep ravines characteristic of this land now covered by hardwood forest.

Encompassing 15,696 acres, this is the largest State Park in Indiana. It was established in 1929.  The Civilian Conservation Corps constructed the roads, buildings, two log lookout towers and two lakes. There is a saddle barn, 70 miles of bridle trails, and a horseman’s camp. For the hiker, there are over 12 miles of trails. This park has a nature center with a snake exhibit and bird watching room. The wildlife that inhabits this park are adapted to life in the forest and forest edges…white-tailed deer, raccoon, gray squirrel and birds such as white-breasted nuthatch, cardinal, junco, pileated woodpecker, and wild turkey. At the north entrance to the park is the Ramp Bridge over Salt Creek. Built in 1838 and moved to the park in 1932, it is the only two-lane covered bridge constructed with Burr arch trusses in Indiana.

LETTERBOX CLUES:

Start your search at Trailhead # 6 that circles the smaller of the two lakes. Ascend the stairs off to the right of the earthen dam. Much of this path is composed of wooden boardwalks and several staircases that lead down to the water. You will come to a section of boardwalk that is built around two trees. Keep on walking. You will cross a wooden bridge and climb another set of stairs further along the path. Up ahead you will come to a stone bridge. From the middle of it walk about 40 paces (1 pace is about 3 feet). You should be at a large flat boulder that lies directly on the trail. Step over the boulder and walk another 10 paces. There is an oak tree on your right with a large flat slab of sandstone that juts horizontally out of the ground at its base. The letterbox lies in a protected hollow underneath the slab hidden by some small stones.  This is a busy trail; please be discreet when stamping up and re-hiding this letterbox.

Before you set out, read the waiver of responsibility and disclaimer.