Introducing the

Huron History Mystery Tour (HHMT)

It's the longest, 5 star terrain, Geocaching adventure ever

22 caches placed over 100 miles on the Huron River

Even though all 22 geocaches are accessible by watercraft,  11 of those can also be accessed by land.

This adventure was the brainstorm of the Huron River Watershed Council, and came to life with the

 assistance  of the Huron-Clinton Metropark Authority and the Michigan Geocaching Organization.

Over 20 people volunteered their time to get this going.

 

 

Grab your GPS device, affix it to your canoe or kayak, load up your gear and get ready for a great geocaching adventure.

 

 

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Win a Limited Edition HHMT geocoin!

The first 50 cachers or teams to complete all 22 HHMT caches earn the coveted Huron History Mystery Tour Geocoin!
 

* There are two ways to win your specially minted HHMT Geocoin!  

 

 

Official Contest rules:

Be sure to record the secret letter on the inside lid of each cache.
 

You can record the secret letter found under the lid of each of the 22 HHMT caches.  Record the letters in the downstream order:

 

 When you have found all 22 secret letters, email them to RED ROSE (via GC.com) in this order.

Alternatively, you can post a picture of yourself with all 22 of the HHMT Trading Cards clearly visible.  Let RED ROSE know by email about your posting!

 

* Second Chance Drawing

If you have not found all 22 caches by the September 13 event, you can still win the geocoins or other prizes!

Cachers who have found 10 or more HHMT caches will be entered into a special prize drawing at the picnic.

 Send in your letters before September 13, or bring them to the prize presentation.  You must be present to win for the second chance drawing.

 

Prize's and second chance award drawing will be held during the

2008 Metroparks Geocache picnic September 13th 2008.

We'll link to it after it's approved by Geocaching.com

Picnic Coordinates, N 42 29.374 W 83 46.395

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If you're not an avid canoeist, or Geocacher and want to know more, here's a few tools to get you started.

    The main geocaching listing service is www.geocaching.com
    A Geocaching intro flyer by the  Michigan Geocaching Organization
    Another great Geocaching Tips tri-fold brochure by Treadlightly!
    GPS Guide for Beginners, from Garmin
   Canoe and Kayaking basics, Great introduction for responsible watercraft travel.
   Identifying animal tracks along the shore.     * Compliments of Hiking Michigan

 

 

Great information to have before your adventure.

For those geocaching techies
    Download the Huron River MAP showing the Huron River Mystery Tour route.
    Download the file of ALL the caches placed for this series.

    Right click on this HHMT.gpx file and save it to your desktop.

    Download the Google Earth  kml file of everything involved on this adventure, including Caches,  dams, portage sites, mile markers, etc. 

 

    Right Click on this HHMT_final.kml file and save it to your desktop.

                                          

                          Note: Google Earth  is required.      

 

The Metroparks operate three, one night maximum stay, Canoe/Kayak Group Camp facilities. Reservations must be made at the appropriate  Metropark Office. :
Kensington Metropark        Phone #   1-248-685-1561 or 1-800-477-3178
Hudson Mills Metropark      Phone #  1- 734-426-8211 or 1-800-477-3191
Lower Huron Metropark     Phone #   1-734-697-9181 or 1-800-477-3182

         Camping Rules

Paddlers coming in “by canoe” and leaving “by canoe” are eligible to rent the group camp.

Canoeists MUST pre-register to use the group camp. 

The fee is $5 per canoe with a five canoe maximum with a one night stay maximum.

A Metropark Police Officer will check all into their site.   

Canoeists are not allowed to bring any vehicles into the Group Camp at any time.

Alcoholic beverages are prohibited in the group camp area.

 

 

The Complete Series of 22 Huron History Mystery Tour Geocaches

 The Barton Dam on the Huron River
 Traditional Cache HHMT 1: WHERE DID I PARK THE CAR?
 Traditional Cache HHMT 2: WHERE DID I DOCK THE BOAT?
 Traditional Cache HHMT 3: Native's Trail, Native Trees
 Traditional Cache HHMT 4: Anishnabeg
 Traditional Cache HHMT 5: Natural River
 Traditional Cache HHMT 6: Not after the rain!
 Traditional Cache HHMT 7: Dover Mills
 Traditional Cache HHMT 8: The Hudson Mills
 Traditional Cache HHMT 9: Don't tip me over, Lilliput!
 Traditional Cache HHMT 10: Who you gonna call...cache friends! The Bently Dam
 Traditional Cache HHMT 11: Barton Hills & Dam
 Traditional Cache HHMT 12: Parker Mill
 Traditional Cache HHMT 13: Legend of the Smeet Frog
 Traditional Cache HHMT 14: A River Runs Through It - Ford Lake
 Traditional Cache HHMT 15: Old Rawsonville Village
 Traditional Cache HHMT 16: Caddisfly
 Traditional Cache HHMT 17: Mbesek nde shya
 Traditional Cache HHMT 18: S.Q. Eagle's Lookout
 Traditional Cache HHMT 19: Lost in The Woods
 Traditional Cache HHMT 20: Oakwood Island
 Traditional Cache HHMT 21: To the Lake!
 Traditional Cache HHMT 22: Mystery Island

 

 

Portage Sites

      
map
#		 Access Owned By Boat Launch River Miles Accessable (est.) Fee Area Website
1 Indian Springs Metropark HCMP No 2 Yes Yes
2 Pontiac State Rec. Area DNR Yes 2 Yes Yes
3 Proud Lake State Rec. Area DNR Yes 2 1/2 Yes Yes
4 Kensington Metropark HCMP Yes 1 Yes Yes
4 Island Lake State Rec. Area DNR Yes 5+ Yes Yes
5 Huron Meadows Metropark HCMP Yes 3 Yes Yes
6 Hudson Mills Metropark HCMP No 4 Yes Yes
7 Dexter-Huron Metropark HCMP No 3 1/2 Yes Yes
8 Delhi Metropark HCMP Yes 4 1/2 Yes Yes
9 Lower Huron Metropark HCMP No 5+ Yes Yes
10 Willow Metropark HCMP No 5+ Yes Yes
10 Oakwoods Metropark HCMP No 2 Yes Yes
11 Flatrock City Park City No 3/4 No None
11 Flatrock DNR Launch DNR Yes 1/8 No None
12 ? City Park City Yes 1/8 No None
12 LaBo Park City No 1/8 No None
13 Point Mouille DNR Yes 1 Yes PDF FILE

 

 		 
Wall Street Bridge Collapse

                                                                                                                               

 

                                                                                                                     Just a couple old Detroit Edison dams

Dam

Date Built

Barton

1912

Argo

1913

Geddes

1916

Superior

1919

French Landing

1925

Rawsonville (owned by Henry Ford)

1927

 

 

The Huron River Watershed Council is the first and oldest river protection group in Michigan. Founded in 1965, the Council is a coalition of Huron Valley residents, businesses and local governments. Since its formation, the Council has grown to be a respected voice for protection of the Huron River and its tributary streams, lakes, wetlands, and groundwater. To learn more about how you can help, go to www.hrwc.org

Michigan Geocaching Organization's (MiGO) goal is to promote the sport of geocaching, an appreciation of the outdoors, and good environmental stewardship, through cooperative efforts with Michigan geocachers and land management officials.  

The Huron-Clinton Metroparks system includes 13 parks totaling 24,000 acres of land arranged along the Huron River and Clinton River forming a partial ring around the metro area. The parks draw about 9.5 million visitors a year. The rivers are prime fishing and canoeing streams.