GCY4NB Enchanted Mesa Trail Cache
Type: Traditional | Size: Small | Difficulty: | Terrain:
By: TwoOldBears @ | Hide Date: 09/04/2006 | Status: Available
Country: United States | State: Colorado
Coordinates: N38° 14.182 W107° 45.212 | Last updated: 08/30/2019 | Fav points: 2
                         

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ENCHANTED MESA TRAIL CACHE: Located on Enchanted Mesa Trail at about 7000 ft. in Ridgway State Park (Ouray County, CO) overlooking Ridgway Reservoir. Cache is logbook & pencil only along a spectacular trail high above the east side of the reservoir. Trail can be walked end-to-end (3.5 miles one way) or bicycled to northern overlook & back (6 miles round trip). Colorado Parks Pass or day-use fees apply.

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ENCHANTED MESA TRAIL: Full trail length from parking lot to parking lot is 3.5 miles and includes a 300 ft change in altitude. Trail has two approaches: relatively easy from the south, and somewhat more difficult from the north; our terrain difficulty rating is an average of the two approaches. The south trail-head (via Mear's Bay Trail) is paved for the first mile and allows access by bicycles and strollers. The north-end trail-head includes STEEP switchbacks with DROP-OFFs and some intermittent stair-steps. Bicycle access is permitted from both ends of the trail, but the north access requires walking the bike to the top of the switchbacks. South-end access is from Shoreline Road picnic area on Mear's Bay -- use the Dutch Charlie entrance to the park. North trail-head access is from Enchanted Mesa Trail-head parking lot near park maintenance area below the dam -- use the Pa-Co-Chu-Puk entrance to the park.

CACHE LOCATION: Placement is at one of many spectacular overlooks along Enchanted Mesa Trail. Once on top of mesa, trail is mostly level. Round trip from south parking lot to cache will be about 5 miles. Round trip from north parking lot to cache will be about 3 miles. Great for mountain bikes! Bring water bottle and a camera or binoculars. Plenty of benches along the trail. Restrooms at or near both parking lots.

CACHE CONTAINER: Not a micro-container, but small black plastic container holds only a tiny logbook & short pencil. The hint is a COMPLETE GIVEAWAY, so try to find without it first. Two extra-tiny "prizes" left for the next two cachers to find inside this re-freshed cache!

07/05/2018 By Still_Hiking
Nice hike, nice view. Thanks

06/26/2018 By Enkkidu
Great spot and beautiful views!
GCY4NB

06/14/2017 By schimi73
Quite randomly we made a stop at the Ridgway State Park. When we saw, that there was a nice little hike and a cache, we just changed the shoes and started to walk on. What a nice place and what a beautiful lake!
We enjoyed a lot being here!
And of course we were happy to sign the logbook
TFTC

Danke für’s Dösle sagt schimi73
5404

09/25/2016 By cacheclique
Tftc. Nice stop on a great hike!

09/15/2016 By TwoOldBears
Battling back & ankle injuries prevented us from getting to this cache sooner. Our apologies to the geocachers who had to wait for our maintenance on this cache. Cache container has been replaced with a new one, and re-hidden in same location. Smaller container than previously, however mini-logbook and mini-pencil are fitted into container. Trail is in good condition (we came in from the north end) and enjoyed views of the Pa-Co-Chu-Puk Campgrounds, the north-end lakes, the dam, Ridgway reservoir, the Uncompahgre Plateau & Log Hill cliffs, Mt. Sneffels & the San Juans. Met about a dozen does & five bucks on our trek there and back!

08/23/2016 By lamcCO
Enjoyed the hike although the reservoir sure is LOW this time of year! Found it without the hint - yeah! TFTC.
Tall Grass on trail

08/13/2016 By Outdoor Lover
TFTC nice spot

06/03/2016 By Team Repmeer
#2746

Very nice trail in Ridgway State Park. The cache need some maintainance because the magnet is gone. The cache not well hidden anymore because of the missing magnet.

TwoOldBears TFTC

Team repmeer

09/02/2015 By chattycathy55
This one wore me out!!!

09/02/2015 By lgf
On the way to Montrose and decided a short hike was in order. Started with thunder in the area, but made the beautiful hike without getting wet. Easy find once there. Parked and hiked from the north. Thanks for bringing us to this area.
Ridgway Lake