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State Park/Forest Permissions Information - Western Region

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robert
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State Park/Forest Permissions Information - Western Region

Post by robert »

State Parks
Maryland State Parks (official link, by county) | Maryland State Forests (official link, by region)

The guidelines below were supposed to have been adopted state wide throughout our State Parks. Some parks however may not have the latest information and or forms so please contact the park directly if in doubt. The MGS continues to work with our park officials to further develop these guidelines and ensure cooperation. Please be sure to do your part and follow these guidelines, use the forms when you hide caches in these parks and ensure you have permission. Your cooperation helps ensure the future of our sport!

Western Region Parks

MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
STATE FOREST AND PARK SERVICE
WESTERN REGION CACHE GUIDELINES

Park Hours are 9:00 A.M. - Sunset

1. You must receive approval from the State Forest and Park Service (SFPS) prior to placing a cache. To obtain approval, you must submit the Cache Approval Form to the appropriate forest/park office. (NOTE: Green Ridge State Forest address/contact info on the form is incorrect. Please send to 28700 Headquarters Drive NE, Flintstone, MD 21530 or faxed to 301-478-2564 to the attention of Mark Beals, Manager)

2. In cases where a proposed cache location is not approved, the SFPS may recommend a more appropriate location for placement.

3. A transparent container is preferred. Any other container used must be painted white. Clearly mark the container with the appropriate identification, such as “Geocaching.com” and the name of the cache. Place a stash note inside explaining the sport to any non-participants who may discover the cache. DO NOT use PVC pipe, ammo cans or any other military-looking container in any other color scheme other than white that may cause alarm should an unsuspecting person happen upon the cache.

4. DO NOT dig any holes or disturb the surrounding environment. You may make minor camouflaging alterations such as covering over with small rocks, bark, or small branches. Do not cut live vegetation. We encourage all users of our forest and parks to practice Leave No Trace (LNT) guidelines in their use of public lands of any kind.

5. DO NOT place your cache in plain view. Attempt to conceal the cache to minimize the chances that a non-participant will spot it, which could lead to worry, theft, or vandalism.

6. Try to hide the cache off the beaten path by at least a few yards to provide the finder some measure of privacy to sign the log without arousing undue alarm.

7. As a cache seeker or cache owner, you must abide by park hours and all other rules and regulations. Carry documentation such as the cache detail sheet, so that you can explain your activity to anyone who may ask.

8. Inform the proper office should you choose to remove the cache from use. If taken over by another individual a new application must be filed with the appropriate forest/ park office.
-robert
MGS Site Admin, MGS Director, former Officer
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