caching along a bike trail

[+lkings4]

Not sure of the best way to find caches along a certain bike trail. When I search the name of the bike trail I don't get any results. I know there are some on the trail. Any tips? The trail I'm looking at is the Old Plank Trail in IL, I would be going from Joliet to Frankfort or even farther east. HElp?! Still pretty new at this

[Neos2]

Use google to find some of the zip codes it runs through. Here's one site that may help.

 

Since you are a premium member, you can enter a zip code search, click on the map it feature and scroll around until you find the trail (I started at at Park Forest, near Chicago and followed the maps west just below I-30).

 

You you can scroll around on the google maps and add the caches you want to do to a bookmark list.

You can even use the google maps to create a route and upload the caches along that route and create a pocket query of the caches along that route.

 

I don't see a lot of caches along it. There are some along the Sauk Trail that intersects it.

Here is one, I think: #5 Illinois Jones & The Riches of Reugen's Lair and here is one that says it's on the trail. I found that one using the google search engine for "Old PLank Trail" +geocaching.

Edited July 5, 2007 by Neos2

[+lkings4]

Thanks for your help I'll give it a try. We biked the I & M canal trail and there were lots of caches along that one. Still learning to use Google Earth.

[+Markwell]

You also might want to stop by GONIL.org (Geocachers of Northeastern Illinois) and ask us over there.

 

You can also send me an e-mail, as I'm in Plainfield and could probably answer the question offline.

[+imajeep]

If you are a premium member, you can get caches along a route that you create. You can create the route in a topo program, or in Google Earth, using the Path tool. If you use GE, the Path tool will create a 'track', rather than a 'route'. You will need to convert the track to a route before submitting it to GC.com. I use GPSBabel to convert the KML file to a GPX. Then I use ExpertGPS (paid version of EasyGPS) to convert the track to a route. I submit the converted GPX to GC.com.

 

The Google Earth process is a bit easier if the route follows streets, instead of a hiking trail. In that case, I ask GE for directions and save as a KML, which creates a route. I can submit that to GC.com without any conversion.

[+Markwell]

Really is a regional question, so - after I show that it CAN be done with the right tools, I'll pop this over to the Midwest forum.

 

Here's the caches I found that are within about a half mile of the Old Plank road...

GC7AAE

GCGX8T

GCN1VH

GCN96D

GCQAZB

GCQB0G

GCWVT1

GCWWHA

GCX0FH

GCQGNN

GCB741

GC10428

GC121CA

GC12B67

GC12B5R

GCX6WN

[+lkings4]

Gosh, you guys are great! Thanks soooo much for your help. I will certainly check out the caches as soon as I get a chance to take the trail. Sure do wish I didn't have to work and then wait on good weather to go. Life is good though, sure can't complain with all of your help. Happy caching!