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Cherokee Rose, Junior LbNA #21021 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:GoodOleDays
Plant date:Mar 25, 2006
Location:
City:Oklahoma City
County:Cleveland
State:Oklahoma
Boxes:1
Found by: Aja
Last found:May 19, 2007
Status:FFFar
Last edited:Mar 25, 2006
The Cherokee Rose was named the official state rock in1968 and is very unique to our area. Legend says the rose rocks were formed from the tears of the native american women on the infamouse "Trail of Tears" enforced relocations. They are found in small quantities in California, Kansas and Egypt, but their greatest concentration is in the Permian Garber Sandstone in a narrow belt that extends 80 miles through the central part of Oklahoma between Pauls Valley and Guthrie. The Draper Lake Area is especially rich in these interesting formations.
Clues:
Take the Douglas Boulevard exit from I-40 and go one mile east on 29th street, (or I-240 and go one mile east on 74th street) to Post Road. Go South on Post Road. Past 74th street but before 89th street on the east side of Post is the "Lake Stanley Draper Non-motorized Trail Head". This is a VERY well maintained series of trails that have been very nicely improved by the Oklahoma Earthbike Fellowship. These trails are primarily for mountain bikes, so be sure to yield right of way and take care with children and pets. There is a gravel parking lot with concrete picnic tables and porta-potty.
Be sure to stop and study the map that is posted. Be sure to notice "Rose Rock Hill" The green trail is our goal for this box....we will join it at a break out spot on the power line right of way.
Follow the arrows to the TH (trailhead) go through the fence on the right of the tables and follow the green loop
down the power line right of way. Just before the 3 giant power poles in a row at the bend in the power line right of way the green trail will leave the right of way...DON"T TAKE THIS TRAIL...be patient. Just past the 3 poles and the sharp curve right, there will be another trail leaving the right of way to the left. Immediately there will be a choice to make, White trail left, Green trail right....follow the GREEN TRAIL right. The day we planted this box we saw lots of fresh deer tracks and plenty of wildlife....a lovely hike! The trail meanders through the woods. Follow the trail awhile stopping to sign in at the Choctaw box also listed on LbNA.
About halfway through the trail you will notice the trail starts gently going uphill. You will come to a very distinctive spot where there is a multitude of rose rocks working their way to the surface along the trail and it goes up a small hill area. There will be a "cut" in the bank of the hill as the trail curves left. You will see a cedar on the right as the trail cuts left, about 2 feet off the trail. Directly west of it - about 10 paces on the left is a much larger cedar, continue on 10 more paces past it to a cedar which in fact is three cedars growing together. The Cherokee Rose is on the south side of the south trunk about head high.
If you continue on the trail, you will soon see the power line right of way on your right...if you're ready to quit you can cut across to the right of way and follow it back to your right, and to the Trailhead.
Happy Questing!