Geocaching for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know About Geocaching

Do you love the outdoors and treasure hunting? If so, geocaching is the perfect hobby for you! Geocaching is a modern day treasure hunt that uses GPS coordinates to lead you to hidden caches. It can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels, and is a great way to get some exercise while exploring new places. In this blog post, we will teach you everything you need to know about geocaching. We will cover how to find your first geocache, tips for geocachers, using the geocaching app, logging your finds, hiding your own geocache and more!

What is Geocaching?

Geocaching is a world-wide treasure hunt that has become a fun outdoor recreational activity for all ages. There is an impressive, 3 million containers called geocaches, or caches, tucked out of sight and waiting for you to find them! Participants find the hidden containers by using a Global Positioning System device or their mobile phone.

How Do I Find My First Geocache?

To find geocaches, you will need to sign up for a geocaching account. Once you have an account, use the geocaching.com website or app to navigate to geocaches near you. When you find a geocache that interests you, click on its listing page to get more information. This is where you can learn more about the geocache, including its size, terrain, and difficulty rating.

Difficulty Rating: Ranked out of 5 stars, this tells you how hard the geocache is to find.

Terrain Rating: Ranked out of five stars, this tells you how challenging it will be to reach the geocache.

Size Rating: Geocaches come in different sizes, from “micro” (the size of a pill bottle) to “large” (large enough to fill a bucket). The size will give you an idea of how difficult it will be to find the geocache. Ranked out of 5, with 1 being micro and 5 being large.

Geocaching Tip: we suggest checking the ‘Activity’ section of the geocaching listing page before you head to the location. Here you can learn if the geocache has been recently found. Since geocaches are maintained by anyone that volunteers, some geoaches may be in poor condition or even missing.

Now that you have the geocache app, it’s time to start looking for the geocache! The listing page will have a “Description” of the geocache which offers clues to help you find the geocache. Use the “Navigate” feature to locate the area of the geocache. This will get you as close as a 2m radius from the geocache.

What Do I Do Once I Find A Geocache?

Logging your geocache is important. Once you find the geocache, open up the container to sign and date the logbook. If it’s full, you can write your initials in the margin. Micro and small containers may just have a logbook, while larger caches may contain items or trackables.

You can take an item from the geocache (if there is one) or leave an item for the next person. If you take an item, be sure to replace it with another item of equal or greater value. Since geocaching is a family activity, be sure that what you leave is family friendly and appropriate.

Geocaching Tip: Bring small items with you to leave in the geocaches in exchange for any items you take from the geocache. Kids especially enjoy this part of geocaching. Small items we’ve seen in geocaches include small toys and money.

If you find and take a trackable, be sure to log it online so the owner can see where their item has traveled. Most trackables have a unique code that you’ll enter on the geocaching website or app.

Once you’re finished with the geocache, be sure to put everything back exactly as you found it and give the container a little shake to make sure everything is secure. Tuck it back into the same spot that you found it in.

Now it’s time to log your geocache find on the geocaching website or app by selecting “Log”. You’ll have a couple different types of logs to choose from. If everything went smoothly and you found the geocache, choose “Write a Note” and write a little something about your experience that you wish to share with the geocache owner or geocache community. You can also use this to report information to the owner if the geocache is damaged or needs maintenance.

Keep reading to learn about logging a DNF (did not find) geocache.

What If I Can’t Find the Geocache?

If you’re having trouble finding the geocache, don’t give up! Sometimes it takes a little while to find the geocache. If you really can’t find it, there are a few things you can do:

• Check the activity of the geocache to make sure it has recently been found by others
• Read the comments and view photos from participants for possible clues
• Go with friends or family, not only will it be more fun but there are more eyes searching
• Ask for help from the geocaching community
• If you’ve exhausted all options and cannot find it, log it as DNF (did not find). This will helps others if in fact the cache has disappeared!

What Do I Need to Go Geocaching?

You really don’t need much to go geocaching! All you need is a sense of adventure, an internet connected device and the geocaching app. Of course, there are a few other things that can make geocaching more fun:

-small items like toys or money to leave if you wish to take items from the caches

-water and snacks if you plan on longer adventures

-dress for the weather and terrain

Can Anyone Hide a Geocache?

Hiding a geocache is just as fun as finding one (if not more so)! Geocaches are created by anyone in the geocaching community who wishes to do so. Geocaching.com requires you to first find 20 geocaches before hiding your first cache. This will give you hands-on experience for hiding your first geocache!

Managing a geocache listing is a labour of love. Once you’ve submitted a hidden geocache, you will be monitoring comments and feedback to ensure your geocache remains in good condition. At times you may have to maintain the geocache by stocking it with logging paper, making repairs, or even replacing it if it goes missing.