What is a GeoCache? Are they legal on our public lands?

Answer 1

G'day Reality Buff,

Thank you for your question.

Geocaching is an outdoor treasure-hunting game in which the participants use a Global Positioning System receiver or other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers (called "geocaches" or "caches") anywhere in the world. A typical cache is a small waterproof container containing a logbook and "treasure", usually toys or trinkets of little monetary value.

For the traditional geocache, a geocacher will place a waterproof container, containing a log book (with pen or pencil) and treasures, then note the cache's coordinates. These coordinates, along with other details of the location, are posted on a website (see Websites for geocaching). Other geocachers obtain the coordinates from the Internet and, using handheld GPS receivers, seek out the cache. The finding geocachers record their exploits in the logbook and online. Geocachers are free to take objects from the cache in exchange for leaving something of similar or higher value, so there is treasure for the next person to find.

It may be problematic on public land although it depends where it is. There is a difference between wasteland and a national park.

In 2003, the Bureau of Land Management ruled:

Even though geocaching appears to be an acceptable activity on BLM managed land, it is an activity that would only be welcome in the appropriate locations.

Policy/Action: A special recreation permit (SRP) is not required if the geocaching activity complies with casual use conditions. The following conditions apply to casual use: the activity is not a commercial endeavor, the activity complies with land use decisions and designations, (i.e., special area designations and wilderness interim management policy), and it does not award cash prizes, is not publicly advertised, poses minimal risk for damage to public land or related water resource values, and generally requires no monitoring. If you determine the use to be casual but have some concern about the use, such as, placing the caches in Congressionally designated wilderness or wilderness study areas, at cultural resource sites, at areas with threatened or endangered species, or any other special fragile area, it would be appropriate to issue a letter of authorization with special stipulations attached that would address those concerns.

If the geocaching activity or event does not meet the above conditions, the event should be treated as any other organized recreational group or competitive activity or event for which BLM would require the event organizer to obtain an SRP."

I have attached some sources for your reference.

Regards

Answer 2

The other answers have given a good definition of what a geocache is. If you have a GPS unit, I recommend finding where one is and hunting for it.

I would like to address the issue of geocaches on public lands. The legality (or a better term, permission status) of a geocache depends on the kind of public land considered. In terms of National Parks in the United States, geocaches are not permitted. They had been geocaches in National Parks in Canada, but recently Parks Canada forbade them. Generally, this means that they ask the cache owner to remove the cache or they do it themselves, often allowing the owner to claim it that a park office.

A number of states have adopted new rules in regard to the placement of caches in state parks. In general, they allow placement, but in many cases a permit is required to place the cache, which may or may not involve a fee. The idea of this is to allow geocaching in the park, but be sure to preserve sensitive areas from damage caused by hunters looking all over. (I think that it's a small pain, but I think that it's good in the long run.)

Local and city parks tend to be taken for granted as valid places to put geocaches unless a local ordinance is in place. (Some localities actually encourage responsible cache placement.) Open cemeteries have been popular around where I live, although South Carolina has been considering legislation that would impose strict limits for cemeteries and historical areas.

Hope that helps.

Answer 3

On public lands, yes. On private lands one should get permission from the land owner.

GeoChaching is an activity done with a GPS unit, it's a combination of treasure hunting and mapping skills. It's a lot of fun and a really growing activity!
It's great to do with kids!!

A GeoCashe is the destination, it's usually a small container with little trinkets like small kitchy toys or useless items. If you take something, you should always replace it with something else. My partner and my brother are into this activity. They even have their own team name, "The Devil Ducks" as they always place a small rubber Devil Duck in the Cashe Box.
Sometimes there are these ones called "micro cashes" which are usually just camera film containers with a tiny pencil and a journal page where you can write down that you were there.

It's an activity that has lots of GeoCashing websites where you can get the coordinates to plug into your GPS unit and log which Cashes you've found and when.

Answer 4

Yes they are legal. Geochaching is a great way to use your GPS and find 'treasures' and all kinds of things. The purpose is to find the set locations and then trade your treasure for the one left for you. It can be anything small....a book, a trinket, etc. There are groups in Western New York and Pennsylvania who participate in these all the time. The treasures can be left on public or private lands (with land-owners permission). the kids have a blast hunting for the secret location and prize. Check out the web site below for more info......

Answer 5

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