Geocaching

What Is Geocaching?

Geocaching is a worldwide treasure hunt using GPS coordinates to find hidden containers — called caches — that other people have placed. There are over 3 million active caches worldwide, and thousands of them are hidden right here along the Wasatch Front, in Salt Lake City's canyons, and throughout Utah State Parks. Start at Geocaching.com and watch their intro videos. Then check out the r/geocaching subreddit and read through recent posts — people post find photos, share favorite cache locations, and help beginners constantly. The hobby ranges from tiny magnetic "nano" caches hidden on park benches to large ammo cans full of trinkets buried in the backcountry. Zero equipment required to start exploring. You're ready for the next step when you can explain what a geocache is, what a logbook is, and name two different cache types.

Set Up Your Geocaching Account

Create a free account at Geocaching.com — your username is your geocaching identity, so pick something you like. Download the official Geocaching app on your phone (free basic version works great for beginners). Spend time on the map view zoomed into your neighborhood. You'll immediately see caches popping up everywhere — parks, parking lots, trailheads, even spots you walk past every day. Read the descriptions and hints for a few caches near you without actually going to find them yet. Notice the difficulty and terrain ratings (1–5 scale) and the cache type. Look up caches near popular Utah spots: Liberty Park, Sugarhouse Park, or the Jordan River Trail all have active caches. You're ready for the next step when you have an active account, the app installed, and you've read the details on at least five nearby caches.

Find Your First Cache

Pick a cache rated Difficulty 1/Terrain 1 near you — these are deliberately easy and meant for first-timers. Walk or drive to the coordinates, then use the app's compass to navigate the final 30–50 feet. The GPS will get you close, but your eyes and logic finish the job. Look for anything that seems slightly out of place: a fake rock, a magnetic strip under a bench, a suspicious pile of sticks. When you find it, sign the paper logbook inside with your geocaching name and the date. If it's a container big enough for trinkets, you can take one only if you leave something of equal or greater value. Log your find on the app before you leave the spot. You're ready for the next step when you've successfully found and signed your first cache.

Log Your Finds and Explore Types

Logging finds on Geocaching.com isn't just bookkeeping — it's how the geocaching community works. Write a real log entry describing your experience, what the hide was like, or what the view was from the location. Cache owners love reading these. Now start exploring cache types: Traditional (straightforward coordinate find), Multi-cache (follow a series of waypoints), Mystery/Puzzle (solve a puzzle to get coordinates), and EarthCache (learn about geology — Utah has amazing ones near the Great Salt Lake and Bonneville Salt Flats). Try to find at least one of each type. Browse the Utah geocaching community on Geocaching.com's forums. You're ready for the next step when you've logged five finds across at least two different cache types and written detailed logs for each.

Hide Your Own Cache

Hiding a cache is where you go from player to creator. Start by reading the official cache hiding guidelines at Geocaching.com — there are rules about distance from other caches, placement on public vs. private land, and container requirements. Scout locations on public land (Utah State Parks require a permit, but city parks and national forest land are good options). Choose a spot with something interesting nearby — a view, a historical marker, a cool rock formation. Your container needs to be waterproof, have a logbook, and be clearly labeled as a geocache. Submit it for review and a volunteer reviewer will check it within a few days. You're ready for the next step when your cache has been approved, published, and received its first find logged by another geocacher.

Join the Community

Geocaching has a real community — local, national, and global. Find Utah's active geocaching groups on Geocaching.com's forums and look for local events (called "Cache In Trash Out" events, or CITOs) where geocachers pick up litter while hunting caches. The r/geocaching subreddit runs challenges, showcases wild hides, and shares adventure stories. Work toward earning your first souvenir badges on Geocaching.com by finding caches in new counties, completing challenges, or hitting milestone find counts. Try the "Challenges" feature on the app for creative goals like finding a cache at every terrain rating or logging finds in every Utah county. Share your best finds and your hidden cache's story with the community. You're ready for the next step when you've attended or organized one community event and have a plan to keep geocaching as a regular outdoor activity.