About Geocaching: Geocaching is a Global Positioning System (GPS) based treasure hunting sport. A person hides a cache (container with log book and pencil/pen) at a given location and then publishes the exact coordinates on the internet. Other users may then load these positions into their GPS units and go out and find the cache. Thousands of geocachers (very small to large containers) are hidden all over the world, and their satellite-based GPS coordinates are posted to a database operated by Groundspeak Inc on a website found at www.geocaching.com.
GPS users (geocachers) hunt for the caches and post their finds on the geocaching.com website. Geocaches contain trade items like toys and trinkets and also a log-book for geocachers to record their visit. Geocaches are often hidden in parks, at viewpoints, and in other cool places. Geocaching gets people out hiking and exploring – alone, with friends or family.
Geocachers also have a responsibility to leave no trace by not disturbing the environment. Visit www.parkfriendly.net to learn about eco-friendly geocaching and how you can take part in Park Friendly Geocaching. Most cachers live by the mantra CITO (Cache-in Trash-out). See cacheintrashout.org for more details.
Trackables 101
Trackables are geocaching “game pieces” bearing a tracking number – a unique series of letters and numbers – that allows geocachers to follow the items’ travels online. They include Geocoins, Travel Bugs(R) and other Trackable Items, which come in various forms. Trackable owners general assign them goals such as to “cross the Atlantic.” The geocaching community helps Trackables reach their goals by moving them from cache to cache.
To determine whether an item in a cache is a Trackable, look for a unique tracking number and text indicating that it can be tracked on Geocaching.com or Groundspeak.com. While you do not need to trade for Trackables, you will need to log the Trackable and place it in another cache as soon as you can. The idea is to place it in a cache that will move it closer to its goal. To view the goal for a Trackable, visit www.geocaching.com/track and enter the tracking number.
Geocaching Policies
Various park authorities support geocaching to varying extents. It’s really important that you know and understand the rules of the game if you are going caching in a park. Maintaining good relationships with park authorities will keep the parks open to geocachers. We’ll grow this portion of our site as a resource to cachers everywhere… if you are aware of a policy that affects geocaching in your region, let us know and we’ll post a link here.
Explore BC Parks – one treasure at a time! BC Parks have developed policies that support and encourage geocaching in BC’s provincial parks. You can view these policies online here. If you have any questions about geocaching in BC Parks please send us a note. We are pleased to be the provincial liaison between geocaching and BC Parks!
Parks Canada Parks Canada also supports geocaching, but they manage it somewhat differently than you might expect. Their geocaching policies can be seen here.
