Geocaching at Texas State Parks!

Geocaching is a type of treasure hunt using a GPS unit or an app on your smartphone to help you find hidden "caches" placed by people all over the world. Geocaches are everywhere - from just down the street to the most remote wilderness areas. They range from extremely small containers (35-mm film canister or smaller) to large ammo-style boxes and can contain many different things, including a log book to sign your name, tradable items for kids and adults, and more!

Don't know how to geocache but would like to try it out? We have special workshops hosted at our State parks to introduce you to this activity. Check out geocache events on our Calendar.

What is Geocaching?

Geocaching is the hunt for any of more than 3 million items worldwide that have been purposely hidden by geocachers just like you. The game, when played responsibly, has been embraced by Texas State Parks and Natural Areas because of the fun and health benefits the sport creates for its players. Geocaching is primarily based through the website geocaching.com and is free to participate in! Simply create a user name or "cache handle" and you will be on your way!

This "treasure hunt" takes its participants to a fun, creative, or beautiful hiding place in the outdoors to search for items of all different sizes and difficulty. Along the way, be sure to enjoy your travels, explore the contents of each container you find, and return back to geocaching.com to log your visit and tell the world about your adventure.

You might be wondering what is a Geocache? In its simplest terms "Geo" means earth, and "Cache" means hidden item. Most geocaches are camouflaged containers that range in size. Geocaches are never buried, so please leave your shovels at home!

How to Play

1. Visit Geocaching.com, or use a smartphone app, and find caches where you are.
2. For your first geocache adventure, choose an easy cache based on the difficulty, size, and terrain ratings.
3. When you've found a geocache that suites your trip and group, download the coordinates to your GPS or begin navigating on your Smartphone.
4. When you arrive at a cache, approach it safely. Some of the best hiding locations are also homes for wildlife. It might take a few minutes to find the cache if it is hidden well!
5. Open the container, sign the log, and trade a family friendly item with the "swag" that is already in the cache.
6. Replace the container exactly how you found it and return back to geocaching.com to log your find and tell the world of your adventure! You will begin to collect "smiley" face symbols that signify your number of finds over the course of your lifetime.
7. Watch a video from geocaching.com to learn more!
8. Download guidelines for hiding a geocache on a TPWD property.

What to Bring:

• GPS or smartphone with coordinates
• Pen or pencil
• Water bottle
• Hat, footwear appropriate for a hike, and rain gear, if needed - Plan ahead and check the weather!
• Sunscreen and insect repellent
• Park, or trail, map
• Inexpensive small items to trade for cache "swag"
• A sense of adventure!

How can I Leave No Trace During My Visit?

• Do the responsible and safe thing and stay on the trails for as long as possible.
• Leave what you find including those pretty wildflowers, unique rocks, and artifacts!
• Being considerate of others by not parking in campsites and keeping voices low.
• Trash your trash and consider CITO - "Cache in Trash Out" to help keep our spaces beautiful.
• Respecting wildlife, you're in their backyard!

Glossary of Terms

• Size: On Geocaching.com the size of the geocache is posted so you know what you are looking for.
• Terrain: A rating of a 1 star indicates that the geocache is considered to be accessible by wheelchair. A geocache with a terrain rating of 5 stars will require some special equipment (boat, 4WD, etc) to find the container.
• Difficulty: A difficulty level of 1 star will indicate that the cache should be found very quickly. A 5 star cache is a big endeavor requiring toughness to find or open the container.
• FTF = First to Find, or the first person to find a geocache after it has originally been hidden.
• TFTC = Thanks for the cache, or an abbreviation of thanks to the original hider of the cache.
• Ground Zero or GZ = The area where the cache is supposed to be located.
• TNLN = Took Nothing Left Nothing, meaning that the finder did not participate in trading of swag.
• SL = Signed Log
• Muggles = Someone not familiar with geocaching. Avoid muggles while geocaching, to ensure that caches stay put and are not vandalized or "muggled".
• Geocoin, Travelbug, or Pathtag = These items add flavor to the swag that can be traded. Using identification numbers these items can be shared with friends and "tracked" as they are carried and logged from one cache to the next.

How can I learn more? Geocachers love their hobby and love getting others involved. Look for online resources like message boards, community geocache associations, and facebook groups dedicated to the game. More information on geocaching can be found by on geocaching.com by browsing their “Learn” section, to answer any questions that you may have. If you are still in need of assistance, check the TPWD events calendar for Geocaching 101 workshops where a Texas State Parks staff member or volunteer will further introduce you to the game. Sign up for TPWD e-mail updates about geocaching.

We are so glad that you've decided to try geocaching! Take it to the next level and consider trying the Texas State Parks Geocache Challenge! Read On!

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Introducing the new Texas State Parks Geocache Challenge!

We invite you and your family to join us in discovering hidden items while revealing exciting facts and stories about Texas State Parks. Find the coordinates below or from Geocaching.com and begin your adventure at parks throughout Texas!

We have hidden special geocaches in many state parks, historic sites, and natural areas. By finding hidden treasure in your state parks, we hope you slow down, discover more corners of the parks, and take the time to relax along the way.

How to Participate in the Challenge

• Download the Texas State Parks Geocache Challenge Passport (PDF 1.1 MB), and bring it with you.
• Go to the coordinates page. Challenge caches will have TXGCC13 in their name.
• Once you have physically found a cache at a park, locate the logbook inside. This book tells a unique story about each park and offers a trivia question related to that specific story. Write the answer to that trivia question on your passport.
• Use the special red orienteering punch in each cache to mark your passport.
• Every Official State Parks Challenge cache will be counted towards your cumulative total and prize levels.
• Submit your completed passport and contact information to the address below when you have completed each prize level.
• There will be more than one official state parks challenge cache in many parks to help boost your numbers!
• There will be a "First to Find" trackable geocoin inside many of our caches!
• More caches and special theme challenges may be added as the challenge progresses.

Cachers who have participated in previous challenges, please notice some changes in format to make the challenge more welcoming to cachers of all abilities and experience levels.

Participating Parks
Approximately 90 sites, including parks, historic sites, and other TPWD properties across Texas will be participating in the Statewide Geocache Challenge. Nearly every cache from the previous statewide challenge will be refreshed and moved to a new location within the park!

Passports - Download the Texas State Parks Geocache Challenge Passport (PDF 1.1 MB).

Cache Coordinates - Go to the coordinates page!

Promotional items are available to celebrate your caching efforts.
After completing levels of the geocache challenge and submitting your passport, you will be sent the following:

• 10 caches found - Entry Level Pathtag, Keychain, and Sticker
• 20 caches found - Bronze Level Pathtag, Medal Challenge Sticker, and Promotion for 50% Off State Park Entry Fees
• 30 caches found - Silver Level Pathtag and Promotion for 50% Off 1 Night of Camping
• 50 caches found - Gold Level Pathtag and Promotion for 20% Off State Park Store Purchase (limit 5 items)
• 80 caches found - Platinum Level Pathtag and Promotion for 1 Free Night of Camping

In addition, all completed and returned passports will receive a waterproof TPWD challenge sticker. Only one award will be given at each level per mailing address.

Passport Submission - When you have found the necessary number of caches to satisfy a prize level, send your completed passport to the address below. A running tally of an individual's number of TXGCC13 finds will be kept on file and awards will be distributed appropriately. You may consider photocopying your passports for your records or in the event of lost mail.
Texas Geocache Challenge - TPWD
4200 Smith School Road
Austin TX 78744

Get out there and find those caches in your state parks, and discover how life's better outside!

Challenge Conclusion - There is currently no end date scheduled for the challenge.

Save Money on Your Trip! Consider purchasing a Texas State Park Pass. For $70, the pass will get you, and all of the occupants of your vehicle, into every state park without having to pay an entrance fee. The Texas State Park Pass can be purchased at most state parks.

Other Geocache Events & Workshops - Don't know how to Geocache? We have special workshops hosted at our State parks to introduce you to this activity. Check out geocache events on our Calendar.

Sign up for TPWD e-mail updates about geocaching. We may announce special theme challenges, special event caches, updates on the geocache challenge, and more great information about caching in parks!

Are you interested in hiding a geocache at a TPWD property? All cache placements are at the discretion of the site superintendent or manager. Download the suggested guidelines and cache information sheet here. Use it to help your site staff member more easily approve your hopeful placement!

Questions? E-mail any specific questions to txgeo@tpwd.state.tx.us and a TPWD representative will respond in a timely manner.