Parks & Historic Sites - Anchor Links:

Texas State Parks Need Your Help

Please see this special message
from Executive Director Carter Smith »

The 2011 Statewide Texas State Parks Geocache Challenge Coordinates are here!

Welcome to the Statewide 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. All you'll need is a handheld GPSr (Global Positioning Satellite receiver), the coordinates for the hidden treasure (or cache), and a Texas State Park Geocache Challenge Passport Book available here further down the page.

2011 Statewide TX Geocache Challenge

A whole new Texas State Parks Geocache Challenge is set to kickoff on June 25th 2011 at 8am!

What is Geocaching?

Geocaching is a type of treasure hunt using a GPS unit 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!

Texas State Parks Statewide Geocache Challenge

We have hidden a special geocache in many state parks, historic sites, and natural areas for you to find. The state will be broken up into seven different regions (see map below) and a different prize will be available in each region. In each cache, you will find a logbook that explains a unique story about each park. Within this story you will find the answer to a question on your Geocache Challenge Passport. Also, there will be a special orienteering punch that you will use to mark your Passport Book to claim the cache, and a logbook to sign. You may also want to log your find on www.geocaching.com

In addition, each cache should contain unique outdoor themed trading cards for children that are specific to each park. You will also find other tradable items left by cachers who have visited the site. Remember if you do take a tradable item; leave something behind of equal value to be picked up by others who arrive after you. The trading cards are meant to be collected by young cachers to complete the set with no trade required. A total of 90 unique cards are available, a different card should be found in each cache.

We will post the GPS coordinates (or waypoints) on this site on June 25th at 8am. Enter the waypoint into your GPS unit manually, or download it directly from the site www.geocaching.com.

Be sure to check geocaching.com for updated coordinates in the event a cache needs to be moved.

Participating Parks

Please notice, you do not need to complete all caches in each region, see pdf map of participating parks for details!

Passports

Coordinates:

A picture of a Geocoin for the Hill Country Region

Upon completion of a Regional Challenge, participants will be
given instruction on to how to buy a commemorative geo-coin.

Awards

The first 25 completed passports, in the order they are received, from each region will be awarded a commemorative Texas Geocache Challenge coin, free of charge. Limit one per household.

In addition, all completed and returned passports will be given the option to purchase a trackable, region specific geocoin while supplies last.

Go For the Gold with our Olympic Challenge!

Are you ready to take caching to the next level? Go for one of the Gold, Silver, or Bronze prizes for completing multiple regions.

Bronze Challenge: Complete 4 regions and receive a Special "Cache Crazy" Texas Geocache bumper sticker, walking stick medallions, and a bronze Texas themed trackable geocoin.
Silver Challenge: Complete 5 regions and receive bronze package plus a silver Texas themed trackable geocoin.
Gold Challenge: Complete all 7 regions and receive silver and bronze package plus a gold Texas themed trackable geocoin and a selection of geocoins from challenges of previous years

We are happy to announce that these prizes will be provided free of charge to all participants who complete a medal challenge, while supplies last.

When submitting your 4th, 5th, or 7th passport, please include a note along with your submission outlining the regional challenges you have completed. It will make our record keeping and prize distribution much simpler. Thank you in advance!

Also included with everyone's award will be a large Texas Geocache Challenge sticker.

Once you have found the necessary number of caches in a region, send your completed passport to:
Texas Geocache Challenge - TPWD
4200 Smith School Road
Austin TX 78744

End Date of the Geocache Challenge:
The Statewide geocache challenge will continue through the end of June 2012. Submit your completed passports by July 15th for processing!

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

Save Money on Your Trip!

If your party consists of more than one adult / children over 12, you will save money by purchasing a Texas State Park Pass. For $60 the pass will get you and all of the occupants of your vehicle into every state park at no cost. 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.

Items to Bring Along

Geocaching is a great way to enjoy your state parks. As with any outdoor activity, it helps to have some special items to make your adventure more enjoyable and safe. We suggest the following items when geocaching:

GPS unit (of course!)
Texas State Parks Challenge Passport Book
Map of the area where you are geocaching
Water
Snacks
Pen or pencil (sometimes pens and pencils disappear from the caches)
Sunblock
Insect repellent
Walking stick (some caches are placed in areas such as under logs or in crevices where it would be prudent to test with a walking stick first rather than your hand)
Rain gear
Small backpack to keep everything together
Good walking or hiking footwear