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Geocaching on Cape Cod
Year-Round Adventure for the Whole Family

Updated: October 8, 2024

Swans at a Mid-Cape Geocache Location

What is Geocaching?

Geocaching is a worldwide phenomenon that merges digital technology with outdoor exploration.

Think of it as a modern-day treasure hunt where participants use GPS-enabled devices to find cleverly hidden containers called  "caches".

Your mission? To find these caches, log your visit, and perhaps swap a little treasure.

What's in the Caches? 

If you're dreaming of treasure chests brimming with gold coins and sparkly gems, I'm sorry to burst your bubble. Geocache treasures are more entertaining than valuable.

My First Geocache Discovery

In addition to a small log book for you to log your visit, you might find:

• Small toys, trinkets, and notes from others who've also found the cache.
  
  The rule is: Take a souvenir from the cache, if you'd like. But be sure to leave something of equal value in its place.

This cache holds cute stickers, colorful little magnets, a shiny token and notes left by previous cache finders.

• A plastic box filled with theme-related items.
  
  The first theme cache I found on Cape Cod was all Boston Red Sox stuff. As a die-hard Yankees fan, I resisted the temptation to swap! ;-)
  
  
• And lots of "micro-caches" - small tubes with a log book rolled up inside where you add your name, the date you found the cache, and a message to other geocachers.
  

My First Micro-Cache Discovery

Where You'll Find Geocaches on Cape Cod

They're hidden:

• In parks
• On nature trails
• Along our many miles of biking trails
• Near kettle ponds and by the seashore
• In lots of places where you'll experience local history, truly beautiful scenery, and the "real" Cape Cod.

Geocache treasures are hiding all over Cape Cod, just waiting to be found!

Perhaps best of all, we've discovered some truly amazing places that we might never have seen if our geocaching adventures hadn't led us there.

Just last summer, our GPS guided my hubby and me down a footpath leading to a small wildlife sanctuary.

I'm not sure which was better: finding the treasure at the end of the path, or being there to see an osprey dive from about 50 feet in the air, catch a fish, then fly it back to the chicks waiting in the nest for their lunch.

Experiences like that will make your day!

Who Can Go Geocaching?

Geocaching is a fantastic, free activity for the whole family. Anyone can do it, at any age, any fitness level, and at any time of year.

Some caches can be found with just a short walk across a parking lot or down a paved pathway.

Other geocaching sites are a little more challenging. And a few might require some hiking and climbing.

It's just a matter of choosing sites that are as easy or as challenging as you're comfortable with.  (I'll let you in on how to do that, below.)

What You'll Need for Geocaching

• GPS capability: a basic handheld GPS or a GPS-enabled device such as a smartphone to guide you to the treasure.
  
  
• A pen or pencil for signing the log book
  
  
• As I mentioned above, some caches contain trinkets to trade. So it's a good idea to bring some small trinkets to add to the box. Take one, leave one!
  

Learning How to Geocache

If you're new to geocaching, the best place to learn all about it is at Geocaching.com. It's the "go-to" resource for everything you'll ever want to know about caching.

Create your free geocaching account online or through the official Geocaching® app to find all the caches near you.

You'll see a brief description of the size and type of treasure that's hidden there, and often some clues to help you find it.

You'll also see a rating for each geocache location to let you know how easy or strenuous your search will be. 

Just choose which geocaches you want to search for. Then off you go on a new adventure!

Geocaching Safety Tips

Like any outdoor activity, common sense must rule the day. That's especially true when you're going into an unfamiliar area. 

1. Don't take on more than you can handle.
   
   If you're a little out of shape, or if you're planning to take young ones with you, start out with geocaching sites that have a low difficulty rating on Geocaching.com.
   
   If you begin your hunt and find it's even the tiniest bit beyond your capabilities ... STOP! It's not worth risking an injury. There are plenty of easy geocaching locations out there. Go for one of those!
   
   
2. Always mark your starting location on your GPS.
   
   If you do get lost, how will you find your way back to civilization? Get into the habit of always marking your starting location as a waypoint. That way, you'll have a starting point to track back to.
   
   
3. Take some basic safety items with you, just in case.
   
   A fully charged cell phone. Extra batteries for your handheld GPS. Some drinking water. A small first-aid kit for scrapes and bug bites. You get the idea.
   
   
4. Wear appropriate clothes for your adventure.
   
   Our terrain on Cape Cod is generally flat; but it's often sandy, pebbly or covered with wet leaves. Plus, we do have scratchy, picky and biting things like briar thorns and bugs here.
   
   In the warm-weather months, ditch the tee shirt, shorts and flip-flops in favor of a long-sleeved cover-up, long pants, and comfortable, sturdy walking shoes.
   
   In cooler weather, wear layers. Depending on where you're searching, inland or near the water, the air temperature can vary quite a bit!
   
   
5. Be aware of Ticks and Tides!
   
   Ticks: Deer Ticks, to be specific. They can carry Lyme disease. And they're active most times of year on Cape Cod.
   
   If your chosen geocaching sites involve any grassy, weedy or boggy areas, it's doubly important to wear cover-up clothes.
   
   Also, be sure to check yourself and the kids at the end of your hunt to be sure no tiny little critter has "hitched a ride".
   
   Tides: Some of the most fun geocache hunts on Cape Cod will bring you to the water's edge or even into the water.
   
   If you plan to walk out on a tidal flat - BE AWARE OF THE TIDE!!! The tide comes in very quickly, especially on Cape Cod Bay.
   
   If you're too far out when the tide begins to come in, you could be in exceedingly big trouble.
   
   Check a local tide chart, and pay attention!
   
   
6. Get Others Involved in The Fun.
   
   Are you planning to geocache alone? Let someone else know where you're going and when you expect to return.
   
   Better still, spread the fun around. Invite a friend to go with you!

Have fun geocaching on Cape Cod!

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