Geocaching in Pennsylvania

Geocaching is a high-tech version of treasure hunting that has become popular in Pennsylvania. Geocachers seek out the hidden treasures utilizing GPS coordinates posted on the Internet at www.geocaching.com by those hiding the cache. Using a GPS unit, they then trek out into the backwoods or urban jungles to find the hiding spot of the cache. Once found, a cache may provide the visitor with a wide variety of rewards. If the visitor takes something out of the cache, they are asked to leave something in return. For some, the biggest reward is the thrill of the search and the discovery of a place that they have never been.

The Rules:

This growing outdoor sport has a simple set of rules, making it easy for anyone to play. The challenging part is finding the cache. Some caches have even been planted on mountainsides, up trees, and underwater! Please take note of the Difficulty and Terrain ratings to determine if you are up the to the physical challenge of finding certain geocaches. Some high terrain hides can be quite a trip!

Once geocachers find a cache, they follow these basic rules:

Fill out the logbook.

Take something out of the cache.

Put something in the cache.

Return the cache to the exact position and condition in which it was found.

Caches typically consist of a waterproof container discreetly placed within the local terrain. These can range in size from an ammo box down to less than a high an inch. The container will include a logbook and may contain any number of more or less valuable items such as toys, books, money, jewelry, trinkets, etc. You never know what the founder or other visitors of the cache may have left for you to enjoy. Be sure to fill out the logbook with the date and time you visit the cache and leave something in return. When back home, please log your visit on the website as well.

Old iron works ruins at Revelton Furnace.

Classic Geocache: Ammo box in the woods.

Trade trinkets and log book.

Geocache hidden in this bird house in the middle of the woods.

Rappel into an air shaft to find a stage of a multi-cache.

Cache hidden on top of this abandoned bridge pylon.

Tyrolian traverse is required to reach this container hidden high in the tree canopy.

Stage high in a tree. Rope climbing and rappelling skills required.