Whether you’re new to geocaching or a pro at tracking down treasures, this popular outdoor activity provides great fun for the whole family! A high-tech treasure hunting experience, geocaching can be done by anyone with a GPS device or phone app that maps coordinates. Essentially, it’s a free, fun adventure in which you use your GPS to track down hidden containers called geocaches that contain trinkets and logbooks in which you can record your discoveries.

According to Austin Parks & Recreation Department, there are over 3,600 geocaches around Austin, which offers a fun way to explore parks and neighborhoods around the city! Due to the pandemic, there is some valid concern about the safety of opening geocaches and rifling through them along with many others doing the same. In fact, Geochaching.com offers Ten Tips for Safe Geocaching such as bringing your own pen, using hand sanitizer, cleaning containers with disinfectant wipes, etc.

For a completely safe, touch-less experience, you can join the Geochache Austin Challenge this winter! Presented by the Austin Parks and Recreation Department, this is a free, self-paced geocache challenge that will take place over 2 months, February 1, 2021 to March 31, 2021. Their team has hidden over 50 geocaches for you to find in more than 20 Austin parks! The more caches you find, the more prizes you can win.

Because Geocache Austin will be a touch-less experience, the geocaches will be small, weather-resistant cards hidden in parks all over Austin with a QR Code you can scan with a smart phone to log your find (as well as a web link that you can log later if you do not have a smart phone). Once you scan the code or enter the web link you will be directed to a website to log your find to keep track of your progress.

Participation is free! Register online as an individual or a team of up to 4 people. Be sure to sign up by February 5, 2021!

For more details including an FAQ about this challenge, please visit www.capitalcityathletics.com.

Happy treasure hunting!