Geocache Challenge
Explore the beauty of the Allegheny National Forest while learning about its history and ecology! 28 geocaches have been hidden across the four counties of the Forest (Elk, Forest, McKean and Warren counties) for YOU to discover. Your goal is to find FIVE centennial geocaches in EACH of the FOUR counties.
To begin; view, download, and print your very own ANF Centennial GeoTrail Passport (also available at our offices) which contains geocache names and GC codes. Use this passport to log the geocaches you find, along with the date you found them, and their “Code Word”. Visit www.geocaching.com to create a free account to get started!
This geocache trail was made in partnership with the Penn Soil Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council.
What Do I Need to do to Join the Geocache Challenge
- Access www.geocaching.com (Note: Accessing the website through a browser vs. the Geocaching app allows non-premium members to see all cache locations)
- Create a free account or login with an existing account
- Type in the GC code found on the ANF Centennial GeoTrail Passport (Note: you can download/print the passport at the previous link, or you pick up the geocache passport at any ANF office. Our offices are located in Warren, Bradford, and Marienville, PA.)
- Click on the ANF Geocache Name (Note: all geocaches part of this challenge begin with “ANF”)
- Copy the geocache’s GPS coordinates and/or geocache description, hints, etc.
- Input the GPS coordinates into a GPS device or on a map app on a cell phone
- Get exploring!
- Take note of the date found and geocache “Code Word” on your ANF Centennial GeoTrail Passport.
- Once you find 20 geocaches, 5 in each county (Elk, Forest, McKean, Warren), bring your passport to any ANF office to redeem commemorative items!
- Optional: Log your geocache finds on www.geocaching.com
Do I Need to Pay for a Membership to Join this Challenge?
No, you can create a free account at www.geocaching.com.
How Many Geocaches Do I Need to Find?
You must find a total of 20 geocaches; 5 in each county of the Allegheny National Forest (Elk, Forest, McKean, and Warren counties). The geocache names indicate which county they are located in (Ex. “ANF-Elk-Little Drummer Boy” is located in Elk county).
Once completed, bring your filled out ANF Centennial GeoTrail Passport to any of our offices to redeem a black cherry coaster and an Allegheny National Forest trackable geocache token.
The trackable tokens are provided by the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau, Pennsylvania Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau, and Warren County Visitors Bureau. The black cherry wood coasters were made by local Forest County students.
The Geocaching App Says I have to have a Premium Membership to See a Geocache. How Do I Find Its Location?
Access your account by web browser or computer instead of the mobile app. You will be able to copy the GPS locations, read the geocache description, access additional hints, and view a larger map of the geocache location.
How Do I Download the Map?
NOTE: Many locations on the Allegheny National Forest do NOT have cell service. Plan ahead and download an offline map, if needed, to search for geocache locations.