Geocaching
What is Geocaching and EarthCaching?
Geocaching are challenging outdoor activities for global positioning system (GPS) users. The basic idea is that individuals and organizations set up caches and share the locations of those caches on the internet. GPS users can then use the location coordinates to find the caches. Caches can be either “virtual,” meaning they exist only as coordinates that lead to a place, or “physical,” meaning that the coordinates lead to a thing to be found.
EarthCaching is like geocaching in that a GPS unit is used to guide a person to a site. Once there, however, no physical record is established or left behind. EarthCaching is sponsored on the World Wide Web by an organization called the Geological Society of America. EarthCache sites are “virtual” caches established to provide environmental education about an area’s unique geological features without involving any disturbance at the site.
Are Geocaches or EarthCaches allowed on National Forest lands?
The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest recognizes Geocaching and EarthCaching as legitimate outdoor recreation activities and does allow in most places on the Forest. For either activity, access routes and caches must not be placed in dangerous, inappropriate, fragile, or protected areas or habitats, such as wetlands, steep slopes, historic structures or sites, wilderness areas, recreation sites, and other sensitive sites. They must not be in areas closed to the public. The Forest Service is asking you to help us maintain the quality of our natural resources.
- All caches placed on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest must be registered at the appropriate District Ranger Office prior to placement.
- Caches are prohibited from being placed within recreation sites/areas and the Blackjack Springs, Whisker Lake, Headwaters, Rainbow Lake, and Porcupine Lake Wilderness Areas.
- Caches will be allowed to be placed at the approved location for one year. The cache owner will notify the District Ranger’s Office upon removal of the cache.
- Caches need to be public, no member only or subscription caches.
- No soil disturbances are permitted for any cache placement on the Forest.
- Caches should be covered with leaves or woody debris if the geocacher chooses to screen the cache if deemed necessary to protect a sensitive area.
- Geocachers are asked to monitor the cache and remove it if the site receives high use by others and visibly well-worn paths, trails, or removal/damage to plants or woody vegetation.
- Caches must not contain any food or hazardous materials. Containers must be labeled as a cache on the outside so that it would not be mistaken as containing hazardous substances.
- Containers are required to have a label affixed inside of the container with the following information: Cache name, coordinates, cache handler name, and date of placement.
- Containers must be no smaller than a pint and larger than two gallons.
- Access routes to caches must avoid fragile areas, historical/cultural resource sites, steep slopes, wetlands, and any other sensitive areas.
- Caches may not be placed within or near historical buildings or sites so as not to encourage removal of artifacts or other materials from the site or other damage.
- Motor vehicle use is restricted to designated roads and trails. No cross-country use by motor vehicles is allowed.
- Permits are required for all commercial events, such as a “Cache In, Trash Out” event or other larger gatherings of geocachers.
Do I need to register my Geocaches or EarthCache?
Yes. Approval for placement of a Geocache or EarthCache needs to be given from the district ranger responsible for the management of the area where the cache would be placed.
Geocache Site Registration Form
If you have questions, please contact Tim Vetter, Forest Recreation Program Manager, at (715) 362-1373 or via email timothy.vetter@usda.gov.