← All hobbiesOutdoor recreation
Geocaching
A worldwide treasure hunt: use GPS to find hidden containers left by other players.
Sign in to save hobbies.
Startup cost
Free or nearly free
Difficulty
Easy to start
Typical session
~60 min
Activity
Light movement
Space
Outdoor space or out and about
Equipment
Little or none
What do you actually do?
- Find caches with a GPS app
- Sign logbooks and trade trinkets
- Hide your own cache
Why people enjoy it
- Turns walks into a game
- Discover places nearby
- Fun with kids and friends
What you'll need
- Smartphone with the official geocaching app
- Pen
Startup cost: Free or nearly free — a rough beginner estimate in US dollars (2026). Borrowing, secondhand and library kits can bring it down.
Time & difficulty
A typical session is about 60 minutes. Easy to start: you'll make something you're happy with on day one.
Getting started
- Install the app and find a nearby easy cache
- Look for difficulty/terrain 1/1 ratings
- Sign the log and replace it exactly
- Try a puzzle cache
Common beginner mistakes
- Searching suspiciously in busy spots
- Not re-hiding caches properly
- Trespassing
Accessibility
Caches have published difficulty and terrain ratings.
Courses & resources
We haven't verified specific courses yet, so we're not listing any rather than guessing. Libraries, community centers and the official sites of tools you use are good first stops.