Did you know that the first Multi-Cache (GC1E) was placed on June 11, 2000, in Stone Mountain, Georgia? Since then, thousands of Multi-Caches have been hidden around the world by geocachers like you.

A Multi-Cache includes at least one stage in addition to the physical final container with a logbook. The posted coordinates for a Multi-Cache are the first stage. At each stage, the geocacher gathers information that leads them to the next stage or to the final container.

We asked the community, including a few lackeys, to share their top tips for creating a great Multi-Cache.

Note: some of the responses have been edited for clarity and brevity.

“Make each stage interesting, and fairly close together (not miles apart). Make it easy to quickly maintain.” – Stan R.

“Back in the early days, I did a Multi called The Odyssey, where each stage reflected a key moment from the epic story. That experience set a standard for me for how a Multi can be both fun and compelling.” – moun10bike

“Adding a checksum* for coordinates is always a big help.” – Chet13

“Make sure to let people know how long the route is and if it can be done by foot, bike or car. This allows users to plan ahead and decide whether or not this cache can be done at that time.” – Peejay70

“I’d suggest using existing information from signs, plaques, etc as redirects, rather than placing tags or containers.” – Glen M.

“Keep the number of stages reasonable, your Multi doesn’t need 26 stages. If you’re asking players to determine coordinates, use a checksum* at each stage.” – gearguru

“Multiple stages are okay, as long as it’s fun. If it’s a long walk with tons of stages that are just a sign or a number, it can get a bit tedious—especially as it seems like a lot of effort for one smiley. But if the stages are interesting or fun, then it keeps the interest.” – Kris&Co

“Physical waypoints aren’t required—virtual waypoints work too! I like using a multi-cache to highlight unique features of murals, or art in places like libraries or gardens.” – jtcoffee

“Make each stage walkable.” – Bill S.

“I really enjoy a short-and-sweet approach to Multi-Caches—one that takes you somewhere fun that isn’t necessarily appropriate for a physical container, and then guides you to another location to find the actual cache.” – GeoJudt

*A checksum is a simple way to check if your numbers are correct by matching a given total. For example, if the player needs to calculate the number 123, the checksum would be 6 (because 1 + 2 + 3 = 6).

What else? Share your advice for hiding a Multi-Cache in the comments below!