Did you know that the first Mystery Cache (GC70) was placed on September 30, 2000, in North Carolina, USA? Since then, over one million Mystery Caches have been hidden around the world by geocachers like you.

Some Mystery Caches involve solving a puzzle or completing a task to reveal the final coordinates, since the posted ones aren’t usually the cache location. Puzzles vary, making this cache type great for geocachers who enjoy mental challenges and creative twists.

Whether you’re an experienced hider or planning your first Mystery Cache, we asked the community to share advice for creating a great one.

Note: some of the responses have been edited for clarity and brevity.
“I enjoy working on challenging puzzles. I might not solve them all, but I enjoy trying. Most cache owners are willing to help if it’s not a FTF (First to Find) and you explain everything you’ve tried.” – Debbie B.

“If you are duplicating or using a puzzle you solved in another region, make sure to give credit to the original creator or ask for permission.” – gearguru

“Be aware that not all locations are available because there could be the physical stage of a Multi-Cache or the final of a Mystery Cache nearby. Solve all puzzles in your area first.” – Bronco

“Attend Events! I love when puzzle discussions come up. It’s a great way to work with fellow geocachers to get a hint on a challenging puzzle or team up to solve a new one together.” – GeoJudt

“Select the ‘Add a checker’ box when you build your cache page. When I solve a puzzle, I always want to know for sure if I’m right before heading out, and it’s so satisfying to see I solved it!” – jtcoffee

“Be prepared to answer questions. There may be things that seem clear to the cache owner, but might be ambiguous for someone trying to find the cache.” – Bryan T.

“Remember, you are hiding a cache for people to find. The final location should be worth having a cache, and the puzzle should be solvable (not necessarily easily or quickly, but solvable). If the solver basically has to guess what you’re thinking, then it is not a good puzzle.” – Lizzie B.

“Ask an experienced geocacher to do a critical beta test.” – Thomas S

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

Want to learn more about Mystery Caches? Check out the selection at Shop Geocaching.