Whether you’re about to find your first geocache or your ten-thousandth, you’ve come to the right place to learn more about the game.
It’s a universal geocaching experience: the “Did not find” log. Despite your best efforts, you can’t spot a geocache. It can be a frustrating experience.
Yet, inside a DNF log lies powerful information — for you, for the cache owner, and for the community. Could it be the unsung hero of geocaching?
Ahoy matey! We’re excited to share information about an upcoming Treasures collection. On September 22, geocachers can start working to complete the Pirate Treasures collection. To collect these swashbuckling Treasures, cachers must find and log Mystery Caches or Multi-Caches with a difficulty rating of 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, or 4.
The third hiding theme of 2026 is go, go gadget. This theme celebrates geocaches that go beyond the logbook, inviting finders to interact, explore, and engage, as well as geocaches that showcase beautiful water locations. Think gadget caches with buttons, switches, lights, or electronic puzzles, require a kayak or other watercraft to reach, or hides that are underwater or require water to get the log sheet.
The second hiding theme of 2026 is hiking and nature. This theme covers hiking routes in natural areas, suitable for all experience levels. From beginner-friendly trails to more challenging hikes, we are looking for geocaches across a range of outdoor experiences.
Each quarter, we will introduce a new hiding theme to celebrate geocaches published in 2026. We will also feature geocaches from each theme on the Geocaching Blog and social media.
When you find a cache, what makes it stand out as a quality cache? For some, it’s about creativity. For others, it’s about location, storytelling, or thoughtful placement.
While it’s easy to point out what doesn’t work—like damaged containers or soggy logs—defining what makes a cache great is much more subjective.
We asked geocachers to share what quality means to them.
