We’re excited to announce the launch of the new geocache search tool. It’s faster, easier to use and helps you find the exact adventure you want—and it’s all thanks to the geocaching community. We started the upgrade by asking geocachers what they wanted, then gave Geocaching Premium members a Sneak Peek at the new tool before launch.
Now the new search is ready for prime time. Take it for a spin by searching for Pi Day events and Mystery Caches near you so you can earn your Pi Day souvenirs on March 14.
And speaking of new upgrades to Geocaching.com, check out the newHide a Geocache page. It’s designed to be more helpful for new geocache hiders and streamlined for seasoned geocachers. See the new Hide a Geocache page.
We’re excited to announce the launch of the new geocache search tool. It’s faster, easier to use and helps you find the exact adventure you want—and it’s all thanks to the geocaching community. If you have questions not answered here, find us on Facebook or Twitter, or visit the Geocaching Help Center.
Be sure to test drive some of our favorite searches:
Find events near you.
Find the oldest geocaches near you.
Find the Mystery Caches you have solved, but not yet found.
Plan a geocache outing with your geocaching buddies.
Find the most Favorited geocaches in your area.
Find geocaches with the D/T combination that you need to complete your Fizzy Grid.
Continue the discussion on the forum. See FAQ below:
Why are some sorting and filtering options only available to Geocaching Premium members? Geocaching Premium member subscriptions help provide the resources to develop new tools like Search that create a more personalized geocaching experience. We recognize the contributions of our Premium members by allowing them exclusive access to tools that take geocaching beyond the everyday. Learn more about Geocaching Premium.
I want to export these awesome results to my phone and/or GPS! How do I do that? We’re with you there! This first few releases are about providing the best tool we can to help players find exactly the geocaches they want to find. Of course, we know that players will want to do cool things with the lists of geocaches the tool returns (like download them to a GPS, sync to the app, add to a list, etc). Our next releases will focus on those kind of actions.
How do I save my search results for easy access at a later time? At this time, the best way to do this is to bookmark the URL in your browser. Each search result contains a query string specific to your search filters. In other words, that URL will always bring you back to the results you’d like to save. And keep in mind, we are working on a saved search feature which should be available in the future.
Where is the filter for ____? Great question! Based on Pocket Query usage data and years of requests from the community, the filters in this first release of Search are our best attempt to satisfy the needs of most players. We will continue to listen to feedback and explore adding ways to filter the results as this page continues to evolve.
How do I search for geocaches in a region?
As of our March 7th, 2016 release, you can now search for all geocaches in a region by typing the location into the main search box and selecting “All geocaches in [location name]”.
I heard a rumor that I can now search for the Mystery Caches that I have solved, but not yet found. How do I do this? When performing your search, check ‘Mystery Cache’, click ‘I Haven’t Found’ and toggle ‘Has Corrected Coordinates’ to ‘Yes’. This will then list the Mystery Caches you have solved. This feature is available to Geocaching Premium members.
Use Search to find Mystery Caches you’ve solved but have not yet earned a smiley for.
How has Search made planning geocache outings with my buddies easier? No need to repeat adventures! With the new Search tool, you can return only geocaches that you and all of your friends have not yet found. Geocaching Premium members have access to the ‘Not Found By’ filter which allows you to enter up to five usernames and will return a search of geocaches not found by all of the usernames listed.
Plan geocache outings with your friends!
How do I search for the most favorited geocaches in my area? Easy! Enter the city name and country name (or an address), the difficulty/terrain (D/T) rating, and the minimum number of Favorite Points of the geocaches you want to find.
Search for only the best geocaches.
How can I find the geocaches located in my state that I need to complete a challenge like the Fizzy Grid?
First, search for all of the geocaches in your state using the main search box (e.g. “all geocaches in Washington”). After the results are returned, select “Add Filters” to add in the criteria of the geocaches you want to find.
How do I find the newest caches in a state?
First, search for all of the geocaches in your state using the main search box (e.g. “all geocaches in Washington”). After the results are returned, click on “Placed On” to sort by dates places. If you click once, the list will show you the most recently published caches first (almost all will be event caches).
How do I search for caches “Found By” another geocacher? 1. Visit the Profile page of the other player (you can use the Find a User page here)
2. Click on the “Geocaches” tab on their profile
3. Under “Geocaches Found”, click on “All Geocache Finds”. The resulting list will show all geocaches found by that user.
Why can I no longer search using the ‘Cache starts with’ feature? We have replaced ‘Cache Starts With’ with ‘Geocache Name Contains…’ because it allows you to search the entire name of the geocache rather than just the beginning. Geocaching Premium members can also sort the search results by geocache name alphabetically which is a great for when you want to find a geocache that starts with a certain word(s).
I want to search by a geocache name, but it’s not working. Help!
To search by a geocache name, first enter a location in the main search box. You can either enter a location to center your search (e.g. “Seattle”) or you can choose to do an “origin-less” search by not entering a specific location. Once you’ve entered a location, click “Add Filters” and add a keyword to the “Geocache Name Contains…:” filter.
I’d like to use the old search No problem! We’re keeping it around a bit longer.
I love watching non-geocachers (aka muggles) try to absorb the concept of geocaching. I’m sure you’ve all heard this same reaction before: Wait. You find boxes in the woods? Well that’s just irrational.
It’s true. The things we do as geocachers may seem a little crazy at times. But good news! This Pi Day (March 14, 2015), we’re introducing a dose of rational to the irrational—all thanks to a team of designers here at Geocaching HQ.
Earlier this year, we shared an inside look at how we collect feedback from the community and how that feedback influences the tools that we make. The next step in developing a new geocaching tool is design. A team of User Experience (UX) experts at Geocaching HQ are responsible for taking the community’s feedback and thinking through everything from how the new tool will work to how the design of an emoji will help bring delight to your next geocache find.
Left: UI Designer Abby Right: Mobile UX Designer Michelle
This team was recently tasked with making the experience of finding a Mystery Cache a bit more, well, rational—and all in time for you to earn the 3.14.15 Pi Day souvenir. I sat down with Mobile UX Designer Michelle Li (Username: BlueSpaceMonkey) and UI Designer Abby Deering (Username: Abbydeer) to learn how they took the mystery out of Mystery Caches in the Geocaching Intro app.
What was the biggest challenge in designing Mystery Caches for the free Geocaching app?
Mystery Caches are a complex type of geocache. One of the biggest changes we were faced with was making Mystery Caches easy to use for geocachers and coming up with a design solution that works with all the different types of Mystery Caches.
The new Waypoint Manager in the Geocaching Intro app makes it easier than ever to add and keep track of coordinates to a geocache.
What about the new design are you most excited to share with the community?
We are really excited that we’ve found a design solution that works with all the different types of Mystery Caches (there are so many different versions!). We feel like we were able to eliminate a barrier that previously made it difficult to enter your answer. We’re excited that we removed a challenge in the tool, leaving the challenge where it should be: in solving the Mystery. And we hope this means more geocachers will now give Mystery Caches a try!
How have your designs made finding Mystery Caches easier?
We’ve made the ability to add Solved coordinates and edit waypoints easier and more manageable for all different kinds of Mystery Caches.
Editor’s Note: You’ll see in the app that “Corrected Coordinates” are now referred to as “Solved”. This decision was made by surveying the geocaching community.
How did feedback and insight from the geocaching community enter into the design?
We brought in both potential players and experienced geocachers to our office to look at our Mystery Cache design. We had them walk through a series of tasks and even took them outside to watch them geocache with the new design. We revised our design based on their feedback.
Anything else you want geocachers to know?
We’re so excited that Mystery Caches are now available in the free app and we love making products that make geocaching easier for our community!
Unlock this latest and greatest tool for discovering Mystery Caches with Premium membership in the free Geocaching Intro app for iOS and Android. And don’t miss out on your chance to earn one of two Pi Day souvenirs by logging a “Found It” on a Mystery Cache this Saturday!
Earn one out of two souvenirs on Saturday, March 14 Pi Day by finding a Mystery Cache.
(Earn the other souvenir by attending any Geocaching event on March 14)
Does the thought of having to decode encrypted messages make you break out in hives? If yes, then take a deep breath and find your happy place because we have just the tips to sooth your Mystery Cache anxiety and prepare you for March 14th, 2015.
About to sing an “Ode to the Golgafrinchan Phone Workers”…GC32A0H
Mystery Caches (also known as Puzzle caches or Unknown caches) are a type of geocache for those who enjoy an extra challenge.
They require geocachers to solve complicated puzzles in order to decode the correct cache coordinates or crack secret clues to unlock a cache’s stash. If you haven’t encountered this kind of cache before the prospect may seem daunting, but have no fear! Mystery Caches are fun way to spice up any geocaching adventure while flexing your beefy brain muscles.
Working on the solution for GC2400Z “Truncated Icosahedron,” a puzzle cache by PhilNi
So don your trenchcoat and channel your inner Sherlock.
(‘Cause who wouldn’t want to be Benedict Cumberbatch?). Here are Geocaching HQ’s top tips for Mystery Caches:
Practice Makes Perfect. Start easy by tackling Mystery Caches that have a one or two star difficulty rating. The more caches you conquer over time the more tricks of the trade you’ll pick up and the easier it’ll become.
Check what type of puzzle needs to be solved. There are different kinds of Mystery Caches that call for different strategies, so before you head out check to see what the requirements entail. Some caches are in-the-field, meaning you have to use visual clues from the surrounding location to decipher the coordinates or unlock the cache. Other caches can be solved before you even step out the door! These ask you to solve a particular puzzle off of the geocache’s webpage or lookup information on the internet.
Gather the Mystery Gang. Two heads are better than one! Bring your geocaching pals along, not only is geocaching more fun when you have your buddies but they can help you brainstorm through those extra tricky questions.
It’s all in the name. A hint to the cache’s location may be located in the cache’s or cache owner’s name or give you an idea of where the cache may be or what it may look like.
When in doubt use Google. Search engines may not have the answer to everything, but they have the answer for a lot of things. So if you’re truly stuck, look to the internet to give you a helping hand. Some cache pages may even include answer checkers to see if you guessed the correct coordinates.
Check for invisible ink. Sometimes cache owners will hide clues on a geocache’s webpage in white font. Highlight the page to reveal the secrets that were right in front of your nose the whole time. Bonus points if you caught this one! You’re a Puzzler already!
The source code isn’t just a movie. Cache owners may add comments with hints in the cache’s html source code. To find this open the source code on your browser’s menu selection and search for comments.
Stumped? Don’t hesitate to send a message to the cache owner. There’s no shame in asking for help…and a small hint might just be what you need to get started.
Mystery caches are an excellent way to sharpen the geocaching saw. If you’re looking for a little cache-speration check out our Mystery Cache Pinterest board. Want to take all this info (and more) with you? The Geocaching Shop has just the right book for you: How To Puzzle Cache.
Do you love a good Mystery? Tell us about your puzzling geocaching experiences or share your favorite puzzle tips! Be careful not to reveal any cache spoilers.
You know you’re a geocacher if you’ve had a geocaching dream, right?
What you might not know is what your subconscious is trying to tell you. Whether you were digging through trackables in a bottomless lock-n-lock container, or found yourself frighteningly under-dressed for a geocaching event, your subconscious is probably trying to tell you something. Don’t worry—here are our interpretations of the 5 most common geocaching dreams.*
*And here is a grain of salt.
What dreams may come when we have cached away this mortal coil?
Dream #1
You’re out geocaching for days and days on end, and all you get are DNFs, even on the easiest geocaches. Each time you reach GZ you look everywhere, but the situation is hopeless… not one geocache is found before you wake up.
What it means: You might be feeling incomplete or ineffective in your geocaching of late. Think about your recent geocache finds. Have you been misinterpreting hints? Struggling to find good quality geocache swag among a sea of useless fast food meal toys? Or maybe your trackables just haven’t been getting the logs that they deserve. Whatever it is–something is missing from your experience. Figure out what it is and you might just have put a smiley on yourself. And remember, you’re not alone. Check out this DNF Pride video.
DNF Pride Party
Dream #2
You’re on your way home from a successful geocaching outing at a really awesome geocache, when you realize you still have said geocache in your hands.
What it means: Wretched thief! Just kidding. Your subconscious might just be coveting more favorite points, and gently prompting you to hide your own geocache. If you’ve never hidden one before consider giving it a try. If your geocache hides already number in the dozens, this is your chance to access your creative side and design a cool new geocache container.
Those favorite points can be yours if you start thinking outside the lock-n-lock.
Dream #3
You’re geocaching deep in the woods and suddenly everything goes silent. You notice the light has faded and a strong, chilly wind has picked up. You’re miles away from civilization and your phone/GPS has just warned you that it’s losing steam. The tree cover is already making the GPS signal hard to pinpoint. You ate your last energy bar two hours ago.
What it means: It’s time to find a geo-buddy (or two or three) to go geocaching with. Sartre might say, “If you are lonely when you’re alone, you’re in bad company,” but geocaching was only invented after he passed so his perspective was probably deeply skewed. And besides, geocaching is more fun with friends. It’s been scientifically proven.* Check out Geocaching Events to find geocachers near you.
*sort of
When the woods go silent…
Dream #4
A new geocache was just published within a mile of your house, and you set off to find it. Just as you’re within size of GZ, you see another geocacher making his way to the geocache…and he’s moving faster than you. You try to run but your limbs feel strangely heavy, getting heavier by the second.
What it means: Your FTF (First to Find) obsession might be getting a little out of hand. It’s not all about the FTFs, even though they’re fun. Try turning your notifications off for a few days, just to see what it’s like. The goal is to reach a good balance between your day to day responsibilities and your geocaching responsibilities. Maybe 30/70.
The struggle to be First to Find is real.
Dream #5
You walk into the room at a meet-and-greet Event Cache 45 minutes late to accusing and shocked stares. Accusing, because you’re the event host. Shocked, because you’re a tad… how shall we put it?… under-dressed.
What it means: Like any good event host, you feel the pressure to make sure your guests are happy and have a good time. Sometimes, that pressure can translate into weird dreams like this one. Our recommendation? Relax. Geocachers are genetically predisposed to be awesome. Put a bunch of them together in a room and they’ll be laughing and sharing stories all day (until someone gets a new cache notification, of course).
We think her ‘cachin fashion is spot on.
Tell us about your geocaching dreams and nightmares in the comments below!
