{"id":155782,"date":"2026-04-20T09:14:41","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T16:14:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.geocaching.com\/blog\/?p=155782"},"modified":"2026-05-05T08:31:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T15:31:20","slug":"the-second-2026-hiding-theme-hiking-and-nature-%f0%9f%8c%b2%f0%9f%8d%83","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.geocaching.com\/blog\/2026\/04\/the-second-2026-hiding-theme-hiking-and-nature-%f0%9f%8c%b2%f0%9f%8d%83\/","title":{"rendered":"The second 2026 hiding theme\u2014hiking and nature \ud83c\udf32\ud83c\udf43"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><strong>\ud83d\udca1 Examples to inspire:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Nature-inspired containers disguised as rocks, logs, or pinecones<\/li>\n<li>Cleverly disguised ammo can hidden in the woods<\/li>\n<li>Geocache hanging high in a tree that requires climbing to reach<\/li>\n<li>Geocache tucked inside a hollow tree stump<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u2728 More inspiration:<\/strong><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"\ud83e\udef5 Are you ready to get hiding? \ud83e\udef5\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/GxoEKXPLlLg\" width=\"349\" height=\"620\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ways to participate:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Hide a geocache in a hiking or nature area<\/strong> from May 1 to June 30, 2026. <a href=\"https:\/\/podio.com\/webforms\/30610285\/2592263\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Submit your geocache using this form<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Find a geocache hidden in an extreme way or a nature area<\/strong> during May 1 to June 30, 2026. <a href=\"https:\/\/podio.com\/webforms\/30610285\/2592263\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Submit your find using this form<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Share on Instagram and TikTok:<\/strong> Post your photos and videos and tag @geocaching. Use the hashtag #GeoHT26 for a chance to be featured on our Stories.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>There are countless possibilities for what you can attach a container to, place a container under, or use to make a geocache. Use your creativity\u2014many geocaches fit these criteria, but be sure to follow the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.geocaching.com\/play\/guidelines\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">geocache hiding guidelines<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Geocaching is universal, but laws are local\u2014help protect the game and yourself by following all applicable laws when hiding a geocache.<\/p>\n<p>Check out <a href=\"https:\/\/shop.geocaching.com\/collections\/cache-containers-distributors\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Shop Geocaching<\/a> to find items to help craft your on-theme geocaches.<\/p>\n<p>We can\u2019t wait to see the creative geocaches you share this quarter!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":90,"featured_media":155891,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"audio","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[887,135],"tags":[2079,2276,2273],"series":[],"class_list":["post-155782","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-just-for-fun","category-learn","tag-hiding-themes","tag-hiding-themes-2026","tag-hiking-and-nature"],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/d3mo08i005h0zn.cloudfront.net\/blog\/uploads\/2026\/04\/EN-Q2-Blog-Header-1.jpg","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/www.geocaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/seriously-simple-podcasting\/assets\/images\/no-album-art.png","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"stitcher":{"key":"stitcher","url":"","label":"Stitcher","class":"stitcher","icon":"stitcher.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/www.geocaching.com\/blog\/feed\/podcast\/inside-geocaching-hq-podcast","embedCode":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"AkqEuAbEDa\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geocaching.com\/blog\/2026\/04\/the-second-2026-hiding-theme-hiking-and-nature-%f0%9f%8c%b2%f0%9f%8d%83\/\">The second 2026 hiding theme\u2014hiking and nature \ud83c\udf32\ud83c\udf43<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/www.geocaching.com\/blog\/2026\/04\/the-second-2026-hiding-theme-hiking-and-nature-%f0%9f%8c%b2%f0%9f%8d%83\/embed\/#?secret=AkqEuAbEDa\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" title=\"&#8220;The second 2026 hiding theme\u2014hiking and nature \ud83c\udf32\ud83c\udf43&#8221; &#8212; Official Blog\" data-secret=\"AkqEuAbEDa\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! 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