Find treasure on your next hike…guaranteed!



Family fun with a new creative outlet...try it!

geocaching, apps, NY State Parks, Taconic Region, families, fun

Today, thousands of people around the world are having a blast through geocaching.  If you have not tried it, this is a great time of year for new adventures for the entire family.

Geocachers seek out treasures hidden by other players while exploring interesting locations. At its most basic level, geocaching is a game where players use GPS coordinates to track down a location that hides a container, or cache. Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using locations found by downloading a geocaching app on your phone.

Geocaching has no restrictions, can be done any day and with all ages. Visit Geocaching.com for information on how to geocache. 

There are thousands of geocaches in the Hudson Valley. Check out the  NYS Parks Geocache Challenge participating parks in the Taconic Region. If you visit other regions like Central or Saratoga/Capital Regions, you can join the Saratoga-Capital District Region 2023 Geocache ChallengeCollect stamps and apply it towards the challenge. Be sure to print the Geocache Challenge brochure and take it with you. Paste your collected stamps on the form.

Discover acres of trails, campgrounds, beaches, lakes, historic sites and more through your geocaching app. 

After researching this story, I encouraged my son Damien to join me on our first geocaching journey. I recommend bringing a pen with you so that when you find a cache you can sign in that you have been there. Also be sure to take water in order to stay hydrated. Wear comfortable shoes. You will need them if you find yourself in areas where you have to hike or walk, like at the state parks. 

The app will give you an idea of the difficulty you will have locating each specific cache. The app rates difficulty from one which is easy locate to five being the most difficult to find. It also rates the terrain you have to travel to get to the cache. So, when you are walking with little ones with short legs you have the option of starting with easy finds and work your way up.  

My son and I started out by opening the geocaching app and looking for something close to where we live. We instantly got lots of places to go and headed to the closest one. It was rated easy, and it really was. This one was a micro-cache, being very small. About the size of the tip of my finger. Inside we found a tightly rolled piece of paper with signatures and dates. We saw one that dated back to 2005. We signed and dated the paper, put it back and then logged our find into the app.

READ MORE: Geocaching: A treasure hunt for the whole family

Off we went to our next destination. This was more challenging and involved walking on a path in the Hudson Highlands State Park. After finding several caches in the park, my son declared our adventure a success. In fact, he was so enamored with geocaching, he invested in the app upgrade right in the middle of the woods. The state park had larger caches, which were exciting to find and discover what was in them.

Geocaching is like a treasure hunt and can be lots of fun especially with children. I can’t wait to take my grandchildren. The geocache containers often contain little toys, keychains, mementos, and the like, which kids love.

Also, when you go consider taking small trinkets with you so you can add to the geocache site you visit. You can exchange what you brought for something your child finds that they would like to have. Just be sure to leave a little something if you take something.

So, pack a picnic lunch, grab the kids and head out for some fun and adventure!



Other articles by HVP News Reporters


  • Understanding 'Warning Strokes'

    What to expect if you experience stroke symptoms, even if they disappear

    Diagnosing a transient ischemic attack (TIA), sometimes called a “warning stroke,” can be challenging because symptoms often disappear within an hour. However, it’s important to seek emergency assessment to help prevent a full-blown stroke. read more »
  • Managing your family's year-round health

    Protect everyone from infectious diseases

    According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vaccines help create protective antibodies that fight off infections. read more »
  • What to know about Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

    treatment can help control symptoms and improve quality of life

    Each year, an estimated 500-1,000 people nationwide are diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). While there’s currently no cure, treatment can help control symptoms and improve quality of life. read more »
  • Bring back family bonding this fall

    3 ways to free up busy schedules to spend time with loved ones

    Busy fall schedules often leave little time for the things that matter most – sharing special moments with those you love. This year, as time seems to speed up during another school year, making family bonding a priority in your household can start with a few simple tricks. read more »
  • Top tips for a more organized kitchen

    Save time and money

    Better organization in the kitchen means spending less time searching for the right ingredient or tool so you can have more time for savoring meals with family and friends, and more time for personal pursuits. read more »
  • 6 small, kind gestures to make a big impact each day

    Performing acts of kindness improves individual well-being

    Everywhere you look, you can see moments of kindness. From a friend sending a thoughtful text message to a stranger holding the bus for someone running late or a person paying for someone else’s coffee, acts of kindness happen every day. read more »
  • Keeping babies safe

    Tips to help prevent some of the biggest dangers

    Tips to help prevent some of the biggest dangers for babies include safe sleeping habits, product recalls, baby proofing & car safety read more »
  • Tips to get tour student prepped for college entrance exams

    Help get your teen ready

    Is the SAT or ACT on the horizon for your high schooler? A lot of emphasis is placed on college entrance exams, and your child may be anxious about their scores. read more »
  • More than two-thirds of Americans plan to get a flu shot this season

    CVS Pharmacy® and MinuteClinic® encourage consumers to get an annual flu shot and stay up to date on routine vaccinations

    CVS Health® (NYSE: CVS) is prepared to meet patients' vaccination and other preventive health care needs as flu season approaches. CVS Pharmacy® and MinuteClinic® are offering the annual flu vaccine at locations nationwide. CVS Pharmacy is also offering the new respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine, which has been approved for adults ages 60 and up. read more »
  • 10 phrases to say to children every day

    Instill valuable life skills and boost their self-esteem

    As parents, you play a pivotal role in shaping your child’s character, confidence, and overall development. Every interaction is an opportunity to instill valuable life skills and boost their self-esteem. read more »