Find treasure on your next hike…guaranteed!



Holiday 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. Then click here to download the NYS Parks Geocache Challenge brochure that contains the parks you need to visit to find the stamps.

Most locations are in the Hudson Valley including Taconic State Park or the Walkway Over the Hudson.  If you visit other regions like Central or Saratoga/Capital Regions, you can collect stamps and apply it towards the Taconic Region 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. A great place to get started is Olana State Historic Site in Hudson. You can find six geocaches at the Olana location. Spend the day and see if you can find all six.

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


  • Get Hooked on Fishing, Not Drugs

    Third Annual Orange County District Attorney’s Office Youth Fishing Derby

    The Third District Attorney’s Office Youth Fishing Derby will run from April 1 through Sept. 4, 2023. The event is open to young people between the ages of 4 and 18 who are children or grandchildren of Orange County residents. read more »
  • Kids aren't eating fruits and veggies

    Happiest Baby's Dr. Harvey Karp has tips to change that

    A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that approximately 32% of 1- to 5-year-olds did not eat a single piece of fruit a day and nearly one half (~49%) didn't eat any vegetables a day. Roughly 51% drank a sugar-sweetened beverage, like fruit drinks or soda, at least once a week. read more »
  • 5 sleep habits essential for heart health

    Make sure you get your zzz's with these tips

    In the days following a time change due to daylight saving time, research shows a marked increase in heart attacks and strokes. However, losing sleep anytime can be a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. read more »
  • Take these 6 steps to manage your blood pressure

    Hypertension can be dangerous

    High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, affects nearly half of adults in the United States, and only about 1 in 4 with this condition have it under control, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). read more »
  • Make your St. Patrick's Day spread green with envy

    These open-faced noshes can be perfect for lunch, snack time or an appetizer

    Freshen up your St. Patrick’s Day menu with easy, light sandwiches inspired by the traditional color of the festivities. These open-faced noshes can be perfect for lunch, snack time or even as an appetizer for get-togethers with friends and family. read more »
  • Lucky mint brownie perfection

    A twisted combination of mint and sweet chocolate

    How lucky you must be to come across this recipe just in time for St. Patrick’s Day. This one is a twisted combination of mint and sweet chocolate that’s sure to have almost anyone’s taste buds screaming “yum.” This dessert might just be the pot of gold at the end of your rainbow this year. read more »
  • 3 ways parents can encourage social emotional learning in children

    Parents focus on social emotional skills, mental health, kindness and understanding differences

    Most parents would agree the quality of their children’s education plays a key role in their overall development. While parents are optimistic about the future of education, they also recognize children have educational needs beyond what is considered the standard. read more »
  • Selecting a health care provider

    Resources to guide your selection

    Getting health care for yourself or a loved one is a big responsibility, especially if you’re just getting started with Medicare or have changes in your life, such as a new diagnosis of a condition or disease. It can be overwhelming if you need services like nursing home care, have to find a new doctor or get home health care. read more »
  • 5 simple solutions for proper nasal hygiene

    Keep your nasal passages clean, clear and moisturized

    Your nose is essential for conditioning the air you breathe and serves as the first line of defense against dust, pollution, bacteria, viruses and more. The presence of these substances in your nasal passages can trigger infections, disease and illness. read more »
  • Have a bump on your foot?

    Don’t ignore it

    Have a lump or bump on your foot? Whether it’s painful or not, it could potentially signal a serious condition. Foot and ankle surgeons warn it’s important to have it checked out, no matter its size or location on your foot. read more »