Parks Canada Welcomes Geocachers: Come Explore With Us!

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There are a few things you should know before getting started:

Geocachers must travel on marked and maintained trails or in publicly accessible areas (e.g. picnic areas) at all times and ensure that natural and cultural resources are not disturbed.

All caches have to be available from trails or other publicly accessible areas.

Trade items are not permitted in caches.  Instead, a message or story about the unique location where the cache has been placed is included in the cache for others to find.  You can research message ideas at www.pc.gc.ca or by contacting Parks Canada staff at the selected national historic site, national park or national marine conservation area.

Removing trade items will help prevent a cache from containing items that may attract wildlife.

Geocachers pay all applicable fees.  (A list of applicable daily entry fees is available at www.pc.gc.ca). 

Geocachers who want to place a cache must meet with a Parks Canada staff person at the chosen national historic site, national park or national marine conservation area to obtain an authorization seal prior to placing a cache.

Preparing for this meeting

1. Make sure that your cache container is watertight, is made of material that will withstand natural elements, is as small as possible, is neutral-coloured and has never been used for food.
2. Bring along two completed documents: the note [Word (34 KB) PDF (31 KB)] that you will place in the cache for others to find and the completed Cache Information Form [Word (25 KB) PDF (12 KB)]

For more information, contact a Parks Canada staff person at the national historic site, national park or national marine conservation area where you are planning to geocache. For general information, please e-mail geocache@pc.gc.ca.  We are happy to help you!

Geocachers are also encouraged to visit the Leave no Trace website at http://www.leavenotrace.ca.  This website offers helpful principles for planning safe and environmentally respectful outdoor recreation activities.

A complete version of the Parks Canada Guidelines for Geocaching – which set out a basic national direction for geocaching at national historic sites, national parks and national marine conservation areas managed by Parks Canad

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