Geocaching
– a High Tech Treasure Hunt –
Geocaching is a quickly growing activity that is fun for the whole family, and it provides an excellent excuse to get outside and explore! It is a worldwide phenomena that involves using a GPS (Global Positioning System) to locate a cache that has been hidden by someone else. You probably have dozens of caches hidden near where you live without you even knowing about it!
he cache is typically a tuperware container or ammo box, and inside it are a log book and a few trinkets. The idea is that you find the cache, sign the log, and if you take a trinket then you should leave another to replace it. For the kids the fun is in discovering the cache and finding a trinket. For the adults the fun is derived from the challenge of finding the cache, and getting out to new places. Most caches are hidden in scenic areas, or some other significant spot.
Now, locating a cache with a GPS is not as easy as it may seem, since the GPS is only accurate to ±3 m. If there is significant tree cover then this accuracy is further reduced. So you need to “triangulate” the cache, and then do an old fashioned hunt!
There are a number of caches that can be done on foot from the Eco-Lodge, and a few that can be done by horseback (they are a bit too far to reach from the Lodge by foot in 1 day). We also have a few “private” caches that are not posted on the main international geocaching website (www.Geocaching.com).
This area is known as the “Geocaching Capital of Canada”, and we are proud members of the WGS effort to promote geocaching as an activity in the South Algonquin region.
You can manually enter the coordinates of the caches into your own GPS, or click on the GPX link to download them to your mapping software and then upload them to your GPS.
If you don’t have a GPS you can still enjoy this fun activity! We have some GPS units at the Eco-Lodge that we can rent to you. Of course, we will also be happy to give you a lesson on how to use them! They come pre-loaded with all of our trails and all of the geocaches.
Public Caches (listed on Geocaching.com)
- GCHYT5 – Almost Algonquin – N45 12.078 W78 07.139
- GC9CB3 – High Falls Anniversary Cache – N45 12.397 W78 09.412
- GCKJN9 – York River Trailhead – N45 11.640 W78 09.491
- GC120AZ – Martin’s Mill Adventure – N45 10.485 W78 09.470 – This is a two part multi, one micro’s & one ammo box.
- GC1403M – Friendship Falls – N 45° 12.186 W 078° 09.057 – a kid friendly cache on the way to High Falls.
- GC16KQC – Mason’s Hill Angel – N 45° 11.877 W 078° 07.257
Private Caches
- Northern Exposure – N45 12.751 W78 07.070
- Bear Tree – N45 12.566 W78 07.062
- Woodpecker – N45 12.289 W78 07.354
- Nursery – N45 12.164 W78 07.470
Virtual Caches
These are inside the Park so no actual cache is permitted, but they are an interesting/significant location. After you find the spot come ask us about the history – we keep the cache (with log book and trinkets) at the Lodge.
- Loggers Demise – N45 13.277 W78 08.367
- History – N45 14.441 W78 09.517
GPS eXchange Format (*.gpx) -“right click” and select “Save As”
