Ontario’s Best Geocaching Locations for Adventurers

If you grew up playing hide-and-seek, manhunt, or capture the flag like I did, then you understand the rush that comes from finding the perfect hiding place or running through the forest in search of your friends. Now, imagine a modern treasure hunt that plays on that same sense of adventure, but on a larger scale, with GPS coordinates, killer hikes and serious challenges. This, in a nutshell, is geocaching.

Geocaching is one of the best ways to explore areas you otherwise wouldn’t, all in the name of fun. From secret spots in rugged trail systems and isolated areas to popular caches in national parks, Ontario is packed full of geocaches. This article will help you learn more about some of the greatest geocaches, including a profile of what many consider Canada’s geocaching capital, and assist you in planning exciting trips of wilderness, treasure-hunting, and adventure.

What is Geocaching?

Geocaching is a giant, real-world treasure hunt that involves using a GPS unit to search for geocaches, or to create geocaches of your own. What began with less than 100 users in the year 2000 is now a game that’s played globally. With more than 3 million geocaches worldwide, chances are there are some close to you right now. Go to Geocaching.com and use the map to search near you.

How to Go Geocaching

To begin searching for geocaches, simply download the Geocaching app for iOS or Android, follow the instructions, and start hunting. Some coordinates will be immediately revealed, while others might require you to solve a puzzle or to answer a question to gain access. The coordinates will bring you close to the geocache, but as the name suggests, in the end you’ll need to search the old fashioned way to find its exact location.

Types of Geocaches

The activity of geocaching has evolved over time. Originally, geocaches were limited to the traditional cache style: a simple container with a log sheet for the names of those who were able to successfully find the cache. Now, there are plenty of more involved geocaches such as Multi Caches, Mystery Caches, Event Caches and more.

Where to Go Geocaching in Ontario

There are plenty of places to go geocaching in Ontario. Here are some favourites.

#1 Lake Superior

Whether you are heading out in search of geocaches or not, any excuse to visit Lake Superior is a good one. With hundreds of kilometres of coastline spanning from Sault Ste. Marie to Thunder Bay, Lake Superior is defined by crystal clear waters with enough power to redefine your definition of a freshwater lake. The area features multiple provincial and national parks, making it an absolute dream destination with countless options for hikers, backcountry campers, paddlers and nature photographers—as well asthose looking to find geocaches with scenic views. With coastal hikes, retro geocaches and tons of options for day trips, Lake Superior should rank at the top of the list of locations for your next geocaching adventure.

Tip:

Options for Lake Superior stays and exploration are vast, so choose a specific area or plan for some longer drives during the days.

Explore the Lake Superior Water Trail. This 1,000 km water route spans the length of Lake Superior’s north shore and offers up-close-and personal views of this inland sea and its rugged coastline. Although beautiful, Lake Superior is notoriously unpredictable, therefore is suited for more experienced paddlers. Launch your kayak at one of the access points along the trail in search of geocaches like this one near a Marathon access point.

For canoe or sea kayak rentals, local guides, and expert knowledge for trip planning, visit Naturally Superior Adventures in Wawa, Such A Nice Day Adventures in Rossport, Wilderness Supply in Thunder Bay or Forest the Canoe in Goulais River.

Hike the 5 km in-and-out Hawk’s Ridge Trail in Marathon in search of one of the many geocaches stashed along the trail. Find as many as possible and log them as you climb over 100 m on your way to the Hawk’s Ridge scenic lookout.

Book a comfortable stay at the Superior Coast Outfitter’s Bait Shop Guest House in Wawa and take advantage of their paddleboarding, water access, and knowledge of the area.

Book a room at Serendipity Gardens in the quaint lakeside village of Rossport is a charming guest house with views of Lake Superior and access to a full café with an incredible smoked salmon sandwich. The Willows B&B is another long-standing place to stay in Rossport.

For campers, explore overnight options at Pukaskwa National park and look for some of the caches in the Heritage Hide’n’Seek Geocache Series, or stay further south at Lake Superior Provincial Park.

Hot Spots:

Explore the National Parks Heritage Hide’n’Seek Geocache Challenge. This series blends lessons of national history and geography to help you find geocaches scattered throughout Northern Ontario. Download the passport and collect points to win a geocoin. Search for caches like this one near Terrace Bay to reach a lookout with incredible views of the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area.

While You’re in the Area:

For hikers and backpackers, the Coastal Trail in Lake Superior Provincial Park is a must-visit. This trail spans 65 km and offers adventurers the chance to explore rocky shorelines and beaches while taking in its breathtaking beauty. You can access the trail for day hikes or plan an awesome multi-day backpacking trip and hike the trail in one go. For shuttle services and trip planning expertise, contact Lake Superior Shuttle or Naturally Superior Adventures, both located in Wawa.

For a great intermediate day hike in Wawa, trek to Magpie Scenic High Falls on the Voyageur Trail. This hike is 5 km each way and will take you along the Magpie River to deliver you to a stunning 30 foot waterfall. Pack a lunch, a camera and spend a few hours on this trail. 

#2 Haliburton

Often referred to as Canada’s Geocaching Capital by the geocaching community, Haliburton is not just a hotspot for exciting geocaches and community events, it’s also a nature lover's paradise. Pristine lakes, provincial parks and remote hiking trails are just a few of the persuasive elements that make Haliburton a natural destination.

Complete a work of art by participating in the GeoArt missions. This collection of 99 geocaches in the Highlands East area involves a series of puzzles that reveal a piece of unique art when completed. Find the cache, solve the puzzle to reveal a new set of coordinates, and move onto the next to unveil an artistic design within your geocaching app.

Take part in a Geotour to experience a highlight reel of some of the area’s coolest geocaches. This experience involves options to search for 150 geocaches, all while experiencing Haliburton’s lake views, rugged hikes and waterways. Some caches will make you laugh, some might confuse you, but one way or another, you’ll have a blast. This is a great option for beginners to test the geocaching waters as the Visitor Information Centre in the community of Wilberforce offers an in-person introductory course to geocaching.

For nature loving couples, book a stay at The Heather Lodge in one of their beautifully woodsy studios with unobstructed views of the peaceful natural settings that Halburton has to offer. The lodge also offers a delicious dining experience with an upscale menu that is crafted each day.

For families, book a cozy cottage stay with your own private amenities at the Loralea Country Inn. This waterfront option provides families with the perfect cottage setting to stay in peace while enjoying the lake. You can stay year-round in nature at Winterdance, with seasonal highlights including maple syrup in the spring and winter dogsled tours.

Hot spots:

Hike the Homesteader Trail Loop in search of geocaches. This moderately difficult hiking trail carries you through overgrown fields, trails, and local landmarks on a 25 km loop. The trail is often used for geocaches and can be broken up into smaller sections for easier geocaching hiking missions.

For paddlers, pack up your kayak or hop into a canoe with a friend and head out on Gun Lake to search for the Pistol Grip, a geocache that is accessible by water only. This trip involves a couple of small portages and a decent paddle, so pack a lunch and make a day of it.

For local canoe and kayak rentals or any outfitting needs, visit Haliburton Forest and Wildlife Reserve or Algonquin Outfitters at their Haliburton location.

While You’re In The Area:

To take in every kind of view (including aerial) the woodlands of Haliburton have to offer, spend the day taking part in a Canopy Tour with Yours Outdoors. The tour will take you on a scenic drive, a hike to nearby waterfalls, a lake paddle, and finally to the coniferous canopies by way of a ropes course.

#3 Thunder Bay

Due to its northern location, Thunder Bay feels like the gateway to adventure. It lives up to that status as the starting point for some great hikes, paddling trips and nordic skiing excursions. With so much natural beauty incorporated into its infrastructure, Thunder Bay has some incredible geocaches hiding right under your nose, or off the beaten path.

Chippewa Park is a great place to start. It’s home amusement rides, including a vintage carousel, to sandy beaches, and excellent views of the Sleeping Giant. Hike the Ridge Trail, a 5 km loop with views of Lake Superior and closer looks at Thunder Bay’s bird population. Be on the lookout for many geocaches as you make the trek. Book a campsite, an RV site, or a cabin at the Chippewa Park campground and make it your base to explore 270 acres of natural playground.

For paddlers with intermediate to advanced skills, paddle to Mutton Island on Lake Superior in search of hidden treasure. Launch at the Mission Island Marsh boat ramp and make the crossing to find this well hidden cache. After visiting Mutton Island take a short hike in the Mission Island Marsh to see the local deer and bird populations.

Thunder Bay’s Centennial Park, located near Current River, contains 157 acres of natural landscapes. Get a sense of the area by hiking the Red and Blue Trail and searching for geocaches along the way. You can pitch your tent or park your RV at the Trowbridge Falls Municipal Campground, or book a full cottage experience at the Mink Mountain Resort on the shores of Lake Superior.

Hot Spot:

Participate in the Shuniah Mines Puzzle, a geocaching series that started in 2011. The Shuniah Mines Trail is a 9 km loop located just outside of Thunder Bay. It is a mid-level multi use trail that offers users the chance to mountain bike or to hike the old fashioned way. Tackling some challenging sections of trail rewards you with views of rushing water, bridge crossings, and a collection of geocaches that unveil coordinates to more.

While You’re in the Area:

Visit one of the favourite local swimming holes at Cascades Conservation Area. Pack a lunch, your bathing suit, and a camera, then hike the short scenic route to a series of small waterfalls that you can swim in.

Join a guided hike or go climbing with Outdoor Skills and Thrills to meet some nature enthusiasts while learning about some of the natural adventures Thunder Bay has to offer.

Rent a canoe or kayak from Wilderness Supply or sign up for a guided day trip on Lake Superior with Such a Nice Day Adventures. Want to harness the wind? Check out Sail Superior for unique beginner-friendly sailing packages.

Stop by Sleeping Giant Brewing Company for a tour of their facilities and sample their iconic 360 Pale Ale and Northern Logger lager.

#4 Sudbury

Visit Sudbury for access to some of Northeastern Ontario’s best outdoor activities and adventure. The city is extremely bike friendly, offers great hiking and paddling options for outdoor lovers, is surrounded by freshwater lakes and boreal forest, and is home to a ton of geocaching.

Take a trip to the popular outdoor facilities at Kivi Park for mountain biking, hiking, swimming and paddling. While you’re there, search for active geocaches in the park. Geocaches like “The Goose and The Squirrel” are fairly easy to reach, so come check a few off of your list while enjoying the experiences the park offers. During low water conditions in the summer, try to find this nearby geocache that’s close to some beautiful moving water and located just outside of Kivi Park.

Lake Laurentian Conservation Area offers diverse wetlands, wildlife viewing areas, and freshwater beauty. Depending on the season, explore the conservation area’s trail systems on foot, bicycle, snowshoes or cross-country skis. Hike the scenic 4.3 km Point Trails Loop to reach some incredible lookouts, watching for geocaches like Fire Scar. Search the Blue Trail in the north end of the park for geocaches like the Laurentian Lake View cache.   

Book a unique glamping experience at the Wanapitei Lake Outfitters and stay in a tipi. They also offer canoe rentals, so you can immerse yourself in the surrounding waterways while searching for even more geocaches.

One hour west of Sudbury, just off the Trans-Canada Highway, Agnew Lake Lodge features 16 cozy cabins and cottages. This year-round lodge offers winter ice fishing packages and summer motorboat and canoe rentals.

For a trendy minimalist cabin rental check out Lodgisticks Cabin Rentals just outside of Sudbury in the community of Hanmer.

Sudbury features plenty of great dining. A few highlights include La Casa Mexicana and Salute Coffee Company.

Hot Spot:

Visit a unique geocache called an Earth Cache in Sudbury. This geocache shares knowledge of Sudbury’s geological history, which took shape in a meteorite impact 1.85 billion years ago. Known as the Sudbury Basin, the site is one of the largest known meteor impacts on Earth and left Sudbury with the rich nickel deposits.

Don’t Miss:

Make sure to check out the Basin Lookout at Onaping Falls. This incredible view allows you to see Onaping Falls through the eyes of famous Group of Seven painter A.Y. Jackson, and the 2.4-km main trail puts you in place to find the Sudbury Basin Lookout Cache.

Take a trip to Fox Lake, located west of Sudbury on Highway 144, to search for the Fairy Tale Cache. This puzzle cache might take a little bit of guesswork, but the trip to the Fox Lake area will be worth it. Visit Fox Lake Lodge to go canoeing, kayaking, swimming, or rent one of their off-grid cabins and spend the night.

#5 Manitoulin Island

Manitoulin Island is one of Ontario’s greatest gems. Whether you decide to make the drive through Espanola’s rugged northern landscape on Highway 6 or to travel to Tobermory to take the MS Chi-Cheemaun ferry to the island, you’ll be enamoured by its pastoral scenery, impossibly clear Great Lakes waters, and slower pace of living. The island is packed with history, road cycling, hiking trails, and is the perfect place for geocaching enthusiasts to explore while searching for geocaches.

Stay on Lake Manitou in one of the Timberlane Lodge cottages. Rent a canoe, a kayak, or a pontoon boat to explore the lake while fishing for trout, perch, bass and whitefish. Or book a night or two in a luxury camping dome with a full view of the night sky on Birch Island. Stillwater Fishing offers unbelievable guided fishing and paddling packages, too.

As for geocaching, pack a lunch, launch from the Government Dock at Perivale on Lake Kagawong and paddle your canoe or kayak to Kakawaie Island to search for The Littlest Island cache. The Bebamikawe Memorial Trail is one of Manitoulin’s notable hiking trails. This 14-km-long, moderately difficult loop can be broken up into fragments, or completed in one go. It offers great birdwatching—and the Heron’s Flight cache. The area is perfect for spotting large birds like herons and cranes, and cute, sweet-singing flying friends like warblers. The 2.2 km Warrior’s Loop is part of the Bebamikawe Memorial Trail. It offers an Odawa interpretive experience that educates hikers about traditions, plant ecosystems, and history on the island.

Travel to the Swing Bridge in Little Current, an obvious Manitoulin landmark, to look for a hidden geocache. Search for the Road to Manitoulin - Little Current Swing Bridge cache. While you’re there, make sure to take a photo of the historic bridge as it is set to be replaced soon. After visiting the Swing Bridge, commemorate the experience with a Swing Bridge Blonde Aleand a plate of fresh-cut fries at Manitoulin Brewing Company.

Hot spot:

The Cup and Saucer Trail ranks amongst Ontario’s best hikes—and it includes Manitoulin’s own Earth Cache. Learn about the largest freshwater island in the world, the Niagara Escarpment, the Great Lakes and more on this 5 km hike with absolutely ridiculous island views.

Don’t Miss:

You’d be remiss if you neglected the opportunity to visit the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada’s first designated Dark Sky Preserve, located on Manitoulin Island. Bring your sweater, camera, and an open mind, because you’ve probably never experienced a dark sky like this. The Manitoulin Eco Park offers camping within the Dark Sky Preserve so you can experience some of the best views of the stars imaginable. Visit their events page to take place in a group stargazing adventure, a night hike, or take a course that will reconnect you with nature.

What To Bring Geocaching

Apart from a phone-equipped GPS or standalone unit GPS that allows you to navigate to the cache, a pen is a crucial component to geocaching. How else will you let others know you’ve reached the cache? For GPS systems, basic to high-tech Garmin eTrex models are proven and popular, or you can simply use your phone with the Geocaching App so long as your service reaches the areas you’re exploring.

Somes geocaches require extensive hikes, so make sure to pack extra water, snacks, sunscreen, insect repellent, rain gear and basic first aid supplies. Whether it’s a personal floatation device (PFD) for paddlesports, a waterproof-breathable rain jacket, quality hiking boots or a solid hat, always make sure to wear the proper gear for the elements and activity.

Some geocaches allow the user to take an item, but it is good form to ensure that you always have something to exchange. If searching for an item-based geocache, make sure to bring something with you to leave in it. Here are some ideas for geocache swag. It’s also a good idea to keep a notepad on hand in case a cache is missing its logbook.

Guidelines for Geocaching

Geocaching relies almost entirely on users to maintain caches, so if a cache is in rough shape do your part to maintain it. It’s important to check geocache logs online before heading out to find one. If a cache has not been accessed for several years, there’s a chance it no longer exists. That said, sometimes geocaches go untouched for years, so let your sense of adventure decide for you.

If you think an area is lacking in geocaches, or if you find a perfect place for one on a long hike, you may be able to make geocache of your own. Learn how to do that here. Always double-check the guidelines for the area you're enjoying—for example, many national park and provincial park guidelines prohibit creating new geocaches. Geocaches should never be used for promotions, advertising, or to enforce specific beliefs. They are meant to be fun, educational, and unbiased. Learn all about the ethos of geocaching here.

Plan Your Ontario Geocaching Adventure Now

Whether you’re a GPS rookie or a seasoned pro, nothing should stop you now from planning a memorable Ontario geocaching adventure. Do your research, pack your gear, and get in touch with some local guides or outfitters to plan the perfect trip. 

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