Geocaching is a fun way to discover new trails in Edmonton, and encourage older kids that might need a little more ‘excitement’ when exploring with the family. It’s a great way for younger kids to learn to navigate, and it’s a simple, fun way to reach the goal of spending 1,000 hours outside!

What’s geocaching? Geocaching is like a treasure hunt, where you use coordinates (or the app on your phone) to find a hidden treasure. Hidden in that treasure are small toys and trinkets, a log book to sign.

READ: Find our guide to getting started with Geocaching in Edmonton, here.

Here’s what you need to know before you go:

• Save the first cache on the trail for last, for the way out. The effort that went into cache makes it one of the coolest discoveries we’ve found on the trail. ‘Legion of Geo-Heroes’. It’s near the parking lot, so a fun way to finish the cache.

• Use the Geocache app. The paid version is well worth the price to make searching for caches early, but the free version can be used in conjunction with your phone using the GPS coordinates provided on the map.

• Take one, leave one. Make sure you bring along small trinkets or toys that you can leave, if you find a small trinket you want to exchange in the cache. Those are easy to find around the house if you have kids, or even in your car, on the way to a trail.

• There are some really cool unique caches, that will encourage you to think outside of the ‘box’ for this one. You might even find a pole of a treasure. It’s a fun trail where you can spend a couple of hours wandering - and there are 100+ caches in the area, down the highway, and to the trail that’s nearer to the river!

Find Riverside Nature Trail at 902, Township Road 540 in Strathcona County.