Table of Contents

Trespassing Laws (Purple Paint)

Texas originated the use of a stripe of purple paint as a legal substitute for a posted No Trespassing sign. This allows for a quick and inexpensive method of posting large areas of land. If you see purple paint on posts, poles, or trees, they are legally the equivalent of No Trespassing signage, and should be treated as such. Many other states have since adopted this same law.

Playgrounds and Playground Equipment

Adults not accompanied by children and seen lurking around playgrounds raise suspicion and may attract unwanted attention from both concerned parents and law enforcement officers. Therefore, caches on playground equipment and caches in or in close proximity to playgrounds will not be published.

Event Stacking

Events scheduled for the same day should be separated in time by 3 hours (time between end of first and beginning of second) OR in distance by 30 miles distance between the two locations. HOWEVER, special guidelines apply during MEGA and GIGA event as described below.

• One the day of the MEGA or GIGA event there can be one additional event (hosted by the event team; not a CITO) on the same day of the Mega, but cannot overlap in time with the Mega. The distance restriction for other events is increased to 50 miles.
• On the day prior to and the day after the MEGA/GIGA side events are limited to two events per day, and not back-to-back.
• Two or more days prior and after the event, normal event stacking guidelines apply.

Texas State Parks

Geocaches placed on Texas Parks & Wildlife lands including state natural areas are required by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department to have a permit and adhere to a set of guidelines. Verbal approval from a Ranger is NOT sufficient. There must be a permit on file.

In general, caches permits are approved, unless the cache is in a sensitive location. Exceptions are the following, where caches are often not approved, but this is up to the rangers on site:

• Caprock Canyons
• Brazos Bend
• Monahans Sand Dunes State Park

A PARTIAL list of the guidelines follow. The full text of the guidelines, plus a geocache permit form, can be downloaded in PDF format here: Texas State Park Cache Placement Permit

1. A cache permit must be completed by the person placing the cache and approved by the Park Superintendent or designee before a cache can be placed on a state park or historic site. The permit must include the exact cache location, including GPS coordinates; name of geocacher placing the cache, a valid address, telephone number, email address (if applicable), driver’s license number (if applicable), and the website address on which the cache will be posted. Permits shall be renewed annually. If a cache permit is not current, the cache may be removed by park staff as abandoned property.
2. The location of the cache must be pre-approved by the Park Superintendent or designee, whose main concern will be public safety and the prevention of undesirable impacts to natural, historical, and cultural resources.
3. If it is determined that a cache has been the cause of adverse resource damage, causes a public safety concern, or is unauthorized, the cache may be removed by the Park Superintendent or designee at any time.
4. Cache containers must be non-breakable, have some form of latch or other closing mechanism to prohibit content exposure to wildlife, and must be approved by the Park Superintendent or designee.
5. Each cache container, excluding micro-caches, must have an identification label affixed to the outside identifying the name of the cache and date of creation.
6. Caches shall not be placed in a location that leads to the creation of spur trails or other resource impacts.
7. Caches may not be placed in dangerous, inappropriate or protected areas and habitats, on cliffs, underground, or underwater.
8. Caches shall not be placed in a location that is visible to the casual site visitor or that will degrade scenic views.

Contact Info: Varies by Park. Use the Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept. website to find a contact number for a park.

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

Caches in the Enchanted Rock State Nature Area are permitted with written permission. See Texas State Park Cache Placement Permit for details.

Hill Country State Natural Area

Geocaches may be placed along the natural area trails with written permission. See Texas State Park Cache Placement Permit for details. However, caches may not be placed along roads that pass through the natural area as stopping or parking, even for brief periods, is not permitted.

Texas State Forests

Texas State Forests are managed by the Texas A&M Forest Service, and no permit is required for most property managed by TFS (with the exception of W. Goodrich Jones State Forest).

• Texas Forest Service Geocaching Guidelines
• Texas A&M Forest Service Geocaching Page

Terlingua Ranch

No caches are allowed except on owner's property. There is NO public land in Terlingua Ranch, including "right-of-way" along road sides, the resort, and private property area.

Hamilton Pool Nature Preserve (Travis County)

Sensitive environment, no caches allowed.

Texas Wilderness Areas

The following are Texas Wilderness Areas, and no caches are allowed within their boundaries:

• Big Slough Wilderness
• Guadalupe Mountains Wilderness
• Indian Mounds Wilderness
• Little Lake Creek Wilderness
• Turkey Hill Wilderness
• Upland Island Wilderness

Austin Area Nature Preserves

No caches are allowed in the following Nature Preserves:

• Barrow Nature Preserve
• Big Walnut Creek Nature Preserve
• Blunn Creek Nature Preserve
• Blowing Sink Nature Preserve
• Colorado River Wildlife Sanctuary
• Indiangrass Wildlife Sanctuary
• Goat Cave Nature Preserve
• Mayfield Park and Preserve
• Onion Creek Wildlife Sanctuary
• Spicewood Springs Nature Preserve
• Stephenson Nature Preserve
• Zilker Nature Preserve.

Steiner Ranch Nature Trails (Austin)

Geocaches here are generally discouraged but may be published if specific permission from the HOA has been obtained. Be sure to include in your reviewer note that you have permission and provide contact information for the person approving the cache placement there.

Austin Area LCRA (Lower Colorado River Authority) Parks

Approval is required by the appropriate land manager. These parks include:

• Shaffer Bend Recreation Area
• Arkansas Bend Park
• Bob Wentz Park
• Cypress Creek Park
• Hippie Hollow Park
• Mansfield Dam Park
• Pace Bend Park
• Sandy Creek Park

Contact Info: LCRA Parks website

Elm Fork Nature Preserve, McInnish Park, Carrollton

Physical caches prohibited by the Parks Department of Carrollton.

Bexar County Natural Areas

No caches in allowed in the Eisenhower, Freidrich, or Crownridge Canyon Natural Areas in north Bexar County (San Antonio).

Ft Worth Nature Center

Permission required. Cache must be removed after 1 year. A maximum of 5 active caches are permitted at any one time.

Contact Info: Suzanne Tuttle (troutlily) at 817-237-0427 or TuttleS@ci.fort-worth.tx.us

National Cemeteries

The National Park Service Reference Manual 61, National Cemetery Operations prohibits "Engaging in recreational activities" in National Cemeteries

Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery

Fort Bliss National Cemetery

Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery

Houston National Cemetery

Kerrville National Cemetery

San Antonio National Cemetery

Railroads

A railroad's right-of-way generally extends well beyond just the rail roadbed. The general rule is to keep geocaches at least 150 feet from any railroad tracks, including elevated tracks unless the railroad right of way is clearly delineated. If the cache is placed in a rails-to-trails area and you can demonstrate that the tracks have been removed, or the cache is clearly outside of a marked or bounded right-of-way, then the cache may be considered for publication.