Table of Contents

General Information

This page contains specific geocaching land management policies for Louisiana. Naturally all other Geocaching.com guidelines, including obtaining adequate permission for any geocache placement, apply.  This listing is not all-inclusive as some land managers have instituted policies we are not yet aware of or may have amended their posted policies.  If you are a land manager with a geocaching policy which should be listed here please send a copy of your policy and contact information to isht kinta.

Submitting a Geocache for review

Include a complete Reviewer Note about your geocache

We ask all cache hiders to provide basic information in a Reviewer Note about their cache. In your Reviewer Note, please clearly and completely describe your cache in detail.

WHERE - Always describe the property your cache is placed on - both the ownership and the property use. Any cache should have permission as described in the Guidelines. (http://www.geocaching.com/about/guidelines.aspx#permission) Just because property does not have obvious No Trespassing signs does not mean that it's open to geocache placement without obtaining permission. For example, some subdivisions have green space trails or parks. However these may be restricted to residents only. We expect you to comply with the Guidelines, include documented permission of owners or management in your Reviewer Note. If a permit is required, attach an image of the permit to your reviewer note. If your cache is adjacent to a residence, please get consent from that home owner, even if your cache is located on property that is otherwise acceptable, since you're essentially inviting people to visit this location at all hours of the day and night.

WHAT - Clearly and completely describe the cache container. Just saying a "plastic container" or a 'Metal box" is incomplete.  Some containers are self explanatory like a 30 cal ammo can, a bison tube, a preform, a keytainer, or a magnetic nano but others need a complete description in your Reviewer Note. We want to know exactly what you've placed in case there is some question in the future by Law Enforcement or a property owner.

HOW - Explain how and where your cache is hidden. Please be specific any about camouflage and any attachment method to any object or the ground. For example, it might be a bison tube hung with a wire hook over a cedar limb about 5 feet off the ground. If your cache is on a sign post, or near a sign, please tell us what the sign says.

If you need to include a picture, please upload the image to a Reviewer Note as additional information. Photos are not a substitute for a written Reviewer Note.

When the cache is published, any images and all information in the reviewer notes will be hidden and not visible to the public.

Landowner Permission

Generally geocachers must obtain permission to place a geocache from the landowner.  All land belongs to someone. It may be a government agency, corporation, tribal land, or private landowner. Some sources to determine the landowner include:

• Internet searches for land owner parcel data or land owner parcel maps. Include the local town or parish in the search criteria.
• Visiting the local land deed or tax office.
• Websites for parks, land trusts or other public or semi-public entities.
• Checking the links listed in the Regional Policies below.

Just because the public is generally allowed to use a parcel of land does not mean that geocaching is allowed on it. Landowners may have granted an easement for a certain use and geocaching is not included in that use. 

All roads are not publicly owned and those that are may have restrictions by the government entity that controls it.

Public bodies of water may be bordered by private lands and private structures may extend into the water.

Subdivisions may have public use areas that are either open to use by anyone or restricted to homeowner use.

Contacting Your Reviewer:

1. If you are contacting a reviewer about a geocache that is in the process of being reviewed, please post a reviewer note to the cache page.  This keeps all information together in case you need to forward the cache to Geocaching HQ for an appeal.

2. If you are contacting a reviewer about a geocache that has already been published or other matters, please use email at the link in their profile above. Be sure to include the GC number of the geocache. Cache names are not unique.

3. Please DO NOT use the message center. Most reviewers do not check the message center regularly, if at all, and the messages tend to run together which makes it difficult when discussing several issues.

National Park Service

Geocaches are not generally allowed on property managed, owned or operated by the United States National Park Service. Exceptions can be granted with the express consent of the Park Superintendent and the NPS. In Louisiana this includes:

• Cane River National Heritage Area
• Cane River Creole National Historical Park. Physical caches are prohibited. Virtual caches are permitted with permission of Superintendent.
  
• El Camino Real de Los Tejas National Historic Trail
• Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve - Acadian Cultural Center
  
• Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve -Barataria Preserve
  
• Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve -Chalmette Battlefield
  
• Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve -French Quarter Visitor Center
  
• Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve -Prairie Acadian Cultural Center
  
• Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve -Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center
  
• New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park
• Poverty Point National Monument
• Vicksburg National Military Park - Grants Canal unit. Physical caches are prohibited. Virtual and earthcaches are allowed with permission of Superintendent.

U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Geocaches are not generally allowed on property managed, owned or operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (National Wildlife Refuges). Exceptions can be granted with the express consent of the Park Manager. In Louisiana this includes:

• Atchafalaya
• Bayou Cocodrie
• Bayou Sauvage
• Bayou Teche
• Big Branch Marsh
• Black Bayou Lake
• Bogue Chitto
• Brenton
• Cameron Prairie
• Cat Island
• Catahoula
• D'Arbonne
• Delta
• Grand Cote
• Handy Brake
• Lacassine
• Lake Ophelia
• Mandalay
• Red River
• Sabine
• Shell Keys
• Tensas River
• Upper Ouachita

Louisiana State Parks

Louisiana State Parks have a permit policy but are very geocaching friendly.  A cache owner wishing to place a cache in a Louisiana State Park must ask for permission from the park ranger and have them sign an application to place a geocache. If placing a multi-cache, the cache is restricted to no more than four stages. The permit will expire one year from the date the permit is issued. It is the cache owners responsibility to renew the permit to avoid having the park remove the geocache. The cache owner will not receive a notice that it is time to renew.   LINK to permit

• North Lake Nature Center currently only requires verbal permission. The name of the employee granting permission must be included in the reviewer note. Geocaches must not be located in a swamp or water covered area. Geocaches must not be located above normal reach height for an adult.
  

Louisiana Cemeteries

Most cemeteries are private property. There are a few cemeteries in the state that are owned by municipalities. Several states have banned geocaches in cemeteries due to disrespectful actions by geocachers.  Some cemeteries in Louisiana do not allow public access to non-family members. Geocaches may NOT be placed near graves. You must have permission from the entity that owns or controls the cemetery to place a geocache there and there must be public access. Just owning a plot in the cemetery is not sufficient permission. When submitting the geocache, attach photographs of the geocache placement to the reviewer note looking at the geocaching from different directions.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers properties

The Corps of Engineers has no objection to the legal pursuance of geocaching activity based on your understanding of the following conditions:

1.  There will be no site disturbance, illegal substances or uses involving the geocaching on Corps of Engineers property.

2.  Caches will not be placed in or near restricted or sensitive areas or those areas not open to the general public.

3.  The Corps of Engineers may terminate this permission at any time.

4.  This permission conveys no property rights, grants no exclusive use, and in no way restricts the general public's privilege of using Corps of Engineers properties.

5.  The Corps of Engineers assumes no liability and undertakes no obligation or duty (in tort, contract, strict liability, or otherwise) to you or to any third party for any damages to property (real or personal) or personal injuries (including death) arising out of or in any way connected with your performance of activities which are the subject of this statement of no objection.

6.  Permission must be obtained from the managing public or private entity in situations where the Corps of Engineers has granted land rights via license, lease, or easement for public or commercial purposes.

7. Caches will not be placed on or in the immediate vicinity of dams, locks and water control structures.

Navigable waterways and islands

• Geocaches may not be attached to navigation markers or buoys.
• Islands in Louisiana consist of property that are a mix of privately owned, owned by the State of Louisiana or the Federal Government. The standard permission issues as if on the mainland apply for these lands.
• Geocaches may not be placed near marine restricted areas (Homeland Security designated).

U.S. Forest Service

Kisatchie National Forest is the only National Forest in Louisiana, but it has several districts

• Calcasieu
• Caney
• Catahoula
• Kisatchie
• Winn

Generally geocaching is allowed in the National Forest. A permit is required for each geocache and you must include the name of the official granting the permit in your reviewer note. Depending on the district, the permit may be written or verbal. There are private landholdings in the National Forest. Geocaches may not be placed in those locations without the landowners permission.

Restricted areas

Geocaches may not be placed in the following areas of the Kisatchie National Forest:

• Breezy Hill Artillery range restricted areas
• Breton Wilderness area
• Camp Beauregard firing ranges
• Claiborne Range military operations area
• Fort Polk military operations area
• Kisatchie Hills Wilderness area
• Lacassine Wilderness area
• Certain structures in the Camp Claiborne area that have been sealed by the National Forest Service.

Louisiana State Wildlife Refuges

• Elmers Island: Certain areas are restricted with no public access. Access to other areas are restricted to certain daylight hours. Permission must be obtained from Refuge management.
• Isle Dernieres: No geocaching allowed.
• Marsh Island: No geocaching allowed.
• Rockefeller: No geocaching allowed.
• Saint Tammany: Operated as part of Big Branch Marsh NWR and current federal rules apply.
• State: Currently the status for geocaching in this area is unknown. Check with the Refuge management for permission.

Louisiana State Wildlife Management and Conservation Areas

Generally geocaching is allowed on most of the management and conservation areas. There are usually permit requirements and check in stations for these areas and the rules and regulations for checking in must be followed.  Some areas are restricted as to the time of day you may be on the property. There may also be hunter orange regulations in effect. Also some of the areas are actually owned by private individuals or corporations and they may have additional requirements. Cache owners must include any such procedures in the opening description of the cache page.

The following areas do not allow geocaching in all or part of the management area

• Alexander Forest Wildlife Management Area restricted areas around the firing range, airport, and fish hatcheries.
• Atchafalaya Delta Wildlife Management Area restricted and limited use areas.
• Camp Beauregard Wildlife Management Area military use areas.
• Dewey W. Wills Management Area restricted zone.
• Grassy Lake Wildlife Management Area restricted zone.
• Lake Salvador Wildlife Management Area restricted areas.
• Pearl River Wildlife Management Area shooting range and restricted area.
• Peason Ridge Wildlife Management Area military use areas and unexploded ordinance areas.
• Pointe Aux Chenes Wildlife Management Area limited access area.
• Richard K Yancey Wildlife Management Area restricted zone.
• Russell Sage Wildlife Management Area Kennedy tract
• Sandy Hollow Wildlife Management Area restricted areas.
• Spring Bayou Wildlife Management Area restricted area.
• Tunica Hills Wildlife Management Area restricted areas.
• White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area

The former Georgia Pacific Wildlife Management Area near Bastrop has reverted back to the landowners and the normal private property rules apply.

The former Jackson - Bienville Wildlife Management Area near Quitman has reverted back to the landowners and the normal private property rules apply.

Moncus Park

Moncus Park Geocaching Policy

Virtual caches: Only virtual caches are permitted within the management of Moncus Park. Please post the coordinates for a virtual cache on a designated trail or open space. The traditional cache, or physical container associated with geocaching is prohibited.

Guidelines:

• Caches are allowed where they do not affect natural or environmental resources, visitor safety, facilities, or other park users.
• Physical caches are not permitted inside or upon any Moncus Park facility or structure.
• Caches may not be placed more than 3 feet from a designated trail or promote any activity that encourages or requires off-trail hiking or property damage

Military Bases

The following military installations in Louisiana do not allow geocaches:

• Barksdale Air Force Base
• Camp Beauregard
• Camp Minden
• Fort Polk
• Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base

The following former military installation in Louisiana allows geocaching with permission of the entity controlling the land at the spot the geocache is placed:

• Naval Support Activity New Orleans, also known as Federal City.

Universities and Colleges

Generally geocaching is allowed on University and College campuses where the general public is allowed to visit unrestricted.  Geocaches are not allowed to be placed near student housing, including Greek fraternity areas.

Grambling State University

Geocaching is generally allowed except in student housing areas.

Louisiana State University

Geocaches may not be placed on the railroad right of way. Geocaches may be placed at the AgCenter Botanical Gardens, Rural Life Center and Windrush Gardens. Permission is required to place geocaches on the Lee Forest property.

Louisiana Tech University

Geocaching is generally allowed except in student housing areas. Geocaches must not be placed in close proximity to the railroad.

Southeastern Louisiana University

Geocaching is generally allowed except in student housing areas.

Tulane University

Geocaching is allowed except in student housing areas.

Trails

There are several hiking, bicycle and horse back trails in Louisiana. Listed below are a few of them:

• Baton Rouge Levee Path: This trail follows the east levee in downtown Baton Rouge. Geocaching is allowed on the public right of way. Be aware that private landholdings are close or cross the path in a couple of places.
• Louisiana Trails. This trail follows an abandoned railroad line between Sibley and Winnfield. Only portions of the trail are currently complete. Sections of the trail crosses private landholdings.  Generally geocaching is allowed on the publicly owned portions of the trail. Geocaches may be placed on the privately owned sections with permission of the landowner.
• Mississippi River Trail. This trail consists of many disconnected sections stretching from Minnesota to New Orleans. In Louisiana it is mainly located on public right of ways and geocaching is allowed. Be aware that the sections occasionally cross private property and permission from the landowner is required on those sections.
• Red River Bicycle Trail. This trail follows the Red River in Shreveport. Geocaching is allowed.
• St. Tammany Trace. This trail follows an abandoned railroad line from Covington to Slidell. Geocaching is allowed. Be aware the right of way is narrow and geocaches must not infringe on the adjoining landowners.

Privately Owned Prohibited Areas

Geocaching is specifically prohibited by the owners of these properties.  Lease holders cannot override the corporate decision. There may be a few grandfathered geocaches that were placed before the prohibition took effect.

• Bayou Corne sinkhole mitigation area
• All Cracker Barrel locations
  
• Fremaux Town Center properties in Slidell
• Inside gated communities.
• Lakeside Mall parking garages in New Orleans
• Live Oak Plantation
  
• Pontchatoula Depot grounds
• Prien Lake Mall (Simon Mall Properties)
• Shadowbrook properties near Baton Rouge
• University of New Orleans Research Park
• Westside Shopping Center in Gretna

Youth Camps

Youth camps are properties dedicated for the use of the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, special needs children, church camps for children or similar sites. Geocaches may not be placed on portions of these properties that are not open to the general public. A geocache placed on public portions of the camp must be placed with permission of the governing authority for the property and the contact information of the director granting that authority must be included in the reviewer note when the geocache is submitted to be published.

Land ownership information

Many of the parishes and cities in Louisiana have on-line resources that can be used to help you determine the ownership of land and obtain permission to place a geocache.  For the other parishes, you may have to either visit the local courthouse or subscribe to a paid service to determine the land ownership.

Bridges, Tunnels and guardrails

Bridges

Geocaches may not be placed on, over or under bridges located on Interstate Highways, U. S. Highways, State Numbered Highways and controlled access highways.

Geocaches generally may be placed on municipal and parish road bridges with the following exceptions:

• May not be over or under federal roads or interstates.
• May not be over or under railroads.
• May not be on bridges containing active drawbridges as listed by the Corps of Engineers.
• May not be on bridges located over spillways or part of dams.

Geocaches may be placed on bridges designed for pedestrian use only or former railroad bridges converted to pedestrian trails that pass over interstate or U.S. highways with the following restrictions:

• The geocache must be accessible by a geocacher standing on the surface area designed for foot traffic.
• Ammo cans or PVC containers are not allowed.
• Containers must be clearly labeled as being a geocache and designed where they could not be mistaken as an explosive device.

For bridge geocaches to be published, there must be a location available for a geocacher to park his vehicle completely clear of the roadway and the parking location shall not be in a curve or other visually obstructed area.

Geocachers should understand that all roadway bridges are inspected on a regular basis by government inspectors and any geocache found attached to the bridge structure will probably be removed by the inspectors.

In urban areas geocaches may be placed in parks and green spaces located under controlled access highway overpasses with permission of the government agency that manages the park or green space. The geocache may not be attached to or placed immediately next to structures supporting the overpass.

Tunnels

Geocaches must not be placed in or attached to highway tunnels or any part of their infrastructure.

Guardrails

Guardrail caches are not allowed on federal highways, controlled access highways or as part of railroad signaling locations. The cache must be on the portion of the guardrail away from any bridge restricted as listed above.

For guardrail geocaches to be published, there must be a location available for a geocacher to park his vehicle completely clear of the roadway and the parking location shall not be in a curve or other visually obstructed area.

Little Free Libraries

Little Free Libraries are growing in popularity and geocachers are increasingly wanting to use them for geocache placement.

They are publishable with the following considerations:

• The libraries are privately owned and usually on private property so permission must be obtained from the library owner.
• The cache page should not be promotional of the Little Free Library movement. 
• They can use the term Little Free Library on the cache page.
• The http://www.littlefreelibrary.org/ website sells the library boxes and solicits donations, so it should not be included on cache pages.
• The logbook should be placed in a container within the library, and not just be paper "floating" around. 

Other restricted areas

Geocaches may not be placed near:

• Airports used for commercial or military flights.
• Communication towers
• Dams
• Electrical generating stations, substations and transmission towers.
  
• Municipal drinking water facilities.
  
• Facilities restricted to access or approach by Homeland Security rules.
• Federal Courthouses
• Financial institutions including close proximity to drop boxes and ATM machines.
  
• Highways designated as controlled access by the Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development.
• Hospitals
• Nuclear facilities
• Post Offices. This includes blue postal service mail boxes and green postal service mail storage boxes. Virtual stages inside post offices require the permission of the Postmaster for that post office.
  
• Prisons and jails
• Railroads and their right of ways.  Depending on the location this may extend 25 feet to 200 feet from the center of the track.
  
• Schools and day cares

Playgrounds

While there's no specific guideline against hiding a cache on playground equipment, many geocachers consider it a bad idea. It's perfectly normal for a 10 year old to be on a playground with their mom. But how normal would it be for him to go there without a parent and for someone who may be fifty something and doesn't have a kid with them to be prowling around the equipment? This might make most mom's kind of nervous.  If the playground is not part of a school or daycare the geocache can be published, but the cache owner will be asked to reconsider before it is published.

Event caches

When event caches are located at a commercial location, they may contain the name of the venue in the description one time. The name cannot be in the title. Street addresses and other directions shall be included in the description section, not in the hint section. Attributes and terrain should be pertinent to the actual location the event attendees are gathering at.

No Precedent

Be aware that geocaching guidelines are subject to change. There is no precedent for placing geocaches. This means that the past publication of a similar geocache in and of itself is not a valid justification for the publication of a new geocache. If a geocache has been published and violates any guidelines listed, you are encouraged to report it. However, if the geocache was placed prior to the date when a guideline was issued or updated, the geocache is likely to be grandfathered and allowed to stand as is.

Virtual Posted Coordinates

Generally if the posted coordinates for a multi-cache, puzzle cache or wherigo cache are virtual coordinates, they must not be placed in any restricted area listed above without permission of the landowner or authority controlling the property.  This helps avoid confrontations for new geocachers who may not understand what a virtual waypoint is.