COVID-19

At this time, no policies or restrictions are in place.

For health and safety reasons, these policy changes had been implemented temporarily

1. Events, CITOs, and Community Celebration events can be submitted and scheduled, but changing circumstances may impact the actual event date.
2. Publication of other cache types continues at reviewer discretion. This practice may change based on changes to government direction and/or public health recommendations.

Public lands in West Virginia are managed by federal, state and local governments. Each agency has their own mission, which directs how they manage the lands under their jurisdiction. This means that policies for public use differ from agency to agency, and sometimes from area to area within a specific agency.

Federal Lands

Appalachian Trail Corridor

Geocaches are not permitted.

The AT is managed by the Appalachian Trail Conservatory and considered Federal land as part of the National Park Service.

National Cemeteries

Garfton National Cemetery

Caches are not permitted, including virtual stages.

West Virginia National Cemetery

Caches are not permitted, including virtual stages.

Monongahela National Forest

Caches are permitted within the forest. 

National Park Service

Please see the list of properties/locations/parks located in West Virginia, maintained by the NPS.

All virtual locations and physical placements require express permission from the park manager and the NPS.

Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge

The Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge (ORINWR) is a National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in non-contiguous sites consisting of islands along 392 miles (631 km) of the Ohio River, primarily in West Virginia.  Permission is required to place caches on ORINWR land.

ORINWR consists of the following islands:

ORINWR consists of the following mainland properties:

• Buckl;ey Mainland
• Buffalo Creek
• Captina Maintland
• Muskingum Mainland

State Lands

Coopers Rock State Forest

• For portions north of I-68, please follow the policy set for WVU Research Forest.
• For all other areas, please follow the policy set for WV Division of Natural Resources.

West Virginia Department Of Highways

West Virginia traffic laws state "No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with law or the directions of a police officer or traffic-control device, in any of the following places:...... On any controlled-access highway". Simply stated, pulling off to the shoulder of a controlled-access highway is illegal except for emergencies. Cache placements are illegal on the shoulders of any controlled or partially controlled access highway in West Virginia.

West Virginia Division of Natural Resources

The West Virginia Department of Natural Resources (WV DNR) has developed a geocaching permit policy that must be followed for geocache placement. Current participant and placement policies are found in the permit application. All rules and regulations provided by the WV State Parks must be followed.

The permit requirement applies to following locations:

• State parks
• State forests 
• Rail trails operated by State Parks 
  • North Bend Rail Trail
  • Greenbriar River Trail
• Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) with State Park-operated recreational facilities
  • Berwind Lake WMA
  • Bluestone WMA 
  • Laurel Lake WMA

West Virginia University Research Forest

Geocaches are not permitted.

Please note that area includes portion of Coopers Rock State Forest north of I-68.

City and County Lands

N/A

Private Lands

Oglebay Park and Wheeling Park

The Wheeling Park Commission requires permission for geocache placement. The permit application must be submitted and approved, per the instructions on the application.

Please note that the contact information for the permit application on the application is incorrect. Please send to mpotts@oglebay.com or Mike Potts, 465 Lodge Drive, Wheeling WV 26003.