The following information is for public lands within Colorado where there are specific concerns relating to geocaching. This list is not all inclusive. Keep in mind that when selecting a location for a geocache (public or private), it is always up to the person placing the geocache to make sure that any necessary permission is obtained. Likewise, once a cache is published, it is the responsibility of the geocache owner to quickly respond to any issues that arise over the geocache placement. If you see errors or omissions, please contact me. Thanks!

Please visit the local county/city/municipality website for the area where you wish to hide a container for more information prior to placing your geocache!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

General Geocaching Guidelines

I hope you have previously read, and understand the Geocache Guidelines listed here, and also the specific information about placing your first geocache here. If not, please do so now. This may save us both time, and hassle later. Unfortunately, a significant number of new geocache submission denials are for guideline violations. It is essential that you have a clear understanding of the placement requirements. Additionally, you may also check out this Geocaching 101 page for more information.

Challenge Caches

Read the challenge guidelines HERE. Please add a reviewer note with 10 qualifiers (not including yourself) when submitting a challenge. Also, the guidelines state "Please do not submit a challenge cache in an area where a very similar or identical challenge cache already exists." We suggest similar challenges be separated by at least 30 miles (varies based on location/highway/rural).

We use a bronze/silver/gold standard for similar challenges in an area. The tier should be halved or doubled between the levels. Example: Bronze (complete the fizzy 2 times), Silver (complete the fizzy 4 times), Gold (complete the fizzy 8 times). Complete County and Jasmer Challenges we have opted for one per state, like other states and countries have done. Variants may be allowed depending on guidelines, and proximity to other challenges.

Event Stacking

Events should be a minimum of 25 miles OR two hours apart to publish. If one ends at 1pm, the other can start at 3pm.

In the case of Mega Events (let's assume the Mega event is on Saturday for this):

• No events will be published within 60 miles on Saturday (other than one if the Mega committee publishes it: No CITO. CCE allowed in 2025 for Mega Committee). Two hours apart still applies.
• Friday: only two events allowed within 60 miles (CCE allowed in 2025 for Mega Committee) Mega Committee can submit six months ahead. Other players, the normal three months ahead.
• Sunday: same as Friday.
  
• Days other than Friday/Saturday/Sunday: regular Event Stacking rules apply.

Community Celebration Events:

• Cannot be located within 60 miles of a Mega-Event, Block Party, or Giga-Event on dates up to two days before or one day after a Mega-Event, Block Party, or Giga-Event (exceptions given to official host account for each Mega-Event, Block Party, or Giga-Event); may be further restricted in certain regions.

Geocaching with Disabilities

I feel it is very important to help those with disabilities confidently attempt a geocache that is labelled correctly. Please only use the "1" terrain if someone in a wheelchair can get to ground zero, AND retrieve/replace the geocache, especially when they are by themselves. You can see this information here.

Little Free Libraries

Little Free Library hides are allowed, provided they follow these guidelines. The libraries are privately owned and usually on private property so permission must be obtained from the library owner. The cache page can use the term "Little Free Library," but should not promote the movement or include their website (for commercial guidelines). The logbook must be in a container, and not floating around inside the library.

Making Your Cache Page Stand Out

If you would like to know how to make your cache page stand out by adding an embedded picture or using HTML to change the way your text looks, then be sure to check out this article, and this article in the Help Center.

Night Caches

If UV/Paint is used, each spot must be marked as a PHYSICAL WAYPOINT (and have permission before painting). If you are using small fire tacks, they may be marked as VIRTUAL WAYPOINTS.

Playgrounds

Geocaching cannot be placed on playground equipment (or within 25 feet of the playground boundary). This is to prevent suspicious behavior close to children which have led to police being called.

Roundabout/Rotary

We've been asked to not publish caches inside of rotary/roundabouts unless there is a cross walk to the middle, and pedestrians can be expected there. This is for safety and not distracting drivers.

Schools

Caches will not be published on or near school property for the same reason as playgrounds. The distance from the school boundary will be a minimum of 150 feet, and possibly more depending on seeker visibility from the school.

Underground/Tunnel Crawl Caches

These are allowed, but require explicit permission from the governing authority of the tunnels.

Virtual Posted Coordinates

Generally, the posted coordinates for a puzzle cache or wherigo cache are virtual coordinates. They must not be placed in any restricted area. This helps avoid confrontations for new geocachers who may not understand what a virtual waypoint is.

Boulder City, Boulder County Parks and Open Space

UPDATE!!!

Boulder City still does not allow geocaches, but Boulder County now allows geocaches! Thanks to some very hard work of some local geocachers. It will take some time for me to update my maps, so be patient if I originally question the placement. We will work together to get things moving.

Colorado USFS Wilderness Areas

Geocaches are not allowed in Colorado USFS Wilderness areas.

Colorado Springs Parks and Open Spaces
 

Physical geocaches are generally prohibited in Colorado Springs Parks, and Open Space areas with the exception of some micros. Per their guidelines:

"Micro caches: Certain micro caches are permitted in parks and open spaces within the jurisdiction of the City of Colorado Springs. The micro caches allowed include any clear plastic ID card holders (wallet-sized) and small containers basically the size of chap-stick tubes. Micro caches must be placed on or directly adjacent to a designated trail."

If you have specific questions about placing other geocaches in Colorado Springs Parks and Open space areas, you should contact the applicable Land Manager before planning your geocache placements. Check the Colorado Springs Parks Website for contact information.

Colorado State Parks

Colorado State Parks generally require a permit for the placing geocaches. Some of the State Parks prohibit physical geocaches altogether. If you are planning to place a geocache in a Colorado State Park, contact the park office to find out the geocaching regulations/permitting process. Visit the Colorado State Park Website for assistance in finding contact information.

When submitting a cache that is located in a Colorado State Park, please include, in the reviewer note, the name, title, and contact information of the person who granted permission. This has good access to maps: https://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/Maps-Library.aspx

Roxborough State Park - This park has more strict guidelines that can be found here: https://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/Roxborough/Documents/RoxboroughGeocachingandLetterboxingPolicy.pdf

Fort Collins Natural Areas

Geocaches are not allowed in Fort Collins Natural Areas. You can find additional information here. Direct link to PDF: https://www.fcgov.com/naturalareas/pdf/natural-areas-map.pdf?1587569346

Jefferson County Open Spaces
 

Geocaches are generally allowed if they conform to their Placement Guidelines. Cathedral Spires Park, Centennial Cone Park, Lookout Mountain Nature Center and Preserve do not allow geocaches. "Geocaching is allowed only in areas where such activity does not promote hazardous activity, the degradation of vegetation or cultural resources, or the creation of undesignated trails. Should the placement of a Geocache encourage negative impacts of any kind, JCOS Rangers may remove the Geocache in accordance with applicable park regulations."

Larimer County Open Spaces
 

Larimer County Parks and Open Space areas require written permission placing geocaches. More information can be found here in Section F (USE RESTRICTIONS) #6. Written permission from Larimer County Department of Natural Resources is required for placement at Devils Backbone.

National Parks within Colorado

Physical geocaches are not permitted inside National Parks, and National Monuments.

San Juan National Forest

The San Juan National Forest prohibits new geocaches. You should contact a San Juan National Forest office if you have questions regarding restrictions and boundaries.

State Wildlife Areas and State Trust Lands

A valid hunting or fishing license is required for everyone 18 or older accessing any State Wildlife Area or CPW-leased State Trust Land, effective July 1, 2020. More info can be found on this PDF. Originally, they requested that all geocaches on these properties be archived, and removed. Fortunately, we were able to come to an agreement that keeps all existing geocaches on these properties. Unfortunately, no new geocaches will be allowed to be placed on these lands. Here is an interactive map to check areas: https://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/Pages/WildlifeAreaMap.aspx