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Table of Contents
General Information
When will my Geocache be published?
In Arizona, we have 2 Volunteers who review and publish geocaches. We strive to begin review of geocaches within 7 days. Typically, it is much sooner. If some of your geocaches are published by one reviewer and some are still unpublished, please be patient. The other reviewer will get to them as schedules permit. If for some reason one reviewer gets behind, it is possible that another reviewer will help out.
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 private response to me, please describe your cache container in detail, as well as how and where your cache is hidden and how a visiting geocacher finds and retrieves the cache. If your cache is attached to anything, please describe the attachment method. Be specific about how the cache is hidden. And please do not say something like "The same as the rest". Each cache page needs it's own description.
Some examples: pill bottle in a hole in the tree in 'Name of City park', hide-a-key on guardrail on 'Name of Road', in water, retrieved by pulling up line from Name of Park fishing pier, a keyholder magnetically attached to a lamp post in commercial parking lot.
Please be specific about what the container is and the size. Just saying a "plastic container" or a 'Metal box" is incomplete. Is it a tupperware container, a film canister, a camo pill bottle on guard rail, a 5 gallon bucket, or a pipe resembling a stick of dynamite? We want to know in case there is some question in the future by Law Enforcement or a property owner.
If you need to include a picture, please upload the image to a Reviewer Note. When the cache is publishes, the image will be archived and not visible to the public.
Puzzle/Mystery/Wherigo caches
- We need to know how your puzzle/mystery cache is solvable, please include this information in a Reviewer Note.
- If a coordinate checker is used and a keyword is needed to solve the mystery cache, please include this information in a Reviewer Note.
- Please do not put your 'posted' coordinates in areas where people should not search such as freeways, private residences, railroads, off-limits locations, or other areas where access is restricted. Lakes and street corners are fine. I know your cache page says the cache is not at the posted coordinates, but people do search those coordinates. We have many new cachers who are using cell phones and may not look at the cache page. If you have any questions about a location, feel free to ask one of us.
Disabled Caches
If the cache owner intends to keep the cache in the game, they should:
- At least monthly post ongoing status updates on the cache page using a Write Note log
- Confirm when a maintenance visit has been completed using an Owner Maintenance log
- Use the Enable option when it has been confirmed the cache is ready to be found
A Reviewer may Archive the cache if the cache owner has not posted an update within 14 days.
Health Score
- To help improve the overall caching experience, Geocaching HQ created an algorithm to calculate a hidden Health Score for each geocache.
- A low Health Score provides an indication that the cache may need attention from the owner.
- The goal is to improve the overall geocaching experience and avoid frustrations due to missing or broken caches.
- The algorithm isn't perfect; it cannot read and interpret the text within a cache page - however it does take the following aspects of a page into consideration:
- Did Not Find logs (DNF)
- Needs Maintenance logs (NM)
- Needs Archived logs (NA)
- Last find date
- Difficulty and terrain rating
- If the Health Score of a cache is calculated below a dynamic threshold, an automatic alert email is sent to the cache owner by Geocaching HQ.
- A Community Volunteer Reviewer may follow up to perform further actions on the cache page.
- Neither Geocaching HQ or the Community Volunteer Reviewer can assess the true status of a cache; it is the responsibility of the cache owner, as part of cache maintenance.
- If there are a multiple DNFs logs on a cache - the community may not know if the cache is missing or is simply hard to find.
- If a cache page has several posted DNFs - and the cache owner knows that the cache is in definitely in place - they should reassure the community by posting a Note log.
e.g. "There have been a few DNFs, however it is a clever hide! I checked on it this morning. Check the hint!"
- If a Community Volunteer Reviewer does not see a posted response from a cache owner on their cache page after several DNF/Maintenance requests, it may be Disabled.
- If a cache owner knows with certainty that their cache is in place and ready to be found, they may Enable the cache page, with an explanatory note.
- If a cache owner is unable to definitively confirm the status of their cache, the cache page should remain Disabled and a Maintenance visit should be scheduled.
- An Owner Maintenance log should only be posted after a maintenance visit has occurred.
- Only when a cache is confirmed to be in place and ready to be found should a cache page be Enabled.
The number of "false positives" flagged with this process are minimal compared to the number of abandoned caches that this process will remove from the game.
Event Stacking
An event must be a minimum of 30 miles distance or 5 hours before or after another event. This is a regional rule to prevent event stacking. A registered series of events can also be rejected as unique events, even if the distance is over 30 miles, if it is essentially the same group traveling from event to event. The intention of an event is to be central; a social gathering for and with geocachers.
Bullhead City Parks
Web: http://www.bullheadcity.com/
All new geocaches placed in any parks or property owned by Bullhead city must receive permission prior to placement. All permission requests must be sent to the Recreation Manager.
Bureau of Land Management - Arizona
Web: https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/recreation-activities/arizona
BLM's Geocaching Rules
- Identify proposed cache locations to the local BLM office before placing a cache
- Do not place caches at archaeological sites
- Obtain a BLM permit for any competitive events, contests for prizes, paid participation, or caches hosted by commercial business
- Advise BLM if you observe any misuse or abuse of a cache location
Cibola National Wildlife Refuge
Web: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/cibola/
No geocaches allowed.
Cochise County
Web: https://www.cochise.az.gov/highway-and-floodplain/highway-division
No geocaches allowed inside or outside of drainage structures. -Highway and Floodplain Division
Coronado National Memorial
Web: http://www.nps.gov/coro/index.htm
No new geocaches are allowed.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Web: http://www.nps.gov/glca/index.htm
No new geocaches are allowed. There are a number of existing geocaches in the park. The park reserves the right to archive any or all of the geocaches at any time. Rangers will normally gather any geocache if they come across it.
Golf Courses
No geocaches are allowed on any Golf Courses unless permission is given by the golf course manager.
Grand Canyon National Park
Web: http://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm
Any new geocaches are not allowed.
Events taking place in Grand Canyon National Park are required to have an approved special use permit prior to submitting the event for review.
Special Use Permit: https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/management/sup.htm#CP_JUMP_2220836
Imperial National Wildlife Refuge
Web: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/imperial/
No geocaches allowed.
Ironwood Forest National Monument
Web: https://www.blm.gov/visit/ironwood
Geocaches allowed with permission.
Kofa National Wildlife Refuge
Web: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kofa/
No geocaches allowed.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Web: http://www.nps.gov/lake/index.htm
Any new geocaches are not allowed.
Little Free Libraries
The libraries are privately owned and permission must be obtained from the library owner.
Maricopa County Parks
Web: http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/Geocaching.aspx
No geocaches allowed in any parks must receive written permission from Park Supervisors prior to placement.
- Adobe Dam Regional Park
- Buckeye Hills Regional Park
- Cave Creek Regional Park
- Estrella Mountain Regional Park
- Lake Pleasant Regional Park
- McDowell Mountain Regional Park
- San Tan Mountain Regional Park
- Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area
- Usery Mountain Regional Park
- White Tank Mountain Regional Park
Native American Reservations
Web: http://www.epa.gov/region9/air/maps/az_tribe.html
Geocaches in Native American Reservations is not allowed without written permission from the tribal counsel.
- Ak-Chin Reservation
- Camp Verde Reservation
- Cocopah East & West Reservation
- Colorado River Reservation
- Fort Apache
- Fort McDowell Reservation
- Fort Mohave Reservation
- Fort Yuma Reservation
- Gila River Reservation
- Havasupai Reservation
- Hopi Reservation
- Hualapai Reservation
- Kaibab-Paiute Reservation
- Navajo Reservation
- Pascua-Yaqui Reservation
- Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
- San Carlos Reservation
- Tohono O’odham / San Xavier Reservation
- Tonto Apache Reservation
- Yavapai-Apache
- Yavapai-Prescott Reservation
Native American Ruins
No geocaches are allowed on any Native American ruins.
Phoenix Mountain Preserve
Web: http://www.phoenixmountains.org/
Placing geocaches in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve is not allowed.
- Lookout Mountain
- North Mountain/Shaw Butte
- Phoenix Sonoran Preserve
- Piestewa/Dreamy Draw
- South Mountain
Picacho Peak State Park
Web: http://www.azstateparks.com/Parks/PIPE/science.html
Any new geocaches are subject to a permit process and approval by the park manager before they can be placed. Information and permit application can be found at their website.
Pima County Parks
Web :https://webcms.pima.gov/cms/one.aspx?portalId=169&pageId=48897
List of Pima County parks can be found here: http://webcms.pima.gov/cms/one.aspx?portalId=169&pageId=22364
Geocaching is not allowed in Pima County parks without prior written permission from the Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation.
Park and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes
Power Trails
Please note - YOU will be the one responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of your cache as outlined in the Guidelines. If you are not going to be able to regularly visit and maintain your cache as required then please do not submit these caches. Your prompt attention to any log that indicates things could be amiss will be greatly appreciated by all geocachers. The rule is; if you can't fix it straight away then "Disable" it until you can, see this Help Center Article: https://www.geocaching.com/help/index.php?pg=kb.chapter&id=38&pgid=235
You, as the Cache Owner, may not ask “the community” to maintain caches on your behalf. In certain circumstances, you may designate other cachers to assist in maintaining. These other cachers must be active local cachers, local to the area where the cache is placed. However – you – as the cache owner - remain primarily responsible for all maintenance.
To help assure maintenance of this geocache power trail is performed the following wording needs to be placed on each cache page in a prominent location:
To assure this cache Power Trail remains active and available for all who seek these caches, this cache (and the others in this trail) is maintained by the cache owner (Name). (As appropriate – please add) These additional local cachers will assist with the cache maintenance: Name/Link, Name/Link, Name/Link.
Cachers are encouraged to communicate any caches requiring attention by placing a Needs Maintenance note on this cache page.
Plan your power trail wisely. Check for minimum distance. Geocaches must be at least 0.1 miles (528 feet or 161 meters) apart.
Railroad Property
Geocaches placed within 150 feet of an active railroad tracks, including spur lines, are considered to be on property belonging to a railroad and trespassing is prohibited by Federal Regulations.
Shopping Malls
Arrowhead Towne Center Mall - Permission from the Mall's Management Office is required before geocaches can be placed on the mall's property.
State Trust Land
Web: https://land.az.gov/
Geocaching is allowed. Cache page description must indicate the geocache is on Arizona State Trust Land and a pay permit must be obtained from the Arizona State Lands Dept (ASLD) before entering.
Cache owner shall describe the geocache location, container, and how it's hidden as a Reviewer Note.
Governor Doug Ducey Announces Geocaching Now Allowed On State Trust Land
Tucson Mountain Park
Web: http://www.pima.gov/nrpr/parks/tmp/index.htm
Geocaches are no longer allowed to be place on Tucson Mountain Park.
Park and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes
Wildlife Watering Facilities
No geocaches within 1000 feet from a wildlife watering facility allowed. Wildlife rely heavily upon these water sources especially in dry desert areas and will stay away from areas where human activity is present.
AGFD Wildlife Waters Interactive Map: https://azaccessmap.com/map.html
Wilderness Parks
Arizona Wilderness Parks List https://wilderness.net/practitioners/wilderness-areas/search.php?STATE=3&AGENCY=ALL#resultsSection
Geocaches not allowed in Wilderness Parks.
Arizona Reviewers
About This Guide
The local laws and guidelines for geocaching placement vary from place to place. As community reviewers learn geocache placement policies for a certain location, they can add it here. This site may not be a complete or accurate list of land policies. These policies are made by the land owner or manager, they are neither the reviewer’s nor Geocaching HQ’s. This guide is just for reference, if no policies for the area you’re looking for are listed, that doesn't mean no policies exist. You must still obtain permission to place your geocache from the landowner or land manager,comply with all applicable laws, and follow the Geocaching Listing Requirements.
If you have an update, email the community reviewer(s) listed.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
If you contribute to this wiki, you agree to provide permission to others under this license.
If you share information from this site, you must mention "These regional land policies came from the Geocaching.com Public Wiki and are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No-Derivatives 4.0 International License."
And, you agree to keep content current by checking back regularly for updates.
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