|
Geocaching in Maricopa County Parks
Geocaching is a new outdoor activity which involves the search for hidden caches by inputting a set of given coordinates into your GPS (Global Positioning System) unit and then following the directions given by your GPS to find the cache.
Geocaching is a great game; it gets folks out into open, natural Arizona and into beautiful areas around the state. It involves a sense of discovery, promotes exercise and can be a fun family adventure. Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department recognizes Geocaching as the fun, outdoor activity that it is. Unfortunately, those who have been hiding the caches are creating some real problems for the Maricopa County Park System.
The Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department is not opposed to geocaching. We do ask that geocachers follow the guidelines posted on the national website at geocaching.com regarding placement of caches on public lands. Those guidelines include not placing caches on archeological sites, contacting the land manager, in the case of Maricopa County parks it means contacting the Park Supervisor, before placing a cache on park property and placing caches which are within two miles of a trailhead while staying on designated trails. Beyond two miles of a trailhead the Park Supervisors are more liberal in where the caches may be placed, but you must remain on designated trails.
By contacting the Park Supervisor before placing a cache he/she can let you know, if your proposed site is on or near an archeological site. Not all archeological sites are obvious. Archeological sites and petroglphys are always in danger of discovery and vandalism.
Readers who are geocachers or are planning to begin geocaching we ask for, and would appreciate, your cooperation! Thanks in advance and go out and enjoy natural Arizona.
|