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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.
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