Geocaching Across The Divide Through Rocky Mountain National Park

Published April 2, 2015 10:34PM

What is Geocaching?

Geocaching is an outdoor treasure-hunting game where participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) device or an app on a smart phone to find containers (called “geocaches” or “caches”). A typical cache is a small waterproof container containing a logbook and “treasure,” usually toys or trinkets of little monetary value. When you find a cache, write the date and your name in the logbook, then trade a trinket you brought for one in the cache.

Across the Divide GeoTour

The Across the Divide GeoTour features Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park and the mountain villages of Estes Park & Grand Lake. Traveling from town to town, you cross the Continental Divide in Rocky Mountain National Park reaching an elevation of over 12,000 feet.

All you need is a device with GPS and a passport to guide you to locations! Participating in this GeoTour, you will learn about the past, celebrate the present, and inspire the future while experiencing the “Wilderness, Wildlife and Wonder” the area has to offer. Be sure to follow all the rules of the “Tread Lightly” code, and obey local signs and regulations.

There will be special activities to enjoy after you have had full days of geocaching and exploring. In addition, each year new caches and more prizes will be added to enhance your visits.

As of this writing, there are 50 geocaches (EarthCaches, virtuals, and traditionals) in Estes Park, Grand Lake, and Rocky Mountain National Park for you to find relating to Rocky Mountain National Park’s centennial history. It is illegal to bury foreign objects or containers inside a national park so the caches there are not the traditional kind.

Each cache has either a special passcode to login to a passport or a question to answer about your visit. Log the caches online at www.geocaching.com/play/geotours/across-the-divide and be sure to submit EarthCache and virtual cache answers accordingly.

Stamp your passport at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, Alpine Visitor Center (closed during winter/spring season), and Kawunechee Visitor Center.

You can earn souvenir commemorative coins for Grand Lake and Estes Park by finding 10 caches on each side of the Divide and getting the RMNP stamp. If you find and log any 35 caches on the passport and get two park stamps, you also earn a souvenir Centennial Coin. Complete the entire 50-cache GeoTour with all 3 park stamps for the trackable Across the Divide Geocoin.