What is Geocaching?
Geocaching has become a very popular activity for individuals and families to
participate in. Geocaching is an entertaining adventure game for GPS users.
The basic idea is to have individuals and organizations set up caches all over
the world and share the locations of these caches on the internet. GPS users can
then use the location coordinates to find the caches. Once found, a cache may
provide the visitor with a wide variety of rewards. All the visitor is asked to
do is if they take something they should try to leave something in return for
the cache. Visit www.geocaching.com
for more details.
Polk County Conservation permits geocaching in keeping with its mission to provide
opportunities for safe recreational activities. Geocachers are welcome to place a
cache in PCC lands as long as they comply with the requirements of the permit.
Polk County Conservation Geocache Placement Site Guidelines
At this time, PCC managed areas have been placed into 2 categories. However,
terrain type, sensitivity, management practices such as burning, and human impact
may result in changes to category description, placement of areas in those
categories, and the number of caches allowed.
Category 1 - Only virtual caches may be developed for these areas. Nothing physical
may be placed on these properties. Contact Polk County Conservation prior to
development in order to inquire about any designated and/or "off limit" areas and
to learn interesting facts that may enhance the educational value of your virtual
cache.
Beaver Creek Greenbelt (71 acres)
Carney Marsh (40 acres)
Engeldinger Marsh (214 acres)
Category 2 - Physical caches may be placed in these areas. Contact Polk County
Conservation prior to development in order to inquire about any designated and/or "off
limit" areas and to learn interesting facts that may enhance the educational value of
your cache.
Brown’s Woods (484 acres)
Easter Lake Park (464 acres)
Fort Des Moines Park (island is off limits) (116 acres)
Jester Park (1834 acres)
Thomas Mitchell Park (175 acres)
Yellow Banks Park (517 acres)
Chichaqua Bottom Greenbelt (6800 acres)
Chichaqua Valley Trail (20 miles)
Great Western Trail (17 miles)
Mally’s Weh-Weh-Neh-Kee Park (37 acres)
Sycamore Trail (6.5 miles)
The following specific conditions and provisions shall apply to those placing a
geocache in an area managed by Polk County Conservation.
1. A Geocache Placement Permit Application must be filed with and approved by Polk
County Conservation (SCC) before posting the cache on a geocaching web site.
2. At a minimum, Cache Listing Requirements/Guidelines developed by Groundspeak
and posted at geocaching.com must be followed when developing a cache.
3. All local and state laws apply.
4. The cache container must be clearly marked on the outside with Geocaching.com
and the name of the cache.
5. Permit is good from date issued to March 31 of the next year. After that date,
the cache must be re-permitted or removed. If the cache owner removes the cache
before the March 31 expiration date, he/she will notify PCC.
6. PCC, through its director or designee, reserves the right to terminate this
approval for placement of a geocache on PCC land for any reason at any time.
Caches not in compliance with the terms of this permit will be removed from the
property and this permit voided for failure to comply.
7. We request that you monitor this cache every two months and you maintain it to
be family friendly. This means the cache should contain no food, alcohol, firearms,
drugs, dangerous items or adult items.
8. We also request that you direct people seeking your cache to follow established
trails most of the way to your cache. We discourage off trail hiking as it negatively
impacts the environment.
9. Each geocache placed in Polk County Parks will be given a permit number. Please
include the permit number in your online description of the geocache.
Click here for a copy of the Geocache Placement Permit.