Geocaching is a new and exciting activity offering individuals the opportunity to explore and enjoy the beautiful landscape of Halton Hills. Part scavenger hunt, part “Amazing Race” Geocaching uses Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) units and coordinates which are available on the Internet (www.geocaching.com) to provide clues to caches hidden at various locations or points of interest throughout Halton Hills and around the world. Currently we have over 40 caches hidden in Halton Hills alone, and this number continues to increase. Caches have logbooks to record your name and many contain little gifts or tokens.
Geocaching combines eco-tourism, technology, and adventure. Historical information outlining the heritage of each cache is often available offering the opportunity to explore natural, virtual, and commercial caches that range in levels of difficulty from beginner to advanced. Geocaching is a great family activity, has fans of all ages and can be enjoyed year round.
A cache hidden at Cedarvale Park involves a history lesson on “The Georgetown Boys” (What year did they arrive? Answer found on a plaque located in the park), basic math and lining up coordinates based on your answers. Caches tend to be well hidden unless you know where to look and are always rewarding to find.
Other caches are hidden along the Bruce Trail through Limehouse, along the Credit River in Glen Williams and in Willow Park Ecology Centre in Norval. In Georgetown there are caches hidden at The Old Seed House Gardens, The GO Station, in Historic Downtown, and at Mold-Masters SportsPlex. Acton has caches hidden around Fairy Lake, along the old Guelph Radial Line, and in the Downtown core.
So grab a GPS, a couple of friends and a notebook to start recording your “finds” and get out and discover parts of Halton Hills you didn’t even know existed. Want more information? Contact the Chamber and request the “Lets Go Geocaching” brochure. 905-877-7119 or tourism@haltonhillschamber.on.ca
Looking for caches in specific parts of Halton Hills? When visiting http://www.geocaching.com/ use the following postal codes for the areas you wish to visit:
- Acton: L7J 2E3
- Georgetown & Glen Williams: L7G 4B5
- Hornby: L0P 1E0
- Limehouse: L0P 1H0
- Norval: L0P 1K0