Geocaching is the modern-day version of treasure hunting. Instead of deciphering dusty parchment maps, you find caches using GPS coordinates. Previously, you needed to purchase a specialized GPSr (Global Positioning System Receiver), but with the Geocaching app, you can get started with this fun hobby using just your iPhone.

Review

Geocaches are small boxes or containers each containing a logbook and selection of trinkets (the treasure), which are carefully hidden and then registered on geocaching.com, using the satellite coordinates of their location. When you find a cache, you sign and date the logbook, take a trinket, and replace it with a trinket of your own. Then you just have to make sure to re-hide the cache in the same location and log your find on the website.

Developed by Groundspeak, who maintain the Geocaching website, the Geocaching app makes all of this very easy. You can search for nearby geocaches, use the iPhone’s GPS abilities to navigate to a cache, and log your find on geocache.com, all within the app.

First, start with a search, either using your current location, or a postal code. The app lists information about nearby caches, including the GPS coordinates, cache description, and recent logs. This ability alone saves you from needing to go to the website, print out the information, and enter it into a GPSr.

Next, once you’ve chosen a cache from the search results, you use your iPhone to navigate to the cache, either using the map, or following the compass. Checking the logs and cache description page, you can sometimes find hints if you’re having trouble (beware of spoilers, if you don’t want any extra help!), and see when a cache was originally hidden and when it was last found.

After finding a cache, you can log it right from your phone, rather than waiting until you are back at your computer.

For more advanced geocachers, the app also gives you the ability to search for trackables (cache items with unique tracking numbers which are moved between boxes), and save pocket queries from the geocache website.

I used the app for the first time this weekend, and learned that there are at least ten caches within a mile of my house. We set out for a walk Sunday morning and found our first cache. Reception is a bit spotty in my area, so the map often took awhile to update, but once we got close to the hiding spot I used the compass and found it within seconds, it was remarkably accurate.

The only negative to relying on the Geocaching app when you’re out searching for a cache is the lack of coverage. If you plan to search for caches deep in the woods, you’ll probably still want to invest in a dedicated GPSr, but reading the forums at geocaching.com, there are plenty of intrepid geocachers out there, using just their phones, and finding plenty of caches. The app is usable with the iPod Touch for downloading and saving searches, but of course you won’t be able to use it for navigation.

An in-app camera is missing, which would be nice for adding photos to cache logs, but that’s easy enough to work around.

Recommendation

Geocaching is a fun, inexpensive adventure for the whole family. By app store standards, the $9.99 price may seem a little high, but compared to the cost of a stand-alone GPSr, it’s quite a bargain. I’m looking forward to more geocaching adventures, and this app will be seeing plenty of use. I highly recommend it!

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