Please pass this information on to fellow geocachers.:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/faq/index.shtml#geo]http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/faq/index.shtml#geo
Does Coconino National Forest have a policy on geocaches?
No. Currently there is no official policy related to geocaching on this national forest. There are, however, federal rules and regulations that pertain directly to geocashing.
Concerns and limitations include unauthorized burying or hiking in the alpine tundra, disturbance (digging and trampling) of sensitive soils (microbiotic crust at lower elevations), disturbance of archeological resources, disturbance of TE&S (Threatened and Endangered Species), and unauthorized use of motorized or mechanized equipment in wilderness areas.
No soil disturbance is permitted for any geocache placement on the Forest. Caches should be covered with leaves or woody debris if the geocacher chooses to screen the cache at the site.
Geocachers must remove their cache if the site receives a large number of visits by others as evidenced by a well-worn trail or path, as this disturbs soil and vegetation.
Caches should be removed after one year regardless of site activity and moved to a new location or removed from the national forest.
More information and regulations sited http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/faq/geocaching.pdf
Read an article printed in the Denver Post August 30, 2006 regarding Geocaching in the area around Denver, Colorado. (a 22kb .pdf file)
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/faq/geocaching-denver-post.pdf
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/faq/geocaching.pdf
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Several Regions and National Forests have information available to the public on their web sites. This is a very good avenue to provide information to this tech savvy user group.
The following are guidelines that may be helpful to the public:
1. Check with the appropriate Ranger District to identify any concerns or special restrictions they have that affect the placing of geocaches.
2. Geocaches should not be placed where damage could be caused to cultural or natural resources from the activities of placing or finding a geocache.
3. Placing geocaches in Wilderness is discouraged. This is because Wilderness is a place where evidence of people should not be noticeable, and natural conditions should dominate the area. A virtual geocache may be an acceptable alternative to placing a real geocache in designated Wilderness. Again, check with the local Ranger District for any concerns or restrictions they may have.
4. Follow Leave No Trace concepts which can be found at: http://www.lnt.org/programs/lnt7/index.html
Why is geocaching discouraged in Wilderness?
Geocaching is discouraged in Wilderness because of direction in the Wilderness Act, Forest Service policy, and leave no trace concepts:
1. The Wilderness Act - Wilderness is defined in section 2© of the Wilderness Act. Portions of the definition that discourage geocaching include, that wilderness is an area "…where man himself is a visitor who does not remain." Another part of the definition states that wilderness is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural conditions and which "…generally appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint of man's work substantially unnoticeable…."
2. Forest Service Policy
8/5/2006
a. Forest Service Manual 2320.3, #4. Cease uses and activities and remove existing structures not essential to the administration, protection, or management of wilderness for wilderness purposes or not provided for in the establishing legislation.
b. Forest Service Manual 2323.14 - Visitor Management. Plan and manage public use of wilderness in such a manner that preserves the wilderness character of the area.
3. Leave No Trace concepts – The well known rule is "Pack it in, pack it out".
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Thank you
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Volunteer Reviewer
Geocaching.com