1. (a) For the purposes of this rule:

   1. (1) “Geocaching” means an outdoor recreational activity whereby participants use navigational tools to hide and search for a container that is placed in a publicly-accessible place;
   2. (2) “Letterboxing” means an outdoor recreational activity whereby participants use clues to hide and search for a box that is placed in a publicly-accessible place; and
   3. (3) “Earthcache” means a type of geocache activity that directs participants to a special geological location to learn about a unique feature of the Earth.
2. (b) No person shall place objects on department properties for the purpose of geocaching or letterboxing, or shall develop an earthcache or other virtual cache for a department property, unless written permission has been granted by authorized department personnel.

3. (c) A written request for geocaching or letterboxing shall be made by contacting the regional supervisor, park manager, or forest manager and providing the following:

   1. (1) Proposed location of geocache or letterbox, including global positioning system coordinates, datum, or clues;
   2. (2) Type of container to be used;
   3. (3) Where and how the geocache or letterbox is listed or advertised;
   4. (4) Contact information, including name, address, telephone or cell phone number, and email address;
   5. (5) Length of time the geocache or letterbox will be in place; and
   6. (6) That the geocache or letterbox shall be maintained by the requestor or designee during the length of time.

4. (d) Geocaching or letterboxing shall be approved in writing if the regional supervisor, park, trails, or forest supervisor or manager determines:

   1. (1) Placement, discovery, and removal will not damage or disturb natural resources. “Natural resources” means flora, trees, and vegetation, soils, water, and wetland resources, geological features, and fauna, wildlife, and wildlife habitat; and
   2. (2) The activity will not cause harm or disturb other patrons.

5. (e) Cache and letterbox containers, including ammunition canisters shall be permitted for use provided that:

   1. (1) The ammunition canister shall be painted in non-military colors if located within 300 feet of developed recreation areas, including parking lots, administrative and maintenance facilities, dwellings, camps, cabins and yurts, bathhouses, campgrounds, campsites, playgrounds, athletic fields, beaches, pavilions, picnic areas, and boat launches; and
   2. (2) The name of the cache, the name of the owner of the cache, and the date the department granted approval for the cache shall be clearly labeled on the outside of all containers and canisters.
6. (f) If the regional supervisor, park, trails, or forest supervisor or manager does not approve a request pursuant to (d) above, the regional supervisor, park, trails, or forest supervisor or manager shall notify the person in writing of the specific reasons for denial.
7. (g) Geocaches or letterboxes shall be removed at the conclusion of the scheduled time period. Notification of removal shall be made to the regional supervisor, park, trails, or forest supervisor or manager. The regional supervisor, park, trails, or forest supervisor or manager shall remove a geocache or letterbox prior to the scheduled time period if the conditions under Ncr 731.07 occurs, for which the department shall not be held liable or responsible for loss or damage of such cache or letterbox, but shall make a reasonable attempt to notify the owner.

Source. #14055 EMERGENCY, EXPIRED: 2-15-25 New. #14291, eff 6-25-25, EXPIRES: 6-25-35