Ohio is a geocacher’s dream. From Lake Erie bluffs to Appalachian foothills, canal paths to forgotten cemeteries, the Buckeye State offers incredible geographic and historical diversity. But one challenge stands above the rest:
Find the oldest active geocache in each of Ohio’s 88 counties.
This isn’t just a numbers run. It’s a journey through the early days of geocaching—back when GPS accuracy was sketchy, containers were rugged, and hides were placed with a strong sense of discovery and permanence. Completing this challenge means standing where Ohio geocaching began, county by county.
Below is the complete and verified list of the oldest known active geocache in every Ohio county, including coordinates in both traditional and decimal formats so you can load them straight into your GPS or mapping software. My Geocaching List can be found here https://www.geocaching.com/plan/lists/BMA0RY0 and can be downloaded as a GPX
Why This Challenge Matters
- 🧭 Honors Ohio’s geocaching pioneers
- 🗺 Encourages statewide exploration
- 🕰 Connects modern caching with early 2000s hides
- 🏆 Makes for an epic personal or group challenge
Some of these caches are legendary. Others are quiet, humble hides that have simply stood the test of time. Together, they form a living history of geocaching in Ohio. Here is a map of where they are all located. Remember, this is only accurate as of the date this post is published. Geocaches can be disabled or archived at anytime and without notice. It’s best to check the status of the geocache before attempting to search for it.
Adams County (OH) — Buzzardroost Box, Too
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC920D_buzzardroost-box-too
N 38° 46.024 W 083° 26.950 | 38.767067, -83.449167
Allen County (OH) — Camera’s East Cache
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCJK0T_cameras-east-cache
N 40° 49.388 W 084° 03.643 | 40.823133, -84.060717
Ashland County (OH) — Team E-Trex Mohican 1
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC3AC8_team-e-trex-mohican-1
N 40° 35.407 W 082° 18.305 | 40.590117, -82.305083
Ashtabula County (OH) — Wine Country Cache
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC86F2
N 41° 45.428 W 080° 56.817 | 41.757133, -80.946950
Athens County (OH) — Witch’s Cache
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC195F_witchs-cache
N 39° 19.222 W 082° 05.302 | 39.320367, -82.088367
Auglaize County (OH) — Locked Canal Cache
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCHXRD_locked-canal-cache
N 40° 35.803 W 084° 22.434 | 40.596717, -84.373900
Belmont County (OH) — Barkcamp Cache
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC61A_barkcamp-cache
N 40° 02.394 W 081° 00.317 | 40.039900, -81.005283
Brown County (OH) — Ahhhhhhhhh
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCMTMC_ahhhhhhhhh
N 39° 00.724 W 083° 50.530 | 39.012067, -83.842167
Butler County (OH) — Harbin Challenge
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCD69_harbin-challenge
N 39° 19.308 W 084° 34.533 | 39.321800, -84.575550
Carroll County (OH) — Give Me Shelter
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCNE42_give-me-shelter
N 40° 27.765 W 081° 11.280 | 40.462750, -81.188000
Champaign County (OH) — Kiser Possum Hollow Cache
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCC107_kiser-possum-hollow-cache
N 40° 10.707 W 083° 57.718 | 40.178450, -83.961967
Clark County (OH) — Tecumseh Springs
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCP351_tecumseh-springs
N 39° 54.751 W 083° 54.623 | 39.912517, -83.910383
Clermont County (OH) — Don’t forget your water.
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCD54_dont-forget-your-water
N 39° 01.099 W 084° 16.820 | 39.018317, -84.280333
Clinton County (OH) — Where in the Shell is it?
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCWYTY_where-in-the-shell-is-it
N 39° 31.305 W 083° 50.840 | 39.521750, -83.847333
Columbiana County (OH) — The Alone Ranger
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCAC19_the-alone-ranger
N 40° 38.552 W 080° 31.140 | 40.642533, -80.519000
Coshocton County (OH) — The Porteus Mound
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC12PVG_the-porteus-mound
N 40° 13.929 W 081° 52.017 | 40.232150, -81.866950
Crawford County (OH) — Testicle Festival
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCNFEC_testicle-festival
N 40° 54.695 W 082° 46.923 | 40.911583, -82.782050
Cuyahoga County (OH) — The Kingdom
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC2A9D_the-kingdom
N 41° 26.644 W 081° 44.462 | 41.444067, -81.741033
Darke County (OH) — A “Sure Shot”
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC565F_a-sure-shot
N 40° 06.414 W 084° 38.157 | 40.106900, -84.635950
Defiance County (OH) — Walk in the park
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCHDV8_walk-in-the-park
N 41° 15.310 W 084° 23.578 | 41.255167, -84.392967
Delaware County (OH) — Creaking Tree, Hidden Cache
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC403_creaking-tree-hidden-cache
N 40° 12.101 W 082° 56.205 | 40.201683, -82.936750
Erie County (OH) — Mills Creek
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC626F_mills-creek
N 41° 26.478 W 082° 44.015 | 41.441300, -82.733583
Fairfield County (OH) — Bridges of Fairfield County – Charles Holliday
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCQ6W9_bridges-of-fairfield-county-charles-holliday
N 39° 53.777 W 082° 31.555 | 39.896283, -82.525917
Fayette County (OH) — One Degree of Separation – bennet – Seed Pod #1
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCWZX7_one-degree-of-separation-bennet-seed-pod-1
N 39° 36.973 W 083° 36.385 | 39.616217, -83.606417
Franklin County (OH) — A Neighborhood Park
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC16C6_a-neighborhood-park
N 40° 06.145 W 082° 57.934 | 40.102417, -82.965567
Fulton County (OH) — Right Side of the Tracks
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCGGRP_right-side-of-the-tracks
N 41° 35.365 W 083° 53.021 | 41.589417, -83.883683
Gallia County (OH) — Slam This Cache
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCR7FZ_slam-this-cache
N 38° 36.105 W 082° 15.431 | 38.601750, -82.257183
Geauga County (OH) — Mel Tried Harder
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCCC00_mel-tried-harder
N 41° 34.706 W 081° 11.386 | 41.578433, -81.189767
Greene County (OH) — SH~Stevenson Cemetery
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCPKJC_shstevenson-cemetery
N 39° 43.868 W 083° 53.548 | 39.731133, -83.892467
Guernsey County (OH) — Homestead
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC20E8_homestead
N 40° 06.521 W 081° 30.967 | 40.108683, -81.516117
Hamilton County (OH) — Shawnee Lookout Cache
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC31A_shawnee-lookout-cache
N 39° 07.071 W 084° 49.032 | 39.117850, -84.817200
Hancock County (OH) — Litzenberg Memorial Park
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCAEDE_litzenberg-memorial-park
N 41° 03.655 W 083° 45.753 | 41.060917, -83.762550
Hardin County (OH) — LEE Cemetary Cache
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCTE7Z_lee-cemetary-cache
N 40° 37.330 W 083° 29.263 | 40.622167, -83.487717
Harrison County (OH) — Gramp’s Cabin
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCKB6V_gramps-cabin
N 40° 20.545 W 081° 12.887 | 40.342417, -81.214783
Henry County (OH) — SQ – Red Fox Trail
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC9EDF_sq-red-fox-trail
N 41° 24.825 W 083° 59.366 | 41.413750, -83.989433
Highland County (OH) — Butler’s Burial
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCQ74K_butlers-burial
N 39° 06.965 W 083° 22.521 | 39.116083, -83.375350
Hocking County (OH) — The Pad
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCTX2R_the-pad
N 39° 29.155 W 082° 11.171 | 39.485917, -82.186183
Holmes County (OH) — Walnut Creek Cache
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCV3GZ_walnut-creek-cache
N 40° 32.516 W 081° 43.293 | 40.541933, -81.721550
Huron County (OH) — Fitchville Rest
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCPEPC_fitchville-rest
N 41° 05.647 W 082° 29.241 | 41.094117, -82.487350
Jackson County (OH) — Horeb Cemetery
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCV7BZ_horeb-cemetery
N 38° 54.134 W 082° 36.808 | 38.902233, -82.613467
Jefferson County (OH) — Mother (In-Law) Lode
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC62B6_mother-in-law-lode
N 40° 21.569 W 080° 37.960 | 40.359483, -80.632667
Knox County (OH) — Tributary
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCGQM9_tributary
N 40° 23.686 W 082° 20.314 | 40.394767, -82.338567
Lake County (OH) — zoisrus@girdled road
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC3530_zoisrusgirdled-road
N 41° 39.704 W 081° 10.786 | 41.661733, -81.179767
Lawrence County (OH) — Woodland
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCHBF0_woodland
N 38° 30.476 W 082° 39.149 | 38.507933, -82.652483
Licking County (OH) — Desert in the Midwest
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCFB8_desert-in-the-midwest
N 39° 59.110 W 082° 15.578 | 39.985167, -82.259633
Logan County (OH) — Bellefontaine Ohio Historical Tour
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCVDZE_bellefontaine-ohio-historical-tour
N 40° 21.626 W 083° 45.582 | 40.360433, -83.759700
Lorain County (OH) — View in Cascade
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCGNF2_view-in-cascade
N 41° 22.340 W 082° 06.712 | 41.372333, -82.111867
Lucas County (OH) — Ancient Lake
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC2DBE_ancient-lake
N 41° 34.159 W 083° 51.813 | 41.569317, -83.863550
Madison County (OH) — SH~Paint Memorial Cemetery
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCXY2G_shpaint-memorial-cemetery
N 39° 50.447 W 083° 29.622 | 39.840783, -83.493700
Mahoning County (OH) — Stony Ridge Cache
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC20D1_stony-ridge-cache
N 41° 05.346 W 080° 47.616 | 41.089100, -80.793600
Marion County (OH) — THE MYSTERY AND HISTORY CACHE
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCGD00_the-mystery-and-history-cache
N 40° 34.464 W 083° 07.237 | 40.574400, -83.120617
Medina County (OH) — 1 YANEOPIDKA: Buckeye Trail Cache of the Rising Sun
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCJPWK_1-yaneopidkabuckeye-trail-cache-of-the-rising-sun
N 41° 15.490 W 081° 41.276 | 41.258167, -81.687933
Meigs County (OH) — Riverview Trail Cache
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCJ56F_riverview-trail-cache
N 39° 05.336 W 081° 47.031 | 39.088933, -81.783850
Mercer County (OH) — A Mighty Great Place!
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC1KNNE_a-mighty-great-place
N 40° 29.044 W 084° 38.280 | 40.484067, -84.638000
Miami County (OH) — P-Hill – The Oldest Miami County Cache
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCN7TV_p-hill-the-oldest-miami-county-cache
N 40° 03.118 W 084° 20.730 | 40.051967, -84.345500
Monroe County (OH) — Sardis Aquifer
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC17P7K_sardis-aquifer
N 39° 37.320 W 080° 54.738 | 39.622000, -80.912300
Montgomery County (OH) — Squirrel’s Paradise
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC1EA4_squirrels-paradise
N 39° 36.188 W 084° 13.404 | 39.603133, -84.223400
Morgan County (OH) — Horse With No Name
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCMQCJ_horse-with-no-name
N 39° 42.856 W 081° 45.653 | 39.714267, -81.760883
Morrow County (OH) — Reunion
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC14ZKH_reunion
N 40° 42.317 W 082° 38.317 | 40.705283, -82.638617
Muskingum County (OH) — Fork in the Loop
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCG4G8_fork-in-the-loop
N 40° 01.234 W 082° 07.126 | 40.020567, -82.118767
Noble County (OH) — Biker’s Cache
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCXP04_bikers-cache
N 39° 44.356 W 081° 29.297 | 39.739267, -81.488283
Ottawa County (OH) — Big Bird
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC7CE9_big-bird
N 41° 36.896 W 083° 12.307 | 41.614933, -83.205117
Paulding County (OH) — Fort Brown
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCGVJZ_fort-brown
N 41° 06.697 W 084° 24.882 | 41.111617, -84.414700
Perry County (OH) — Thornville’s Cache
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCMP3V_thornvilles-cache
N 39° 53.725 W 082° 25.493 | 39.895417, -82.424883
Pickaway County (OH) — Towpath Treasure
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCJCFQ_towpath-treasure
N 39° 33.443 W 082° 59.744 | 39.557383, -82.995733
Pike County (OH) — Ohio’s Perfect Tree
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCHFZ1_ohios-perfect-tree
N 38° 58.280 W 082° 51.226 | 38.971333, -82.853767
Portage County (OH) — Sunny Lake Park (3rd Oldest in Ohio)
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC37A_sunny-lake-park-3rd-oldest-in-ohio
N 41° 17.745 W 081° 19.019 | 41.295750, -81.316983
Preble County (OH) — Harshman Bridge Cache
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCE638_harshman-bridge-cache
N 39° 42.144 W 084° 46.177 | 39.702400, -84.769617
Putnam County (OH) — The Book Worm
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCD38C_the-book-worm
N 41° 01.199 W 084° 17.151 | 41.019983, -84.285850
Richland County (OH) — Up Ferguson Way
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC96C4_up-ferguson-way
N 40° 38.556 W 082° 23.357 | 40.642600, -82.389283
Ross County (OH) — Great Seal Cache
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC1211_great-seal-cache
N 39° 23.847 W 082° 56.161 | 39.397450, -82.936017
Sandusky County (OH) — Broken Wings
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCM065_broken-wings
N 41° 19.855 W 083° 07.834 | 41.330917, -83.130567
Scioto County (OH) — Where’s the Floodwall
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCG29M_wheres-the-floodwall
N 38° 43.847 W 083° 00.072 | 38.730783, -83.001200
Seneca County (OH) — East of Olgierd
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCK577_east-of-olgierd
N 41° 01.789 W 083° 00.676 | 41.029817, -83.011267
Shelby County (OH) — Historical Sidney, Ohio USA
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCH8QE_historical-sidney-ohio-usa
N 40° 16.452 W 084° 09.594 | 40.274200, -84.159900
Stark County (OH) — MUC Nature Trail Guided Tour
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCGQ27_muc-nature-trail-guided-tour
N 40° 49.266 W 081° 05.846 | 40.821100, -81.097433
Summit County (OH) — Re-Gorge-itated
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCE5F8_re-gorge-itated
N 41° 08.510 W 081° 28.589 | 41.141833, -81.476483
Trumbull County (OH) — Trumbull One
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC2626_trumbull-one
N 41° 09.575 W 080° 40.252 | 41.159583, -80.670867
Tuscarawas County (OH) — Caleb & Cait’s Cache
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCG78F_caleb-caits-cache
N 40° 32.823 W 081° 15.933 | 40.547050, -81.265550
Union County (OH) — Spain Creek Bridge
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCGYKM_spain-creek-bridge
N 40° 13.733 W 083° 31.387 | 40.228883, -83.523117
Van Wert County (OH) — Half Way House Travel Bug Motel!
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCQ8VH_half-way-house-travel-bug-motel
N 40° 52.517 W 084° 34.999 | 40.875283, -84.583317
Vinton County (OH) — Moonville Tunnel Cache Project
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCJRR8_moonville-tunnel-cache-project
N 39° 18.400 W 082° 18.993 | 39.306667, -82.316550
Warren County (OH) — Caesers Darkside
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCACEE_caesers-darkside
N 39° 28.722 W 084° 02.997 | 39.478700, -84.049950
Washington County (OH) — Chicken Kicker Cache #2
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCH3D1_chicken-kicker-cache-2
N 39° 27.716 W 081° 26.624 | 39.461933, -81.443733
Wayne County (OH) — E.T. Phone Home
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCGVBZ_e-t-phone-home
N 40° 59.108 W 081° 47.677 | 40.985133, -81.794617
Williams County (OH) — glacial trailing
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC2DBD_glacial-trailing
N 41° 41.473 W 084° 40.540 | 41.691217, -84.675667
Wood County (OH) — East Side Stone Mtn.
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC638D_east-side-stone-mtn
N 41° 36.588 W 083° 25.753 | 41.609800, -83.429217
Wyandot County (OH) — This Is Your Mission . . .
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCKDME_this-is-your-mission
N 40° 50.175 W 083° 16.713 | 40.836250, -83.278550
Final Thoughts
Completing the Oldest Cache in All 88 Ohio Counties Challenge is more than a personal milestone—it’s a tribute to the roots of geocaching in the state. Every find connects you to a moment when GPS adventure was brand new and the idea of hidden containers felt revolutionary.
If you complete it, you won’t just have 88 smileys—you’ll have 88 pieces of Ohio geocaching history.
Happy caching, and see you on the trail. 🧭🟢
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