X marks the spot for new tourism trend
Thanks to modern technology, there’s now an entirely new way to explore Utah’s rugged wilderness and spectacular natural wonders. The state’s freshly-launched Visit Utah GeoTour invites visitors to engage with the unique, unusual beauty of the state via the hi-tech scavenger hunting trend, Geocaching.
A 21st Century take on ‘letterboxing’, geocachers follow a trail of digital breadcrumbs using a GPS device to a hidden ‘drop’ containing a carefully guarded code. If they collect enough codes, they win prizes. The Visit Utah GeoTour is statewide, with more than 100 caches now carefully concealed at hand-picked locations: five in each of Utah’s 29 counties.
Each geocache has been placed in a location characterised by extraordinary scenic beauty or cultural significance. Once participants have unearthed any three of a county’s five geocaches, they can then head to their nearest official pick-up point to collect a beautifully designed patch representative of that county. Locations for geocaching include: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in Box Elder County, Flaming Gorge Reservoir in Daggett County, Canyonlands National Park in San Juan County and Bear Lake State Park in Rich County.
In many ways, it’s an ideal match. Utah is a complete outdoor destination, with its ‘Mighty Five’ national parks – Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon and Zion – as well as 43 state parks, six national forests and millions of acres of unique, pristine wilderness. Geocaching is a perfect way to explore their hidden wonders, reaching corners you would never otherwise discover. All you need is access to GPS and a sense of adventure.
Becky Johnson, Global Specialist at Utah Office of Tourism comments: “Geocaching is very on trend right now and is also a fun way to see the state in all its glory and engage with Utah’s incredible countryside and its amazing national parks. These caches will lead people to places they would never otherwise have discovered – and its great for all ages.”
For more on Utah’s new Geo Tour, go to www.visitutah.com/things-to-do/outdoor-adventures/geocaching
For more information on Utah, visit www.visitutah.com