Virginia

Table of Contents

Applachian Trial

There is a current moratorium on caching on the Appalachian Trail. This is because most of the Appalachian Trail is on property under the stewardship of the National Parks Service (NPS) which does not allow geocaching on their lands.

Abingdon City 

Blanket Permission

Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve

Geocaches prohibited.

Bedford County

Blanket Permission

Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship

permits and encourages geocaching.

Breaks Interstate Park

• Requires a permit available here
• Maintenance visits are required four times a year and your cache must be family friendly. This means your cache contents should be suitable for all ages. It is your responsibility to ensure that the following items are not in your cache: explosives, firearms, ammo, lighters, knives, drugs, alcohol, adult items, dangerous items, or any other type of weapon. Your cache should not contain any food item or food scented items. Please direct fellow geocachers to follow the trails. Upon completion of the permit, please email it to the Breaks Interstate Park Geocaching Coordinator at BreaksGeocaching@gmail.com.

Bull Run Mountains Conservancy 

Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF) is the landowner and manager of the Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve (BRMNAP). VOF leases 800 acres of the southern portion of BRMNAP to Bull Run Mountains Conservancy, (BRMC). BRMC provides visitor management services. BRMC and VOF have established the following geocaching guidelines to assure good stewardship of the natural, cultural, and historical resources on the preserve. Geocaches may be placed on the 800-acre public preserve as long as they adhere to the following guidelines:

1. BEFORE placing a cache, you must notify BRMC to determine the location of the cache.
2. Caches must be located on our marked trails and accessible by our marked trails. The intent of this and other guidelines is to protect the preserve's natural, cultural, and historical resources. Trails are a disturbance in natural ecosystems. Any additional disturbance by going off trail can increase the†dispersal of invasive plants, cause damage to underlying vegetation, and disturb wildlife. From the protection of cultural and natural resources perspective, BRMC and VOF do NOT authorize people†to go†off trail. Established trails within the preserve are usually sited far enough away from sensitive resources in order to protect them -- going off trail encourages users to go into the sensitive resource areas.
3. Caches must be placed no more than 3 feet from the marked trails.
4. Caches must be within the 800-acre public access boundary.
5. Geocaches shall be a minimum of 50’ from private property.
6. The 800-acre preserve can accommodate a limited amount of geocaches to be determined by BRMC and VOF.
7. The movement of already downed leaves, twigs and pieces of bark to conceal geocaches is allowed. BRMC prohibits the movement of rocks to make a cairn, removing bark from a tree to use as camouflage, and/or relocating a living plant. It is prohibited to excavate soils, cut vegetation, move or remove archaeological or natural objects (including living plants, animals, minerals, fungi, archaeological artifacts or features, etc.).
8. Geocaches shall not be attached to any living or non-living natural resources in such a way that there is any possible damage to the resource. Loosely attached containers that do not restrict growth or cause damage to the resource may be used. Any attachments such as string, twine, wire, or tie wraps that cinch tightly to the resource are prohibited.
9. Geocaches shall not be attached to any man-made park amenities in such a manner as to damage the object or to impede its proper usage, the physical placement or attachment of caches to any buildings, sheds, regulatory signs or informational signs is prohibited. The use of data printed on the signs as offsets for coordinates is allowed. Alteration of the sign in any way is prohibited.
10. Geocachers must abide by all visitor-use guidelines for the preserve as posted by BRMC. This includes access hours of sunrise to sunset, no dogs, no horses, no climbing, no motorized vehicles, etc. See the list of visitor-use guidelines at www.brmconservancy.org.
11. Caches placed on the preserve land without permission are subject to removal without notice. Geocaching Approval Process Before placing a geocache on the 800-acre public preserve, you must obtain approval from Bull Run Mountains Conservancy. BRMC will work with the cache owner to find an appropriate location for the cache that meets all of our guidelines.

Contact Bull Run Mountains Conservancy at:

Bull Run Mountains Conservancy
P.O. Box 210
Broad Run, Virginia 20137
POC: Michael Kieffer (Executive Director)
Phone: (703)753-2631(703)753-2631(703)753-2631(703)753-2631(703)753-2631(703)753-2631
Email: info@brmconservancy.org
Website: www.brmconservancy.org

Bureau of Land Management

"The BLM believes that geocaching is an appropriate casual use of public land, but, as use
increases or becomes a management issue in a particular area, the following minimum steps should be taken: 1) try to locate a person or group that is responsible for the cache and have them register the cache with the BLM. Make sure the cache is safe and environmentally sound, 2) prepare an environmental assessment or other appropriate National Environmental Protection Act document, 3) issue a letter of agreement or SRP with special stipulations to mitigate concerns, 4) if sites are not registered within a reasonable amount of time after notification, then the cache should be removed from public land, normally, the cache would be determined to be
abandoned property after 10 days unless the appropriate authorization has been obtained, 5) monitor the use to assess public health and safety and environmental protection issues, 6) if the activity/sport becomes too large and begins to conflict with other authorized use, appropriate steps should be taken to properly manage the activity." (See also link)

Cemetery Law in Virginia Applicable to Geocaching 

Unless specific permission is given, physical stages of caches should be outside cemeteries and not near graves.  This is to comply with Virginia cemetery law and to be respectful of the area.  Following are statutes regarding Virginia cemeteries and their application to geocaching:

• No geocaching at night in VA cemeteries.  
  • 18.2-125. Trespass at night upon any cemetery.
    • If any person, without the consent of the owner, proprietor or custodian, go or enter in the nighttime, upon the premises, property, driveways or walks of any cemetery, either public or private, for any purpose other than to visit the burial lot or grave of some member of his family, he shall be guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor.

• Caching should never deface or injure cemetery property, including gravestones, plantings, fences railing, etc.
  • 8.01-44.6. Action for injury to cemetery property.
    • The owner or operator of a cemetery company may bring an action to recover damages sustained, together with costs and reasonable attorneys' fees, against any person who willfully or maliciously destroys, mutilates, defaces, injures, or removes any tomb, monument, gravestone, or other structure placed within any cemetery, graveyard, or place of burial, or within any lot belonging to any memorial or monumental association, or any fence, railing, or other work for the protection or ornament of any tomb, monument, gravestone, or other structure aforesaid, or of any cemetery lot within any cemetery. The cemetery owner or operator may recover, as part of damages sustained, the cost of repair or replacement of damaged property, including any labor costs, regardless of whether the property damaged is owned by the cemetery or by another person.

Charles City County Parks 

have specific rules and require a permit.  See here to download the park's guidelines and permit.

Charles City County Parks maintains four parks and two recreational facilities.  Harrison Park, Hillside Park, Lawrence Lewis, Jr Park, Mt Zion Park, Charles City County Social Center and Ruthville Gymnasium Complex.

Charlottesville

• Ivy Creek Nature Area-Charlottesville Not allowed at this time.
• Ragged Mountain Nature Area - Charlottesville Not allowed at this time.

Chesapeake City Parks 

Blanket permission granted with these exceptions:

• Centerville Park
  • Avoid placing caches near the 2 sheds belonging to Chesapeake United Soccer Club
  • Avoid placing caches around or on playing fields.
• Northwest River Park:
  • IN ADDITION to the geocaching.com guidelines, the following restrictions apply to NRP:
  • Avoid restricted areas (campsites, Ropes & Initiatives Course and surrounding area)
  • Caches shall be placed no further than 50 feet from any trail, park road, or mowed area
  • Avoid the placement of water caches.
  • Work with Park Rangers to maintain a safe program and environment
  • Comply with all Federal, State, Local and Park Laws (given)

Chesterfield County 

Blanket Permission

Church Property

Permission required

Danville City 

Blanket Permission

Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail

Please take note that caches currently located on the trail require a permit.  Please use "guests of Friends of DHRT" if you do not wish to divulge personal information.  https://www.dahlgrentrail.org/use-permits.html

Fairfax County Parks

FCPA Geocaching Guidelines web page

FCPA Geocaching Policies and Approved Parks list

Part of the guidelines for cache placement include available geocache seeking hours (Park Hours?) placed on the cache page. Ensure your cache page meets this expectation, and if you own any grandfathered caches in FCPA parks, please update them to include the available seeking hours if you haven't done so already.

To ensure geocachers have read, understood, and their cache submission abides by the FCPA geocaching requirements, I'm requiring a reviewer note include either the TAX MAP ID, or the contact information for the person giving permission for your cache - along with the name of the park.

Harrisonburg City 

Blanket Permission provided the caches do not cause any problems or concerns

Hampton City

Park policy Permit

Historic Markers

In Virginia, historic markers are installed and maintained by different agencies (cities, counties, historic groups, VDOT, and others).  Geocaches may not be placed on/near markers which are maintained by the Department of Transportation.  The responsibility for determining which agency/group maintains a historic marker belongs to the cache owner, and should be done prior to submitting a cache on/near a historic marker.  There is a website which may be helpful in making the determination here.

James City County Parks

• As of October 28,2020 blanket permission to place caches in JCC parks.
• Parks in this jurisdiction include:
  • Brickyard Landing
  • Chickahominy Riverfront Park
  • Diascund Reservoir
  • Forest Glen Playground
  • Freedom Park
  • Greensprings Greenway Hiking Trail
  • Ironbound Park
  • Jamestown Beach Campground
  • Little Creek Reservoir Park
  • Mid County Park
  • My Place Playground
  • Powhatan Creek Water Access
  • Skate Park
  • Upper County Park
  • Virginia Capital Trail
  • Waller Mill Dog Park
  • Warhill Sports Complex

Lynchburg City 

Blanket Permission

Manassas Park parks and rec

(Updated: September 2021)

Blanket Permission 

National Wildlife Refuges

in Virginia are off-limits to physical geocache placements. Visit Link       Additional Link

National Forests

(George Washington and Jefferson National Forests).  A permit is required.  See link.  The permit is $59.  Contact the ranger in charge of the area.

National Park Service

managed land in Virginia are off-limits to physical geocache placements without a special usage permit.. Visit link

National Recreation Trails/Areas

land in Virginia are generally considered off-limits to physical geocache placements. This includes but is not limited to areas directly on the official A.T. corridor, and the Cascades National Recreation Trail.

Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy allows geocaches in some of their managed areas, however all geocaches must get their approval before a geocache can be placed.

Newport News Parks  

Effective 1/1/2010 this policy affects all Newport News Green Foundation Areas
These locations are OFF LIMITS to caches: http://www.nngreen.com/properties.html
If you own caches in any of these areas, please remove them.

Effective 3/1/2007 this policy applies to all Newport News Parks

• All new caches will require a permit. Permits are issued at the Newport News Park Headquarters building.
• Park management have now set boundaries to keep caches from being placed inside the campground loops or too close to a few highly historical (meaning sensitive to additional traffic) areas.
• All geocaches that are presently in the parks will receive a blank permit that cache owners will be required to fill out or their cache will be pulled from its location. If this applies to you, please contact the park staff ASAP to arrange for a permit.
• All parks staff will have the right to pull the caches if they are not permitted or interfere with park operations. This means they can and will remove any cache that causes problems even if it was granted a permit. Please respect this. Ranger B. Holliday

Some Newport News Parks general guidelines in addition to those in the geocaching.com cache submission guidelines

• No climbing trees to hide or seek a cache.
• Not near any earthworks areas
• Not near the archery area.

NoVA Parks (Formerly known as NVRPA)  

See this link  Permission is now required.  List of parks here.  Note that this includes the W&OD Trail. (no longer allowing caches on the W&OD Trail

Old Dominion University 

We have received communication that, "due to the sensitive nature of placing caches on the ODU campus we want to make sure all considerations are being made before any new cache is placed; we want to make sure all possible involved parties are made aware. For example campus safety, academic buildings, etc. Please refer the cachers to me if they would like to plot a cache." Allyson Kelly

Portsmouth City Park

From the Director: There are no restrictions - if you want to go look at possibilities that is fine.  Please let us know where and what it looks like in case citizens think it is something strange or in case security sees people doing what might appear to them as strange behavior -(constantly reaching under a bench). Otherwise, as long as it is not destructive or does not create a citizen nuisance or maintenance problem, we are okay with it. Just let us know specifically where and in what form and we will most likely be fine with it or give you an alternative if that location does not work.

Michael Morris, Director
Portsmouth Parks, Recreation and Leisure Services
801 Crawford Street
Portsmouth VA 23704
757-393-8481757-393-8481

Potomac Overlook Regional Park

chief naturalist now requires advance permission prior to placing caches in this park. The current limit will be 3 caches, with dibs being given to those who already had a cache there and may be merely relocating slightly to meet the park management's requests.

Prince William County Parks, Recreation and Tourism (formerly Prince William County Park Authority)

(Updated: June 6, 2023)
Prince William County Park Authority welcomes new caches in PWC parks as long as geocachers first email Eric Wysocki, with the following cache information:

• Name
• Address
• Phone Number
• where the cache will be placed (specifically)
• original contents
• container's description
• picture's of the container(s) and cache location(s)
• any other info that will help the rangers not be alarmed

Ragged Mountain Nature Area

Charlottesville Not allowed at this time.

Railroad Law in Virginia

  §18.2-159. Trespassing on railroad track.
Any person who goes upon the track of a railroad other than to pass over such road at a public or private crossing, or who willfully rides, drives or leads any animal or contrives for any animal to go on such track except to cross as aforesaid, without the consent of the railroad company or person operating such road, shall be guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor. A second violation of the provisions of this section occurring within two years of the first violation shall be punishable as a Class 3 misdemeanor. A third or subsequent violation of the provisions of this section occurring within two years of a second or a subsequent violation shall be punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor. This section shall not apply to any section of track which has been legally abandoned pursuant to an order of a federal or state agency having jurisdiction over the track and is not being used for railroad service.
For purposes of this section, track shall mean the rail, ties, and ballast of the railroad.
(Code 1950,  §18.1-148; 1960, c. 358; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1993, c. 845.)

Caches must be 150 feet from active railroad tracks.

Reston's Walker Nature Education Center (WNEC)

staff needs to approve the location of caches.  Also caches placed ANYWHERE on ANY Reston Common areas are limited to members and require permission and have guidelines Visit Link 703-435-6518703-435-6518  NOTE:  There are some areas within Reston which are not governed by the Reston Association including the "Reston Town Center" area.  Care should be taken to acquire permission where required.  Cache owners should be prepared to demonstrate whether permission is required.

Roanoke City 

Blanket Permission

School Grounds

Many communities consider it trespassing to be on school grounds with out permission.  Also, due to the heightened risks of terrorism, and crimes against children, caches on or near school grounds or day care centers will need written permission from the school administration or day care owners.  When requesting permission the administrator needs to be made aware that solo or groups of cacher may visit at various times throughout the day and week.

Shenandoah County parks 

Geocache in Shenandoah County parks require prior permission

Contact Park Official Jered Hoover 

Shenandoah Valley Battlefield Foundation

Permission Required  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jkIOVsDAYq239ZNEQ9kzH_l-eNjMRMT9/view

Staunton City parks 

Geocache permit on Staunton City Parks website.

Suffolk City cemeteries  

(Updated: June 5, 2023):  All cemeteries in the City of Suffolk are prohibited from having geocaches within any cemetery.  Source: Superintendent of Cemeteries

Utility Poles

https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title33.2/chapter12/section33.2-1224/

Virginia Department of Transportation ("VDOT")

Virginia Department of Transportation ("VDOT") has prohibited all caches on property they own or maintain, thus no street sign caches, no guardrail caches, no median caches, no utility pole caches, no roadside caches, no historic marker caches (on/near markers maintained by VDOT, (see section on historic markers above)and so forth.  In Virginia, the state has preeminence over local governments and localities may not set their own rules unless specifically provided for by the state.  We have been advised that placing, seeking, finding or monitoring a cache on VDOT-controlled property will be considered a crime, a violation of Title 24 of the Virginia Administrative Code, a Class IV Misdemeanor.  VDOT has extended the prohibition of geocaches to all Virginia rest areas as well as other VDOT maintained property.  A list of those rest stops can be viewed here

Virginia State Forests

at this time, geocaching is permitted in Virginia State Forests.  Walking, hiking, or boating is permitted without a State Forest Use Permit.  For a list of all Virginia State Forests see [List of State Forests].

Virginia State Parks 

(Updated: February 2023)
Permit required plus a geocaching sticker must be applied to the cache (available from park ranger). This process has been established:

• Find a spot to place the cache.
• Contact the appropriate authority and request permission to place cache AT THAT SPOT.
• Obtain permission before you place your container and sticker.
• Place cache.
• The cache is not considered "placed" until permission is granted.
• See+:+ VA State Park Web Site, this link for specific details. Click this link for the permit form.

Town of Warrenton 

Geocaches in the Town of Warrenton are prohibited except for geocaches hidden by the Town of Warrenton Parks and Recreation.

• Town of Warrenton recreational property includes:
  • Warrenton Sports Complex
  • Rady Park
  • Warrenton Greenway
  • Warrenton Visitors Center
  • Eva Walker Park

• Additional properties owned by the Town of Warrenton:
  • Town of Warrenton Police Department
  • Gold Cup Park
  • Academy Hill Park
  • Warrenton Aquatic and Recreation Center
  • Town of Warrenton Wastewater Plant
  • Town of Warrenton Water Treatment Plant
  • Town of Warrenton Resevoir
  • Town of Warrenton Public Works yard
  • Town Hall Building
  • John S. Mosby House
  • Town of Warrenton Cemetery

Washington & Old Dominion Trail

As of 1/29/2024 NoVA Parks have stopped approving geocaches along the W&OD Trail.  

Information from email regarding suspension of permits along the trail "Safety is the number one priority on the trail and caches can’t be near the pavement because geocacher’s would stop and gather near it causing a safety issue. We own only a 100 ft strip of property, and we wouldn’t folks near a neighbor’s property by accident causing an encroachment to the neighbor by mistake either. We also have lots of utility companies that use the trail, so caches placed near a tree, or the power lines are disturbed be the contractors and park staff addressing vegetation."

William and Mary campus 

Contact Lt Gary Ryan for details.  His direct phone is 757 221-1152757 221-1152.  This information comes from John Coleman (former contact) on April 14, 2012.

Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) 

At this time ALL WMAs are off-limits for geocaching. The reason given by the State Wildlife Biologist Manager is that the WMAs are maintained by tax dollars and "as geocaching is not related to, nor does it support wildlife or habitat management, this activity is not allowed on our WMAs."