Submitting a Geocache for review

Include a complete Reviewer Note about your geocache

We ask all cache hiders to provide basic information in a Reviewer Note about their cache. In your Reviewer Note, please clearly and completely describe your cache in detail.

WHERE - Always describe the property your cache is placed on - both the ownership and the property use. Any cache should have permission as described in the Guidelines. (http://www.geocaching.com/about/guidelines.aspx#permission) Just because property does not have obvious No Trespassing signs does not mean that it's open to geocache placement without obtaining permission. For example, some subdivisions have green space trails or parks. However these may be restricted to residents only. We expect you to comply with the Guidelines, include documented permission of owners or management in your Reviewer Note. If a permit is required, attach an image of the permit to your reviewer note. If your cache is adjacent to a residence, please get consent from that home owner, even if your cache is located on property that is otherwise acceptable, since you're essentially inviting people to visit this location at all hours of the day and night.

WHAT - Clearly and completely describe the cache container. Just saying a "plastic container" or a 'Metal box" is incomplete.  Some containers are self explanatory like a 30 cal ammo can, a bison tube, a preform, a keytainer, or a magnetic nano but others need a complete description in your Reviewer Note. We want to know exactly what you've placed in case there is some question in the future by Law Enforcement or a property owner.

HOW - Explain how and where your cache is hidden. Please be specific any about camouflage and any attachment method to any object or the ground. For example, it might be a bison tube hung with a wire hook over a cedar limb about 5 feet off the ground. If your cache is on a sign post, or near a sign, please tell us what the sign says.

If you need to include a picture, please upload the image to a Reviewer Note as additional information. Photos are not a substitute for a written Reviewer Note.  

When the cache is published, any images and all information in the reviewer notes will be hidden and not visible to the public.

Landowner Permission

Generally geocachers must obtain permission to place a geocache from the landowner.  All land belongs to someone. It may be a government agency, corporation, tribal land, or private landowner. Some sources to determine the landowner include:

• Internet searches for land owner parcel data or land owner parcel maps. Include the local town or county in the search criteria.
• Visiting the local land deed or tax office.
• Websites for parks, land trusts or other public or semi-public entities.
• Checking the links listed in the Regional Policies below.

Just because the public is generally allowed to use a parcel of land does not mean that geocaching is allowed on it. Landowners may have granted an easement for a certain use and geocaching is not included in that use. 

All roads are not publicly owned and those that are may have restrictions by the government entity that controls it.

Public bodies of water may be bordered by private lands and private structures may extend into the water.

Subdivisions may have public use areas that are either open to use by anyone or restricted to homeowner use.

Contact Your Reviewer:

1. If you are contacting a reviewer about a geocache that is in the process of being reviewed, please post a reviewer note to the cache page.  This keeps all information together in case you need to forward the cache to Geocaching HQ for an appeal.

2. If you are contacting a reviewer about a geocache that has already been published or other matters, please use email at the link in their profile above. Be sure to include the GC number of the geocache. Cache names are not unique.

3. Please DO NOT use the message center. Most reviewers do not check the message center regularly, if at all, and the messages tend to run together which makes it difficult when discussing several issues.

National Park Service

Geocaches are not generally allowed on property managed, owned or operated by the United States National Park Service. Exceptions can be granted with the express consent of the Park Superintendent and the NPS. In Alabama, this includes:

• Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. Per order of the Superintendent, dated 8/10/2021, all physical or virtual geocaches require a permit issued by the Superintendent.
  
• Freedom Riders National Monument. Per order of the Superintendent, dated 5/4/2020, all physical or virtual geocaches require a permit issued by the Superintendent.
  
• Horseshoe Bend National Military Park
• Little River Canyon National Preserve (Includes portions of State Park and Wildlife Area lands).  Per order of the Superintendent, dated 2/4/2021, all physical or virtual geocaches require a permit issued by the Superintendent.
  
• Natchez Trace Parkway
• Russell Cave National Monument
• Selma to Montgomery Historic Trail Site
• Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site
• Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site

U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Geocaches are not generally allowed on property managed, owned or operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (National Wildlife Refuges). Exceptions can be granted with the express consent of the Park Manager. In Alabama, this includes:

• Bon Secour
• Cahaba River
• Choctaw
• Eufala
• Fern Cave
• Grand Bay
• Key Cave
• Mountain Longleaf
• Sauta Cave
• Watercress Darter
• Wheeler: This National Wildlife Refuge currently allows geocaches with verbal permission from the Refuge office. The status of placing geocaches in Wheeler NWR has changed several times recently. Currently you must obtain permission from the staff at Wheeler and include in your reviewer note the contact name and date permission was granted.
  

Alabama State Parks

All caches placed in the below listed parks must have written approval of the Park Manager

The guidelines here apply to the following state parks:

• Bladon Springs
• Blue Springs
• Bucks Pocket
• Cathedral Caverns
• Cheaha
• Chewacla
• Chickasaw
• Desoto
• Lake Jackson RV Park At Florala
• Frank Jackson
• Gulf
• Joe Wheeler
• Lake Guntersville
• Lake Lurleen
• Lakepoint
• Meaher
• Monte Sano
• Oak Mountain
• Paul Grist
• Rickwood Caverns
• Roland Cooper
• Wind Creek

You may download the Alabama State Parks Geocaching policy at LINK. 

You may download the Alabama State Parks Geocaching permit at LINK. 

You should have the form completed and attach an image of the form to your Reviewer Note when you submit your geocache for publication.

If the Alapark website is down, you may use the following link for a permit. Be aware this permit may not be up to date. LINK 

Alabama Historical Parks

The following parks require verbal permission from the park staff to place a geocache. Please include the staff members name that granted the permission in your reviewer note when you submit the geocache for publication.

• Historic Blakeley State Park
• Brierfield Ironworks Historical State Park
• Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park

Alabama Cemeteries

Most cemeteries are private property. There are a few cemeteries in the state that are owned by municipalities. Several states have banned geocaches in cemeteries due to disrespectful actions by geocachers.  Geocaches may NOT be placed near graves. You must have permission from the entity that owns or controls the cemetery to place a geocache there and there must be public access. Just owning a plot in the cemetery is not sufficient permission. When submitting the geocache, attach photographs of the geocache placement to the reviewer note looking at the geocache from different directions.

Cemetery Law in Alabama

Section 13A-7-23.1 Desecration, defacement, etc., of memorial of dead; invasion or mutilation of corpse.

(a) Any person who willfully or maliciously injures, defaces, removes or destroys any tomb, monument, gravestone or other memorial of the dead, or any fence or any inclosure about any tomb, monument, gravestone or memorial, or who willfully and wrongfully destroys, removes, cuts, breaks or injures any tree, shrub, plant, flower, decoration, or other real or personal property within any cemetery or graveyard shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(b) Any person who willfully or maliciously desecrates, injures, defaces, removes, or destroys any tomb, monument, structure, or container of human remains, and invades or mutilates the human corpse or remains shall be guilty of a Class C felony and upon conviction the person shall be punished as provided by law. Any person who maliciously desecrates an American Indian place of burial or funerary objects on property not owned by the person shall be guilty of a Class C felony and upon conviction the person shall be punished as provided by law.

(c) The provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall not apply to any person holding a permit issued by the Alabama Historical Commission pursuant to subsection (d) of this section.

(d) The Alabama Historical Commission, to provide for the lawful preservation, investigation, restoration, or relocation of human burial remains, human skeletal remains, or funerary objects, shall promulgate rules and regulations for the issuance of a permit and may issue a permit to persons or companies who seek to restore, preserve or relocate human burial remains, human skeletal remains, funerary objects, or otherwise disturb, a place of burial.

Acts 1980, No. 80-706, p. 1424; Acts 1993, No. 93-770, §1; Acts 1993, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 93-905, p. 201, §1.

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) properties

TVA has no objection to the geocaching activity based on your understanding of the following conditions:

1. There will be no site disturbance, illegal substances or uses involving the geocaching on the TVA property.
2. (Caches will not be placed in or near restricted areas, dams, power generation facilities or equipment, substation sites, gated or signed areas, and/or transmission line sites, etc.
3. You will maintain a list of geocache locations on the TVA property which can be reviewed by TVA at any time.
4. TVA retain the rights to terminate this permission for the use of the TVA property at any time.
5. This permission conveys no property rights, grants no exclusive use, and in no way restricts the general public's privilege of using TVA public land.
6. TVA assumes no liability and undertakes no obligation or duty (in tort, contract, strict liability, or otherwise) to you or to any third party for any damages to property (real or personal) or personal injuries (including death) arising out of or in any way connected with your performance of activities which are the subject of this statement of no objection."
7. Caches should not be placed in or around cemetery areas.
8. Permission must be obtained from the managing public or private entity in situations where TVA has granted land rights via license, lease, or easement for public or commercial purposes.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers properties

The Corps of Engineers has no objection to the legal pursuance of geocaching activity based on your understanding of the following conditions:

1. There will be no site disturbance, illegal substances or uses involving the geocaching on Corps of Engineers property.
2. Caches will not be placed in or near restricted or sensitive areas or those areas not open to the general public.
3. The Corps of Engineers may terminate this permission at any time.
4. This permission conveys no property rights, grants no exclusive use, and in no way restricts the general public's privilege of using Corps of Engineers properties.
5. The Corps of Engineers assumes no liability and undertakes no obligation or duty (in tort, contract, strict liability, or otherwise) to you or to any third party for any damages to property (real or personal) or personal injuries (including death) arising out of or in any way connected with your performance of activities which are the subject of this statement of no objection.
6. Permission must be obtained from the managing public or private entity in situations where the Corps of Engineers has granted land rights via license, lease, or easement for public or commercial purposes.
7. Caches will not be placed on or in the immediate vicinity of dams, locks and water control structures.

U.S. Forest Service

Generally, geocaching is permitted within the National Forests in Alabama without a permit.  You must contact the ranger district before you place a cache to make sure your cache is not in a potentially problematic area.

"Geocaching: Geocaching is becoming a popular past time in the forest. We want you to have a positive experience and enjoy yourself, but we also want to protect sensitive areas and species. Therefore, we asking that you contact any one of the six Ranger Districts or the Supervisor's Office at: 334/241-8136 BEFORE you plan the activity."

Geocaches are not allowed in designated Wilderness Areas.

Talledega National Forest

Oakmulgee Ranger District
9901 Highway 5, Brent, AL 35034
205-926-9765

Shoal Creek Ranger District - (Encourages geocaching, ask permission first)
45 Highway 281, Heflin, AL 36264
256-463-2272

Talladega Ranger District - (Encourages geocaching, ask permission first)
1001 North Street (Highway 21 North), Talladega, AL 35160
256-362-2909

Tuskegee National Forest

Tuskegee Ranger District - (Encourages geocaching, ask permission)
125 National Forest, Road 949, Tuskegee, AL 36083
334-727-2652

Bankhead National Forest

Bankhead Ranger District - (Must contact them first before placement)
1070 Highway 33, Double Springs, AL 35553
205-489-5111

Conecuh National Forest

Conecuh Ranger District
24481 Alabama Hwy 55, Andalusia, AL 36420
334-222-2555

Alabama Land Trusts

There are several Land Trusts in Alabama.  Generally they allow geocaching on the properties they own or manage. Be aware there may be private landholdings inside the boundaries of the land trusts that will require permission of the actual landowner and that some land trust trail properties are only 25 feet wide.

Graham Creek Nature Preserve

Geocaches may be placed with written permission from the Preserve. Geocaches must meet the geocaching guidelines and any additional restrictions placed by the Preserve.

Navigable waterways and islands

• Geocaches may not be attached to navigation markers or buoys.
• Islands in Alabama consist of property that are a mix of privately owned, owned by the State of Alabama or the Federal Government. The standard permission issues as if on the mainland apply for these lands.
• Geocaches may not be placed near marine restricted areas (Homeland Security designated).

Military Areas

Ft. McClellan

2021 update. The former Ft, McClelland property is now a mixture of land use areas.

• A portion of the land is now designated as the Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge. Generally National Wildlife Refuges do not allow the placement of geocaches. Any exceptions must be approved by the Wildlife Refuge office.
• Another portion is reserved for training by the National Guard and is off limits to geocaching.
• There are several small partials that are controlled by various Federal Agencies, most of which do not allow geocaching. Permission to place geocaches must be obtained from agencies that do allow geocaching.
• The McClellan Development Authority (MDA) controls a large portion of the land and permission to place geocaches on their lands must be obtained from that Authority.  Portions of this land are still unsafe for public access.
• There are a few small parcels that are controlled by the Anniston Army Depot including the P.O.W. cemeteries and permission to access those lands must be obtained from the Commander or his designee.
• The City of Anniston owns several large parcels and must grant permission for the placement of geocaches on those parcels.
• Land parcels that have been released to private individuals and businesses are subject to the normal geocaching permission guidelines.

Ft. Rucker

Ft. Rucker consists of a mix of access areas, in which geocaching is allowed in some parts. Geocachers must obtain a pass to enter the base. Non-military personnel should make advance arrangements by visiting the Ft. Rucker website (www.rucker.army.mil/visit) and download form 2746-R-E as well as following the posted instructions prior to approaching a Visitor Control Center. 

Geocaches are not allowed in the Restricted Access Areas, Cantonment Area, Ranges, Impact Areas, and Airfields. Some of these restricted areas are outside the main boundaries of Ft. Rucker.

Geocaches are allowed in most of the other areas including training areas. Permission must be obtained from the base authority that controls the area (usually Outdoor Recreation or Family, Morale and Welfare) and the name of the personnel  granting the authority and their phone number must be included in the reviewer note when the cache is submitted for review.

Areas in which geocaches are allowed may be temporarily restricted to access. If a sign or barricade indicates an area is currently restricted, do not enter the area under any circumstances.

Alabama Power owned lakes

Geocaching is allowed on lands owned by Alabama Power that is not leased to or owned by a private landowner. Islands may be owned by Alabama Power, private owners, or a combination of both. Docks and piers are generally privately owned. 

Geocaches are not allowed to be attached to navigation markers or buoys.

No geocaches may be placed near dams and electrical generating facilities.

Universities and Colleges

Alabama A&M University

Generally geocaching is allowed in areas where the general public is allowed to visit unrestricted.  Geocaches are not allowed to be placed near student housing, including Greek fraternity areas.

Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine

Permission to place geocaches on the property must be obtained from campus security. No geocaches may be placed in the student housing area.

Alabama State University

No geocaching allowed.

Athens State University

All geocaches must be approved by Campus Security.

Auburn University

Geocaching is not allowed in the vicinity of the Presidents home. Geocaching is allowed at the Kreher Nature Preserve.

Auburn University at Montgomery

Generally geocaching is allowed in areas where the general public is allowed to visit unrestricted.  Geocaches are not allowed to be placed near student housing, including Greek fraternity areas.

Birmingham Southern College

No geocaching allowed.

Faulkner University - All campuses

All geocaches must be approved by Campus Security.

Jacksonville State University

All geocaches must be approved by Campus Security.

Miles College

No geocaching allowed.

Oakwood University

No geocaching allowed.

Samford University

All geocaches must be approved by Campus Security.

Spring Hill College

All geocaches must be approved by Campus Security. This includes some commercial properties leased by the school to private businesses.

Stillman College

No geocaching allowed.

Troy University

Geocaching allowed except in student and Greek housing areas.

Tuskegee University

Permission to place geocaches must be obtained from campus security.

University of Alabama

Generally geocaching is allowed in areas where the general public is allowed to visit unrestricted.  Geocaches are not allowed to be placed near student housing, including Greek fraternity areas.

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Geocaching is allowed outside of the student housing areas. There are parcels of private land ownership inside the boundaries of the campus. Permission must be obtained from the landowner for any caches placed on private property.

University of Alabama at Huntsville

Geocaching is allowed outside the student housing areas.

University of Mobile

No geocaching allowed.

University of Montevallo

Generally geocaching is allowed in areas where the general public is allowed to visit unrestricted.  Geocaches are not allowed to be placed near student housing, including Greek fraternity areas.

University of North Alabama

Geocaching is allowed outside of student and Greek housing areas.

University of South Alabama

Geocaching is not allowed at Campus Crest. There is also a subdivision that is a mix of University owned land and private ownership. Privately owned parcels require permission of the land owner.

University of West Alabama

Geocaching is allowed outside of student housing areas,

Youth Camps

Youth camps are properties dedicated for the use of the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, special needs children, church camps or similar sites. Geocaches may not be placed on portions of these properties that are not open to the general public. A geocache placed on public portions of the camp must be placed with permission of the governing authority for the property and the contact information of the director granting that authority must be included in the reviewer note when the geocache is submitted to be published.

Privately Owned Prohibited or Restricted Areas

Geocaching is specifically prohibited by the owners of these properties.  Lease holders cannot override the corporate decision. There may be a few grandfathered geocaches that were placed before the prohibition took effect.

• All Cracker Barrel locations
  
• The Outlets Mall near Leads
  
• Bridge Street Mall in Huntsville
  
• Baptist Hospital property in Montgomery
• Inside gated communities.

Baldwin County - Barber Marina area.  The following restrictions are in place for geocaches placed on land owned by Barber Marina and the adjoining properties owned by the Barber family.

• Geocaches cannot be physically attached to any tree, shrub or other vegetation.
• Geocaches cannot be attached to any sculpture or monument and must be placed at least 20 feet away from any such structure.
• Geocaches cannot be placed in or on rip-rap and other erosion control devices and structures.
• Geocaches cannot be inside or attached to fences.
• Geocaches cannot be placed in the helipad area.
• Geocaches must be placed in areas maintained and mowed for public access and no more than 20 feet into any adjoining wooded  areas.
• Maintenance and forest roads are not public access areas.
• In the area of the marina itself, geocaches cannot be placed on the piers, docks, boat ramps, near the buildings or in the parking lots.

Land ownership information

Many of the counties and cities in Alabama have on-line resources that can be used to help you determine the ownership of land and obtain permission to place a geocache.  For the other counties, you may have to either visit the local courthouse or subscribe to a paid service to determine the land ownership.

Geocaches that require underground travel

Geocaches that involve stages underground must have at least one stage above ground that requires navigation with a GPS enabled device.  Underground geocaches should be submitted as either multi-caches, puzzle/mystery caches, wherigo caches or letterbox caches.

Underground geocaches may pass under areas that would be restricted if at ground level (such as schools or controlled access highways) as long as the ground level restricted area is not subject to any Homeland Security restrictions (such as courthouses or military installations).

Geocache owners submitting geocaches that involve underground stages must submit hidden waypoints for the stages as if they were at ground level, to the extent this is possible.  This is to avoid another underground stage geocache being placed in the same area that would conflict with the existing one.  Underground stages would not conflict with ground level geocaches.

Bridges, tunnels and guardrails

Bridges

Geocaches may not be placed on, over or under bridges located on federal roadways, Interstate Highways, U. S. Highways, State Numbers Highways and controlled access highways.

Geocaches generally may be placed on municipal and county road bridges with the following exceptions:

• May not be over or under federal roads or interstates.
• May not be over or under railroads.
• May not be on bridges containing active drawbridges as listed by the Corps of Engineers.
• May not be on bridges located over spillways or part of dams.

Geocaches may be placed on bridges designed for pedestrian use only or former railroad bridges converted to pedestrian trails that pass over interstate or U.S. highways with the following restrictions:

• The geocache must be accessible by a geocacher standing on the surface area designed for foot traffic.
• Ammo cans or PVC containers are not allowed.
• Containers must be clearly labeled as being a geocache and designed where they could not be mistaken as an explosive device.

For bridge geocaches to be published, there must be a location available for a geocacher to park his vehicle completely clear of the roadway and the parking location shall not be in a curve or other visually obstructed area.

Geocachers should understand that all roadway bridges are inspected on a regular basis by government inspectors and any geocache found attached to the bridge structure will probably be removed by the inspectors.

In urban areas geocaches may be placed in parks and green spaces located under controlled access highway overpasses with permission of the government agency that manages the park or green space. The geocache may not be attached to or placed immediately next to structures supporting the overpass.

Tunnels

Geocaches must not be placed in or attached to highway tunnels or any part of their infrastructure.

Guardrails

Guardrail caches are not allowed on federal highways, controlled access highways or as part of railroad signaling locations. The cache must be on the portion of the guardrail away from any bridge restricted as listed above.

For guardrail geocaches to be published, there must be a location available for a geocacher to park his vehicle completely clear of the roadway and the parking location shall not be in a curve or other visually obstructed area.

Little Free Libraries

Little Free Libraries are growing in popularity and geocachers are increasingly wanting to use them for geocache placement.

They are publishable with the following considerations:

• The libraries are privately owned and usually on private property so permission must be obtained from the library owner.
• The cache page should not be promotional of the Little Free Library movement. 
• They can use the term Little Free Library on the cache page.
• The http://www.littlefreelibrary.org/ website sells the library boxes and solicits donations, so it should not be included on cache pages.
• The logbook should be placed in a container within the library, and not just be paper "floating" around. 

Other restricted areas

Geocaches may not be placed near:

• Airports used for commercial or military flights. (NOTE: Some larger commercial airports own large amounts of land surrounding the airport that they lease to private businesses. Geocaching may be allowed on lease land that does not involve direct access to the airfield with permission of the lease holder)
  
• Communication towers
• Dams
• Electrical generating stations, substations and transmission towers.
  
• Municipal drinking water facilities.
• Facilities restricted to access or approach by Homeland Security rules.
• Federal Courthouses
• Financial institutions including close proximity to drop boxes and ATM machines.
  
• Hospitals
• Nuclear facilities
• Post Offices. This includes blue postal service mail boxes and green postal service mail storage boxes. Virtual stages inside post offices require the permission of the Postmaster for that post office.
  
• Prisons and jails
• Railroads and their right of ways.  Depending on the location this may extend 25 feet to 200 feet from the center of the track.
  
• Schools and day cares

Playgrounds

While there's no specific guideline against hiding a cache on playground equipment, many geocachers consider it a bad idea. It's perfectly normal for a 10 year old to be on a playground with their mom. But how normal would it be for him to go there without a parent and for someone who may be fifty something and doesn't have a kid with them to be prowling around the equipment? This might make most mom's kind of nervous.  If the playground is not part of a school or daycare the geocache can be published, but the cache owner will be asked to reconsider before it is published.

No Precedent

Be aware that geocaching guidelines are subject to change. There is no precedent for placing geocaches. This means that the past publication of a similar geocache in and of itself is not a valid justification for the publication of a new geocache. If a geocache has been published and violates any guidelines listed, you are encouraged to report it. However, if the geocache was placed prior to the date when a guideline was issued or updated, the geocache is likely to be grandfathered and allowed to stand as is.