Minnesota Geocaching Land Management Issues

The following are the various land management issues that I am aware of within the State of Minnesota:

Federally Controlled Lands:

Type	Summary	Links
National Parks	The US National Park Service does not allow physical geocaches in any National Park, including the Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway.	Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway Policy (pdf)
National Wildlife Refuges	The US Fish & Wildlife Service does not allow physical geocaches within National Wildlife Refuges or Waterfowl Production Areas.	NWRs in Minnesota NWR boundaries (kmz) WPA boundaries (kmz)
National Forests	The Chippewa National Forest allows geocaching without restriction. The Superior National Forest also allows geocaching but caches must be registered with the local US Forest Service district office. Physical geocaches are NOT allowed within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness portion of the Superior National Forest.	Chippewa National Forest Policy Superior National Forest Policy

Minnesota DNR Controlled Lands:

Type	Summary	Links
Minnesota State Parks	The Minnesota DNR now allows geocaching within Minnesota State Parks! However, a permit must be received from the park manager BEFORE the cache is placed.	Minnesota State Park Geocaching Guidelines (pdf) State Parks Registration Form (pdf) MN State Park boundaries (kmz)
Wildlife Management Areas, Scientific Natural Areas, and Aquatic Management Areas	The Minnesota DNR has directed me to not publish any new physical caches within WMAs, SNAs, or AMAs. Already existing caches may remain for now but are subject to removal by DNR officials at their discretion.	MN WMA boundaries (kmz) MN AMA boundaries (kmz) MN SNA boundaries (kmz)
Minnesota State Forests	The Minnesota DNR does allow geocaching within all State Forests with some stipulations.	MN State Forests Geocaching Policy (pdf) MN DNR Recreation Compass
DNR Owned Boat Launches	At this time, I am not aware of any official DNR policy restricting geocaches at DNR owned boat launches.	MN DNR Recreation Compass

Minnesota DOT Controlled Lands:

Type	Summary	Links
MnDOT Highway Rest Areas	With the exception of the "Cold Spring Wayside", the Minnesota Department of Transportation allows geocaching at MnDOT highway rest areas, however they must be registered.	MnDOT Rest Area Geocaching Policy

County Park Districts:

County	Summary	Links
Anoka County Parks	Anoka County Parks now allows geocaching, with certain restrictions, within some of its parks. All caches must be registered with the district.	Anoka County Parks Geocaching Policy Anoka County Parks Maps
Carver County Parks	Carver County Parks requires all geocaches within their parks to be registered with the district.	Carver County Parks Policy
Ramsey County Parks	Ramsey County Parks requires all geocaches be registered with the district and has established certain rules above and beyond the geocaching.com guidelines.	Ramsey County Parks Policy Ramsey County Parks Maps
Three Rivers Parks	Three Rivers Parks requires all geocaches within their parks be registered with the district and has established certain rules above and beyond the geocaching.com guidelines. Three Rivers Parks does NOT allow new caches to be placed along their trails outside of their parks. (Existing caches are allowed to remain for now.)	Three Rivers Parks Policy Three Rivers Parks boundaries (kmz)

Cities:

City	Summary	Links
Brooklyn Park (Hennepin County)	Brooklyn Park requires that all geocaches placed within city parks be registered with the Parks and Recreation Department and has established certain rules above and beyond the geocaching.com guidelines.	City of Brooklyn Park Policy (pdf)
Champlin (Hennepin County)	Champlin requires that all geocaches placed within city parks be registered with the Parks and Public Works Department and has established certain rules above and beyond the geocaching.com guidelines. Certain parks are not allowed to have caches within them.	City of Champlin Policy (pdf)
Cloquet (Carlton County)	Cloquet requires that all caches placed within city parks be reported to the city and restricts caches from specific areas.	City of Cloquet Policy (pdf)
Detroit Lakes (Becker County)	Detroit Lakes allows geocaching only within the following parks: GAR, Beaton, and Long Lake.	City of Detroit Lakes Policy
Duluth (St. Louis County)	Duluth requires that all caches placed within city parks be reported to the Duluth Parks and Recreation Department and restricts caches from specific areas.	City of Duluth Policy
Eden Prairie (Hennepin County)	Eden Prarie once again allows geocacaching within their parks, although with some restrictions. Caches must be registered	Eden Prairie Parks Geocaching Policy Eden Prairie Parks Registration Form (pdf)
Maple Grove (Hennepin County)	Maple Grove has a geocaching policy that requires all caches in their parks to be registered with the Parks and Recreation Department	City of Maple Grove Policy (pdf)
Pelican Rapids (Otter Tail County)	Pelican Rapids has a geocaching policy that requires all caches in their parks to be registered with the Parks and Recreation Department	City of Pelican Rapids Policy
Saint Paul (Ramsey County)	As of March, 2010, the City of Saint Paul has a geocaching policy that among other things requires registration with the Parks and Recreation Department. There are a few areas within the parks that have been deemed off-limits for geocaching.	City of Saint Paul Policy (pdf) Saint Paul On-line Registration Form Saint Paul Parks boundaries (kml)

Other:

Area	Summary	Links
River Bend Nature Center (Faribault)	River Bend Nature Center allows geocaches but permission for the hide must first be obtained from John Blackmer, the Chief Naturalist.	RBNC Geocaching Policy
UMore Park (Rosemount, Dakota County)	UMore Park is off limits for geocaching.	UMore Park website

Special thanks to the MnGCA for much of the information on this page!

Surfer Joe - surferjoe(at)bitatatime(dot)net
Last updated on May 10, 2010.