If you haven’t caught on to the geocaching craze yet, give it a try! More and more people around the globe are participating in these fun outdoor ‘treasure hunts,’ which challenge your sleuthing skills while letting you explore the wilderness – and all on your schedule.   

The Allegheny River Wilderness Island Geo Trail is a great chance to earn a cool-looking coin (pictured right, below), while exploring one of America’s Wild and Scenic Rivers and several river islands along the Allegheny. Some caches may be traditional, and others may send you to multiple points before you find what you're looking for! The ARWIGT is sure to put your paddling and caching skills to the test!

Here’s how it works:

We have placed 8 geocaches on Wilderness Islands along the Allegheny River. All the caches are between Kinzua Dam and Indian Waters – a 26-mile stretch that can be covered in as little as two days in a canoe or kayak. (If you need to rent a canoe or kayak, you can complete the ARWIGT in two ways... 1. A series of day trips: Trip#1 at Allegheny Outfitters, and Trip #3 at Indian Waters. or 2. Overnight trip #5 at Indian Waters.) All the caches are listed below.

STEP ONE
Grab the cache coordinates. Upload them into your GPS, write them on your hand... whatever you'd like... you just need these to complete the trail, so be sure to have them with you! Please read through the Leave No Trace Geocaching Guidelines here.

1) N 41° 50.818 W 079° 01.732
2) N 41° 51.023 W 079° 02.616
3) N 41° 50.970 W 079° 02.632
4) N 41° 49.945 W 079° 11.477
5) N 41° 50.056 W 079° 15.460
6) N 41° 45.263 W 079° 17.643
7) N 41° 44.400 W 079° 19.305
8) N 41° 43.852 W 079° 19.477

STEP TWO
Before setting out to find the caches, you will need an official passport. Passports are free and can be obtained at Allegheny Outfitters or Indian Waters Canoe & Kayak Rentals, or you can download and print one here. The first 30 people through the door to ask for a passport get a little swag with theirs. Other recommended items to take are bug spray, sunblock and a ziploc bag with extra pen and paper.

STEP THREE
Find the caches! Don’t forget to carry your passport with you so that you can stamp them!

STEP FOUR
Inside each cache you will find your instructions and a unique ink stamp. Use it to stamp your passport as proof that you found the cache. Return the ink stamp to the cache container and leave it at the site. Do NOT take it with you – the next person who finds the cache is going to need it! You'll also sign the logbook at each cache.

STEP FIVE
Once you successfully find all eight caches on the islands bring your stamped passport back to Allegheny Outfitters or Indian Waters and we’ll give you your geocoin! Your passport will also be returned to you to retain as a keepsake.

Good luck and happy hunting!

* Limit one coin per cacher.  

Encompassing ten northwestern Pennsylvania counties, the Allegheny GeoTrail will take geocachers through the beautiful wilds of Allegheny National Forest and its gateway regions. The ten participating counties are: Cameron, Clarion, Crawford, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, McKean, Potter, Venango, and Warren. Each county features between 10 and 20 official AGT caches. Find out more here.