Alberta Parks has quietly halted the acceptance of new geocaching applications in Kananaskis Country since 2019, leaving many local geocachers in limbo. The decision, which hasn't been publicly announced, is believed to be due to concerns over sustainability and environmental impact.
In an email, Alberta Parks told the Rocky Mountain Outlook it officially put a halt on accepting new geocaching applications in Kananaskis in 2019 and has no current plans to reopen applications. Matthew Thompson/Rocky Mountain OutlookUnder a rock, in a fallen hollowed tree – hundreds of hidden treasures await discovery in Kananaskis Country.
In Alberta, a cache owner who wants to place a physical cache in a provincial park, provincial recreation area, natural area of wildland provincial park, must obtain permission from the province's parks authority. "This can cause damage to local plants and have impacts on wildlife, and sometimes put visitors in an unsafe location."
"There are also instances where a food item like a granola bar might be stashed, and that's certainly a concern as a wildlife attractant, but it's very rare." If the provincial parks authority decides it has reason to remove a cache, it cannot be replaced in what may be a more suitable location under current parks guidelines for Kananaskis.
"To me, it's understandable to do that because they don't necessarily want people just wandering off the trail anymore in search of a geocache. But they could have asked if owners wanted them replaced later on the rerouted trail," he said. As GPS technology improved and smartphones became widespread, geocaching evolved into a global activity, appealing to adventurers, families and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
Hunt and Overes said clearer communication from Alberta Parks could have helped the geocaching community better navigate the changes quietly implemented in Kananaskis and better understand the rationale behind the decision to prohibit new caches.
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