Pennsylvania Launches GeoTrail Across State Parks

New initiative celebrates America's 250th anniversary by guiding visitors to 25 state parks via geocaching.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 4:04pm

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A highly stylized, geometric illustration in the Art Deco Monumentalism style, featuring sweeping, smooth gradients and towering, streamlined forms that evoke the grand scale and romance of travel, without any literal depictions of people, places, or text.The DCNR America250PA GeoTrail invites visitors to explore Pennsylvania's state parks and discover the state's rich history through a new, interactive geocaching experience.Philadelphia Today

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has announced the launch of the DCNR America250PA GeoTrail, a new initiative that celebrates America's 250th anniversary by guiding visitors to 25 Pennsylvania state parks via geocaching. Each park features a unique cache highlighting a piece of Pennsylvania history.

Why it matters

The GeoTrail encourages people to explore Pennsylvania's state parks in a new way, connecting history and the outdoors through discovery and hands-on experience. As the country celebrates its 250th anniversary, this initiative helps bring the state's shared history to life and ensures that every corner of Pennsylvania has a place in this milestone.

The details

Individuals who want to participate can enter coordinates provided on the DCNR's website into any GPS-enabled device. From there, they can hike through one of the 25 participating state parks to search for a hidden container or cache. Visitors are encouraged to explore all 25 parks and find all 25 caches to receive a completion coin.

  • The DCNR America250PA GeoTrail was launched in April 2026.

The players

Cindy Adams Dunn

Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary.

Cassandra Coleman

Executive director of America250PA.

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What they’re saying

“Pennsylvania's story lives in its landscapes — in the places where people worked, played, and helped shape the nation. The DCNR America250PA GeoTrail invites people to explore our state parks in a new way, connecting history and the outdoors through discovery and hands-on experience. As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States, this initiative helps bring our shared history to life and helps ensure that every corner of Pennsylvania has a place in this milestone.”

— Cassandra Coleman, Executive director of America250PA

The takeaway

The DCNR America250PA GeoTrail provides a unique and engaging way for visitors to explore Pennsylvania's state parks and connect with the state's rich history as the country celebrates its 250th anniversary. By encouraging people to discover hidden caches and learn about the significance of each park, the initiative promotes outdoor recreation, education, and a deeper appreciation for Pennsylvania's role in shaping the nation.