Thank you for visiting the NoVAGO website.

The Northern Virginia Geocaching Organization (NoVAGO) was established to encourage and promote good geocaching practices and create a community of geocachers through our events and activities. We are committed to safe, responsible, and environmentally friendly geocaching. We welcome involvement and cooperation of park management and local government to keep geocaching open to the community and to promote the geocaching hobby to the greater community.

You can find out more About NoVAGO by clicking here.

  • The 2025 NoVAGO Pathtags are available for sale at the Spring Picnic.

    Pathtag contest winner: Awesnap Thanks to the cachers who participated in the 2025 NoVAGO Pathtag Survey! Given the high demand, we will initially limit purchases to 10 pathtags per cacher, ensuring everyone has a chance to buy and support NoVAGO. The pathtags will be available for purchase, on a first come first serve basis, at the NoVAGO Spring Picnic [GCAXFZX] in Franklin Park, Purcellville on May 10th. The price will be 2 for $5.00.  Payments can be made via cash or credit card. A processing fee will apply to credit card transactions to maximize the sale. Cash Sale: 2/$5, 4/$10, 6/$15, 8/$20,…

  • How Far Will You Go for a Trackable?

    Trackables are fun to find in a geocache, or trade at events. But, did you know that there is a trackable on the surface of Mars? NASA scientists came up with the idea for including a trackable on the Mars Perseverance Rover. Printed on a glass disk, it is a calibration target for the rover’s WATSON camera to focus on. When you log the trackable, you’ll earn a souvenir. Lucky for us, we don’t need to leave home to get a glimpse of this trackable.

  • Caching in the DMV – a Discord “forum”

    The NoVAGO Board has launched a Discord server, Caching in the DMV, to foster community engagement. We deeply appreciate spaberspark77 (Zack) for his role as an administrator, guiding us through its core features. This platform offers enhanced security and operates like a forum, increasing visibility and interaction within NoVAGO. Our goal is to evaluate its potential for a broader audience. While it’s not intended to replace Facebook or WhatsApp groups, it provides an alternative for those who prefer non-Meta apps. We plan to utilize this server for Geowoodstock XXI communications, ensuring everyone knows when and where to meet for a…

  • The 2025 NoVAGO Pathtags have arrived!

    Pathtag contest winner: Awesnap Last year we had a Pathtag contest and several designs were submitted. The community voted for Awesnap’s cardinal design as the winner. NoVAGO is excited to announce the sale of these exclusive pathtags as a fundraiser to support our picnics, awards, and other group activities. With two highly anticipated events on the horizon—GeoWoodstock on May 24 and the DMV Block Party on September 20—we expect demand to be higher than usual. These events feature pathtag trading, making them a perfect opportunity for cachers to use the NoVAGO tags as a trading option. Please fill out this…

  • Are pathtags works of art?

    It’s true—Pathtags are tiny, tangible masterpieces that merge personal stories with artistic flair, adding another element to the geocaching hobby. Geocachers often use pathtags as personal signature items, leaving them as swag in favorite caches or trading them with fellow cachers. Unlike geocoins or travel bugs, pathtags do not travel; instead, their imaginative designs make them an enjoyable side-activity. Pathtags, roughly the size of a U.S. nickel, feature custom-designed artwork reflecting the cacher’s interests or personality. Pathtags include a serial number on the back, allowing them to be logged, traded, and tracked on the online platform [pathtags.com]. Additionally, at no…

  • The origins of Geocaching.

    @mcgmarauders, NoVAGO feature article writer Most of us know that modern-day geocaching started on May 2, 2000, when the great blue switch was activated. Twenty-four satellites around the globe were suddenly accessible, making GPS technology available to the general public. However, did you know that the origins of geocaching actual date back to 1854 when the “game” of letterboxing was invented? It all began in Dartmoor, Devon, England when a well-known Dartmoor guide (James Perrott) placed a container for visiting cards at Cranmere Pool on the northern moor in 1854. Hikers on the moors began to leave a letter or…

  • Nominees for NOVAGO’s 2024 Geocache Awards

    Nominees for NOVAGO’s 2024 Geocache Awards Thanks to all those who took the time to send in nominations. While not all nominations were able to make the final cut, we were impressed with every suggestion. The hardworking awards committee have compiled the caches on this list from the very best of 2024. We invite all geocachers to go out and find as many of these wonderful caches as possible. For a geocaching friendly list, CLICK HERE. CLICK HERE TO VOTE (link will be active April 1-15) If you would like to change your ballot before the April 15th, deadline, email:…

  • NoVAGO Board Meetings and Minutes

    NOTICE: As indicated in the NoVAGO Bylaws, members are encouraged to participate in Board meetings, along with the Officers and Directors that make up the board. The Board meets virtually every month on the third Wednesday. If you would like to attend, please reach out to officers@novago.org, and you will be sent the link and the agenda.  Meeting minutes are posted to the website forum. Minutes from the 2025 NoVAGO Board meetings can be found here: Link Your involvement helps us create a stronger community! … Continue reading →