Each year NoVAGO honors some of the best caches that were placed in Northern Virginia. This year, more than 570 caches qualified to be nominated – well done, hiders! Nominations are an opportunity for you to recognize the efforts of your fellow NoVAGO cachers who have placed hides that you have enjoyed. This list is meant to help you think of some of the best geocaches you found last year.

Any questions about the 2025 awards should be sent to awards@novago.org

Click here to submit nominations: CACHE AWARD NOMINATION FORM

Further instructions are included on the form.

The categories are listed below. For descriptions, refer to this post: 2025 NoVAGO Award Categories

Cache Type:

Best Traditional Cache

Best Mystery/Puzzle Cache

Best Multicache

Best Letterbox Hybrid Cache

Best Earthcache

Best Virtual

Best Wherigo

Cache of the Year

Best Theme/Series (5+ caches)

Best Adventure Lab Series (with Bonus cache)

by Specialty:

Best Container

Best Family-Friendly/Children’s Cache

Most Physically Challenging

Most Outstanding Location/Scenery

Best Historical/Educational Cache

Best Photo

The People of NoVAGO:

Best Event/CITO Host

Cacher of the Year

* Rookie/Newcomer of the Year

Volunteer of the Year

Cache Eligibility:

1. Cache must have been published between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025, and still be active as of early 2025.

2. You may make up to three (3) nominations in each category. You do not need to make nominations in all categories.

3. Caches must be within Northern Virginia, (NoVAGO defines NoVa as: Alexandria (city), Arlington (county), Clarke (county), Fairfax (county), Fairfax (city), Falls Church (city), Fauquier (county), Frederick (county), Loudoun (county), Manassas (city), Manassas Park (city), Prince William (county), Stafford (county), Warren (county), and Winchester (city))

4. We will compile the nomination submissions and you will be voting on the top nominees in each category. So the more nominations we get, the easier it will be to discern the best of the best. You do not need to have found a cache to nominate it.

*Rookie/Newcomer of the Year must have found their first cache no earlier than July 1, 2024, with a majority of their finds/hides during 2025.