A Day Trip – 10 Geocaches You HAVE To Have When Visiting Saint John
A while back, I posed a question to our local geocachers here in Saint John….If you were to give a list of the ten caches you have to get in Saint John, what would they be? The only criteria I set is that the whole list has to be done in one day, so that a walking tour or a bushwack from hell wouldn’t eat up the whole day. There was some great debate about the subject. Some were added due to historical significance, the fantastic view, or just simply, the cache owner thinking outside the box. So, this is the final consensus. Some are old and some are new, but I will try and explain why they made it on the list and when you get a chance to visit our city, be sure to load these ones on your GPS. They are in no order, so there is no one better than the others.
- GCA352- Virtual Cache- Father of Confederation – Tilley Placed in 2002 by Eric F
This is one of the few Virtual Caches still left in NB to mark the grave sight of Samuel Leonard Tilley in the Fernhill Cemetery. A great history lesson! I had the pleasure of meeting the cache owner who is no longer active, but keeps this cache active because of the importance on the cache.
2) GCPV2R- Webcam Cache- C Mi N’Aim Placed in 2005 by Robich
This is the only webcam cache in the city. This is where I personally did my 500th cache. The neat thing about it is that not only you can claim it but the person that is taking the picture in front of their computer, from the 24 hr feed, also gets to claim the cache. It is in someone’s back yard so don’t be shy. The cache owner also asks you to have a sign with your cache name on it, so arts and crafts may have to happen before you visit this cache.
3) GC3PQFP- Field Puzzle/Mystery Cache- Welcome to Wolastoq Park placed in 2012 by YNDS adopted by Team Bikefast
Located at the old mental hospital site, Irving has built a beautiful park, overlooking Reversing Falls.This is a great cache for the whole family. Call it a history lesson of the great men that gave Saint John it’s strength as Canada’s First Incorporated City. Each statue and plaque has a clue to the final cache. All stages are a short walk from each other.
4) GCTWMW- Traditional Cache – To Serve & Protect Old Saint John placed in 2006 by Opa and his Flame
Located on the old Red Head Road, This old WWII bunker overlooking the harbor is not an easy cache to get at. Parking coordinates are located in the cache description. There are trails around the area but not defined. Though, this bunker has never been manned, it has a beautiful view of the Saint John Harbor.
5) GCQC6K- Earth Cache- Saint John Reversing Falls placed in 2005 by Robich
Located at the world famous Reversing Falls, This cache is a perfect one for beginners starting to do earth caches, It involves going to this location twice to log the tides and direction and take pictures. It is very close to GC3PQFP so you can park and do both caches.
6) GC13H3T – Traditional Cache- Jenny’s Spring placed in 2007 by Timrs2001 adopted by Waypointguy
Located close to Fort Howe, this is what is left of Jenny’s Well that used to provide water to some families that were stationed at the fort. There is a plaque located in this spot that tells the complete store of the spring. Be stealthy in this area and I suggest not doing it at night, due to it’s location.
7) GC63GHK- Multi Cache – Here’s Howe placed 2015 by MKLeggs
Located at Fort Howe, it is a short multi cache with a question. This made the list because of the view. You can see most of Saint John from this location.
8) GC2CFG6 – Traditional Cache – We Are Here placed in 2010 by Mud in the Face
Located near the Irving LNG plant, not only does it have a great view of the harbor but it is the location of the largest Inukshuk that I have seen. It was constructed with a crane and can be seen from a long distance.
9) GCQK9V- Puzzle Cache – Nano Jack placed in 2005 by le tigre
I can’t really give a lot of info on this location, other than it is in a major historical area of Saint John and may be very hard to be stealthy in this location. For those who have found it will agree, timing may play an important part in coming out with the cache without standing out like a sore thumb.
10) GC9C5C – Tradition Cache – Cape Spencer Lighthouse placed in 2002 by Red Witch
One of many lighthouse caches published by Red Witch, this cache offers a fantastic view of the bay. Well worth the 17 km drive to the tip of Saint John!
Well that is it. The complete tour should last no more than 10 hrs, depending if you grab a cache or two along the way. There is a cache of just about every type and test your geosense to the max. I have travelled all across NB and always wanted a list of caches you had to have in Moncton, Fredricton, Miramichi and Bathurst. Ask around and put something in the comments.
So if you are looking for a place to cache in the next few months, check us out.
Well Done, Vaughan. It would be geat for other cities and towns to post similar stories so visiting cachers could have a “Must Do” caching list!
GREAT post. Perhaps we are biased because that area is where it all started for Didi and I some 7yrs ago, when we got our first GPS, arriving from our honeymoon. But I am so with you. I haven’t been in all places in NB, but for the bit we did, the ‘Greater SJ area’ for lack of better term, is by far our favorite place in NB for geocaching. SJ itself, then Grand-Bay, the peninsula across, the area heading towards St-Andrews, namely Pocologan area and Black Beach, Chance Harbor, Lepreau and so on. MAGNIFICIENT scenery down there, and as we love waterfalls, we were in for our money. Again to us, this is what geocaching was all about.
I dunno if this link will work, but bushwalking on that little isle was soooo fun and so scenic along the coast. https://www.geocaching.com/map/default.aspx?lat=45.19445&lng=-65.91115#?ll=45.27501,-66.12478&z=15
When we were caching, there was only 3-4 caches on that island, far from one another, there are now more than 20. There are probably trails there now?
That is the Greenhead area of Saint John. I am CO for a lot of those new caches placed. There are a few ATV trails there but some are easier accessed by Kayak.
5-star post, now I’m looking forward to my next posting in StJ.
And yes, a Moncton list would be great. As well as a Freddy list.
Also, there should be a list for Bathurst, where many early caches were placed by Insp Gadget and lately Tracker@230.
There could be a list for the Campbellton area, many challenging hides there by IndyNB as well as Tracker and Greybeast around Mt Sugarloaf.
Finally, the new active folks around the Edmundston/GF area take a lot of pride in their caches, I highly recommend the area now.
While we wait for each community’s list, here are some from around the Province. https://www.cacheupnb.com/what-are-your-favorite-new-brunswick-caches/
It was November, when I put out this challenge to the other cities but I haven’t seen anything. For those of us that travel to get caches, this would be invaluable information. But as the link fades into history, so does the idea.With the amount of negative posts and comments, it would be nice to see something positive like this on the site. Call it Geocaching pride and area pride. Maybe it’s time to ask certain seasoned cachers for a list and post it.