A Geocaching Adventure along Arkansas’ Great River Road

Whether you have a week, a weekend or just a couple of hours, geocaching along Arkansas’ Great River Road is a wonderful opportunity to experience the history and beauty of the Arkansas Delta.

It meanders through the heartland of America. It is deep and it is shallow – with levels ranging from three to 200 feet. It is the mighty Mississippi River. It has carved its way through 10 states, creating a scenic and natural border that has beckoned people to its banks for centuries. Songs and novels are written about it; man has tried to control it and it proved to be uncontrollable.

Geocache has played a significant part in all aspects of our country’s history.

The Great River Road and the Mississippi River Parkway Commission were established in 1938.  Marked by the familiar green Pilot’s Wheel, the Great River Road runs from Minnesota to Louisiana for almost 3,000 miles. In The Natural State, 10 counties along the state’s eastern border lie along the Great River Road National Scenic Byway. Throughout the region there are over 100 special Great River Road caches spread along the scenic byway that take cachers to historic sites, museums and attractions in the Arkansas Delta.

Find a geocache

Using clues and coordinates, geocaching provides fun for all ages and the thrill of finding the elusive cache. Grab your family or a few friends, your hiking boots and your GPS and head to Arkansas’ Great River Road for a geocaching escapade! The modern-day scavenger hunt promises hours or days of fun for all ages. You can start anywhere along the Great River Road…you can go north or south…it’s your decision! If you’re planning on spending the night, there are plenty of hotels, motels and cabins along the historic byway.

The Arkansas Great River Road caches will take you to notable sites in West Memphis, Tyronza, Brinkley, Marianna, Helena-West Helena, St. Charles, Arkansas City, Jerome, Rohwer, Dumas, McGehee, Lake Village and Eudora. Along the way, you’ll experience the history, sights and culture of the Arkansas Delta, including museums, National Historic Landmarks, National Historic sites, state parks, lakes, rivers, and the magnificence of the region.

Not familiar with geocaching?

Geocaching is a popular hobby with enthusiasts around the globe. It combines technology with nature to produce an exciting new form of entertainment for those who like to be adventurous in their leisure time. In this modern-day treasure hunt, caches are hidden all over the world by individuals or groups. The location of each geocache is marked with Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates which are shared via the Internet.

Enthusiasts use a hand-held GPS unit to hunt for the caches. Each hunt and the terrain around it vary in difficulty. Some caches contain only logbooks in small tins or film canisters, while others hold mini treasures inside containers such as ammo boxes. Standard geocaching protocol is to take something if you leave something.

Get out, search for some "treasure," and enjoy the history and the beauty of Arkansas' Great River Road!