Explore Denver’s EarthCaches™

Turn your time in Colorado into a geologic adventure.

Make the most of GSA Connects 2026 with self-guided EarthCaches™ that take you beyond the meeting rooms and into the field. Explore downtown Denver’s iconic building stones, discover fossils and dinosaur tracks, or venture into the Front Range to uncover the geologic history of Colorado.

Whether you have an hour between sessions or a full afternoon to explore, there’s an EarthCache™ waiting to be discovered.

colorado mountains with a river and trail

What Is an EarthCache™?


An EarthCache™ is a location-based geoscience experience that brings you face-to-face with a remarkable geological feature. Instead of finding a physical container, you visit a real-world location, observe the geology around you, and complete activities that help you understand the site.

Created and maintained by the geoscience community, EarthCaches bring geology out of the classroom and into the field—making it accessible to anyone curious about the Earth.

Learn more

How to Participate


Getting started is easy:

1. Create a Geocaching® account
Create an account at geocaching.com if you don't already have one.

2. Find an EarthCache™
Use the direct links below or find your own by using the Geocaching® app or website to search for EarthCaches near Denver or your destination. Make sure to add "EarthCache" under "Filter" when searching.

3. Visit the location
Head to the EarthCache and complete the activities and observations described on its page.

4. Log your experience
Share what you discovered and add your photos to your EarthCache log.

5. Share your adventure
Post your EarthCache experience on social media and tag GSA. Use #GSAEarthCache for a chance to be featured on GSA's social media pages.

Ready to explore?

Create a Geocaching® account →
Explore EarthCaches →

Explore Denver

Discover the geology hiding in plain sight throughout the city.

Colorado's State Fossil

City Park | Denver

Visit the Denver Museum of Nature & Science to explore Colorado's official state fossil, Stegosaurus, and learn more about how fossils formed and were uncovered in Colorado.

Explore the EarthCache →

Marble From the Mountains

Cheesman Park | Denver

Discover Colorado's iconic Yule Marble at Cheesman Park Pavilion and learn how this remarkable stone became a favorite material for monuments and historic buildings.

Explore the EarthCache →

Denver Stones

Downtown Denver

Look up, down, and all around on a self-guided walking tour of downtown Denver. Discover granite, sandstone, marble, limestone, and other stones that have shaped the city's architecture.

Explore the EarthCache →

Rose Onyx and Yule Marble in the House

Colorado State Capitol | Denver

Visit the Colorado State Capitol to see rare Colorado Rose Onyx and brilliant Yule Marble while exploring the state's geologic heritage through its architecture.

Explore the EarthCache →

Venture Beyond Denver

Ready to explore a little farther? These EarthCaches take you into Colorado's Front Range and beyond.

Mines Geology Trail

Colorado School of Mines | Golden

Follow a self-guided geology trail featuring dinosaur tracks, fossils, mining history, and Colorado's diverse rock formations.

Explore the EarthCache →

Dino Egg or Alien Artifact?

Dinosaur Ridge | Morrison

Head to Dinosaur Ridge and investigate a fascinating geologic feature while exploring one of Colorado's most recognizable fossil sites.

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Ancestral Rockies: Red Rocks & Ship Rock

Red Rocks | Morrison

Explore the dramatic geology of Red Rocks and Ship Rock while learning about the ancient Ancestral Rockies and the rocks that record their history.

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Dakota Ridge Flatirons

South Valley Park | Littleton

Hike through South Valley Park and discover dramatic flatirons while exploring nearly 200 million years of Colorado's geologic history.

Explore the EarthCache →
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Get Ready for GSA Connects 2026

Discover everything the GSA Annual Meeting has in store for you this October in Denver.