Geocaching – Discover the route via GPS
For explorers on the Industrial Heritage Route, we have a great opportunity to rediscover the highlights of the Ruhr region's industrial heritage: With geocaching, you can go on a treasure hunt with a GPS device at the anchor points of the Industrial Heritage Route and explore the locations!
You'll find a geocache at each of our 27 anchor points. A geocache is a small box that you can find using coordinates and hints. Those who find the treasure can sign a logbook and enter their find in the geocaching app. You can also use the app to connect with other explorers in the geocaching community.
At selected locations you can also explore the area surrounding the anchor points on our geocaching tours (multicaches). You start in one place at an anchor point and follow a trail of clues from monument to monument and finally reach the next anchor point. Explore the mining landscape in Kamp-Lintfort or hike along the Rhine. Traces the industrial history in Essen. Hike over the dumps or through the Ruhr valley.
The geocaches on the Route Industrial Heritage were placed as part of the Route Industrial Heritage's 25th anniversary in 2024 and therefore all bear the anniversary hashtag #AllesGuteRoute in their names. Since then, you can explore the Route Industrial Heritage via GPS! The geocaches were unlocked for the respective Local Hero weeks of the anchor points in the anniversary year. In addition, a Travelbug was sent on a journey during each Local Hero week. This is a small object that wants to visit geocaches in other locations and fulfills a task in doing so. The Travelbugs are also still on their journeys through the Ruhr region, Germany, and the world!
Since the geocaching campaign was so well received, we'll continue it in 2025 and offer geocaching events. These are small gatherings of the geocaching community where you can exchange ideas about geocaching, for example, while taking a guided tour at an anchor point. Information about planned geocaching events can be found below.
Geocaching is new to you?
Use the free Geocaching app you can get started straight away.
All information about geocaching and the free app can be found here: www.geocaching.com/play
Our geocaching account is called “RouteIndustrial Culture".
If you have no idea what we're talking about, but we've piqued your interest, then take a look at the most important information here: https://www.geocaching.com/sites/education/de/
Are you geocaching professionals?
Follow our account “RouteIndustrial Culture“ and go looking for our geocaches!
Photos: RVR / Bradel-Gruszka
Geocaching events:
25 years of geocaching – 25 years of the Recklinghausen substation
Saturday, July 12.07.2025, XNUMX, Recklinghausen substation
After 25 years of the Industrial Heritage Route last year, this year we're celebrating not only 25 years of geocaching, but also 25 years of the Recklinghausen substation. In 2000, the Museum of Electricity and Life – Time Travel: Electricity – opened its exhibition in the historic substation. Since then, visitors have been able to experience the history of electricity firsthand.
On July 12th at 14:00 PM, we're hosting a geocaching event at the substation. You can also bring and exchange trackables at this event!
Following the event, you can take a guided tour of the museum's "Time Travel: Electricity" exhibition. Admission and a (non-alcoholic) drink are free. However, only 30 people can participate.
Registration for the geocaching event via the geocaching portal is required.
Registration: https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCB94NK