Shortly after geocaching began 25 years ago, Groundspeak collaborated with 20th Century Fox to create a worldwide series of geocaches ahead of the release of the Planet of the Ape movie. This was the first of many collaborations Groundspeak has done over the years. We are celebrating all of the collaborations that Groundspeak has created over the past 25 years with a focus on PROJECT A.P.E.!

Learn more about this project from the Geocaching HQ Blog from 5 years ago. In the meantime, we will have more about this project at the event. We are planning on having some of the folks who were instrumental in creating this unique collaboration, and you will have the opportunity to actually find this unique geocache type, only available in two places around the world.

The APE cache is found in the rugged, snow-capped Cascade Mountains, just a short drive from Seattle. Here you can walk through the spooky two-mile-long Tunnel of Light, find some of the oldest caches in Washington, and visit the APE cache. Plus, we hear that Sasquatch and Fen Dweller have been sighted in the area - so watch out!

If you are new to geocaching, you may be wondering: What the heck is an APE cache? Check it out:
GC1169 Project A.P.E. Mission 9: Tunnel of Light.

"Alas, our beloved APE cache was stolen and archived in 2011, but it was returned and reactivated in 2017!"

DATE & TIME:  📅 Saturday, August 9, 2025 | 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

ADDRESS:  Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail, Hyak Trailhead, Snoqualmie Pass, WA, 98068

COORDINATES:  N 47° 23.445′ W 121° 23.516′

WHERE TO FIND US:  We will be at the far end of the parking lot. The park and tunnel are open from dawn until dusk, so you are welcome to stay and explore all day.

EVENT WEBSITE:  wsgagoingape.com

PACKAGES:  COMING SOON

FACEBOOK:  Be sure to "Like" the WSGA on Facebook (optional)! We will be posting all the latest info about APE 25 in the months leading up to the event! WSGA Facebook

DISCORD:  discord.gg/qcxXahqC

EVENT MAP:  COMING SOON

• APE History and highlight discussions on the main stage.
• Discover new and interesting Adventure Labs throughout the park and trail system. 
• Socialize and sign the logboard (look for the Ape wearing it). 
• Hike or bike through the Snoqualmie Tunnel. This 100-year-old railroad tunnel is 2.3 miles long, pitch dark, and a chilly 50F degrees. You will feel the cold breeze before you even see the tunnel entrance, and occasional water drips add to the spookiness. More about the tunnel.
• Find Bloody Fingers, Dirty Diapers (GCJMDK) inside the tunnel. Watch out for Fen Dweller!
• Find Iron Horse (GC79), 2nd-oldest active cache in Washington, outside the west entrance to the tunnel.
• Find Mission 9: Tunnel of Light (GC1169)
• Find the Adventure Labs specially placed for this event
• Trade your trackables at the Travel Bug Depot.

MORE ACTIVITIES COMING SOON

Please route to the posted event coordinates, and our parking volunteers will direct you to appropriate parking. We have two overflow lots in addition to parking at the main Hyak venue; both overflow lots are a short five-minute walk from the event site. PARKING MAP COMING SOON

Park Trail State Park (event site) generally requires a Washington State Parks Discovery Pass but will be free on August 9th, 2025 (Discover Pass Free Day - Aug. 9 — Smokey the Bear's Birthday). Parking at nearby National Forest trailheads require a National Forest Recreation Day Pass ($5.00).

The nearby Forest Service lot requires a Northwest Forest Pass (day or annual); we will have passes for sale at this lot and our parking attendants will sell you a $5 day pass if you don't have one.

Hiking: The hike from Hyak to the APE cache is 3 miles (6 miles round trip, including two trips through the tunnel). The Iron Horse Trail is a broad, flat, packed-gravel trail with little elevation change. 

Biking: Bicycles are allowed on the Iron Horse Trail and in the tunnel, so feel free to bring yours. (We don't recommend road tires due to the rockiness of some sections.) If you bike, be sure you have a headlamp and watch for pedestrians, especially in the tunnel. 

Time required: Plan a half day for this event (or longer, depending on your caching plans). It takes 30-45 minutes each way to drive from Seattle to Hyak, and round-trip distance to the APE cache is 6 miles.

Swag: No event is complete without geo-goodies, and we have an APE 25 event coin, T-shirt and more created just for the event. Preorders are coming soon...

What to bring: You'll need a flashlight or headlamp for the tunnel, plus a day pack with hiking essentials for your party. Depending on your plans, this may include food, water, camera, hat, bug spray, suntan lotion, first aid, camera, emergency whistle, sunglasses, extra batteries, trekking poles, maps, ibuprofen, camera... Also bring your Discover/NWF parking permit or cash/card to buy one.

First aid: We will have first aid available at the First aid tent, so please go there if you need help. The event monitors at each end of the Snoqualmie Tunnel will also have first-aid kits.

MORE DETAILS COMING SOON

Questions? Email info@wsgagoingape.com or send a message to the WSGA account. We will get back to you ASAP.

This event is sponsored by the Washington State Geocaching Association. If you are a geocacher in the state of Washington, please consider joining the WSGA. Follow this link to visit our website to learn more about becoming a WSGA member.