By 1808Delaware
Picture a quiet Saturday morning at Shale Hollow Park. A family pauses at a fork in the trail, heads bent over a slim green booklet from Preservation Parks. The clue reads, “Follow the sycamore-lined ravine until you spy a fallen giant shaped like a bridge. Look beneath the mossy root for a secret sign.” Minutes later cheers break the hush—their youngest has tugged a weather‑worn box from its hiding place. Inside lies a tiny notepad, an ink pad, and a hand‑carved stamp of a dragonfly. One swipe of ink, one press in a personal journal, and the hunters have joined a global pastime that began halfway around the world.
From Dartmoor to Delaware County
Letterboxing traces its roots to 1854, when English guide James Perrott tucked a bottle for visiting cards beside Dartmoor’s remote Cranmere Pool. Hikers soon replaced calling cards with postcards, then rubber stamps, turning the moorland into a treasure hunt that eventually leapt continents.
How the Hunt Works
Modern letterboxers still rely on written riddles rather than GPS. Clues posted to sites like Letterboxing North America and Atlas Quest lead seekers to weather‑proof containers hidden in parks, cemeteries, or even city squares. Each box holds two essentials: a logbook and a unique stamp. Finders press the box’s stamp into their personal notebook, then leave their own signature stamp in the log as proof they were there—part calling card, part bragging rights.
Supplies for a Stamp‑Seeker
Getting started is refreshingly low‑tech: a pocket‑sized journal, a rubber stamp (many enthusiasts hand‑carve theirs from erasers), an ink pad, the printed or downloaded clues, and sometimes a simple compass for old‑school riddles. Seasoned hunters also carry resealable bags to keep boxes dry and discreet.
The Local Craze: Preservation Parks’ Summer Letterbox Adventure
Here in Delaware County, the hobby has become a summertime tradition. Beginning May 24, Preservation Parks hides eight themed boxes across its preserves—think Blues Creek, Gallant Woods, Deer Haven, and five more green gems. Adventurers pick up a free clue booklet at any county library branch or download it after online registration, then trace symbols from at least four boxes to claim a prize pack before Labor Day. Last year more than 1,200 booklets were stamped, making the program one of Ohio’s largest organized letterbox hunts.
State‑Park Side Quests
Prefer a single‑box challenge? Try “Fawning Over You,” tucked along Alum Creek State Park’s bridle trail off State Route 521. The clue describes counting steps from a picnic clearing to a double stump—be prepared for poison ivy and curious horseback riders.
Just south of the county line at Highbanks Metro Park, the long‑running “Make It a Metro Park Day” box invites seekers to begin on a memorial bench, greet Mr. Hutchins’ boulder, and wander rolling woods before unearthing the prize.
Why Letterboxing Sticks
Unlike geocaching, which often feels screen‑bound, letterboxing rewards slow observation—ferns that hide inky treasure, sandstone ledges that double as secret safes. Families report that children who once balked at hikes now beg for “just one more clue.” Preservation Parks staff see the hobby as an outdoor literacy program: kids read riddles, solve puzzles, and record discoveries—all without realizing they’re learning.
Tips Before You Trek
- Sign in and out politely; a tidy logbook lets planters know boxes are still alive.
- Re‑hide exactly as found. A misplaced stone can expose a stamp to rain—or spoil the mystery.
- Respect park hours (8 a.m.–9 p.m. for most county preserves) and stay on trails unless clues say otherwise.
Ready to Hunt?
Download clues at letterboxing.org or atlasquest.com, or stop by the Delaware Main Library for the 2025 booklet. Brush off your walking shoes, ink up that stamp, and discover how many secret stories are waiting beneath our county’s oaks and sycamores. Happy stamping—and remember: leave only footprints, take only impressions.
