Mary Jane Lanier, left, her mom Jody Tuttle and Lanier's son Riley, along with Molly the dog, sit outside the Grant County Chamber of Commerce in John Day ready to set out on their geocache hunt last year.

JOHN DAY — This weekend’s “Bridges of Grant County” Geocoin Challenge is expected to bring dozens of geocachers from around the state and beyond to the county.

The challenge starts Saturday, June 18, with “passports” handed out at 9 a.m. at the Historic Church yard, 261 W. Main St. in John Day; passport will be available at that location all day.

A no-host dinner will be held at 5 p.m. at the Outpost Restaurant.

Geocachers use GPS units or smartphones to enter coordinates in what is becoming a popular “treasure hunt” activity.

Those participating in this year’s event will take a path which includes Canyon City, John Day, Mt. Vernon, Dayville, Kimberly and Monument.

“It’s going to be a fun route,” said Tammy Bremner, one of the Geocoin Challenge organizers and a member of the Chamber of Commerce board.

She said some of the bridges are pretty, and the activity will be a good excuse to get out to see the scenic views in Grant County.

Those who find 15 geocaches will receive a 2016 Bridges of Grant County trackable geocoin, and the first five people to find all 25 geocaches in the challenge will receive the 2014, 2015 and 2016 coins.

Last year’s goecaching challenge, which included travels through Logan Valley, drew 130 people, and 97 of those visitors stayed in area hotels.

Bremner said she’s especially glad people will have the opportunity to travel to Monument.

“It’s a neat community,” she said. “Hopefully, this will make people want to go back.”