Get a Clue: Urban Scavenger Hunts
by Allie Comeau on July 22, 2008 
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Scavenger hunts and obstacle courses aren’t just for kids anymore. A new breed of urban-oriented scavenger hunt is taking the country by storm and giving city dwellers a clue… literally.
Events like The Great Urban Race and New Belgium’s Urban Assault Ride have adults and kids alike scouring their hometowns for clues, navigating tricky obstacle courses, and getting some exercise while they’re at it.
This past weekend in Fort Collins, CO, the Urban Assault Ride had two-person teams racing through town on bikes, stopping at checkpoints, tackling obstacles, and solving clues to finish the race. From the sounds of it, the ride was a total blast. From the Urban Assault website…
The Urban Assault Ride™ is a funky bike scavenger hunt that involves street-smart riding, obstacle courses, and a huge after party. Mental muscle is just as important as bike skills as teams of 2 choose their own course to checkpoints around the city.
Here’s a video of the Urban Assault Ride in Austin, TX a few weeks ago…
The Great Urban Race, which hits Denver, CO this coming weekend, is similar in that two-person teams navigate the city, but this time they use public transit to get around. The Great Urban Race has been stopping in cities around the U.S. since February. They’re even having a Grand Championship Urban Race in November in fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada. If you win the championships, you also win $10,000. Not a bad purse for a scavenger hunt…
If you think a scavenger hunt sounds like fun, you could always organize one for family and friends. (My best friend’s grandmother used to organize a treasure hunt for us every Halloween and it was the highlight of the year.) There are even companies who will do all the legwork for you. Companies like Rootles (also in Fort Collins) or Scavenger Hunt Anywhere can help you with the planning or you can get creative and make one up yourself.
Whether you take part in a large-scale operation like one of the above organized events or create a more intimate one, scavenger hunts can be a great way to get outside, get active, and get to know your town or city.
