Scavenger Hunt Clues
Ready-made sets of riddles by place, age and holiday, each with answers and points, and a card maker that turns any set into printable clue cards and a host answer key.
That is 120 clues in all, in 6 sets. Every answer is a place, so each set works as a find-it list or as a clue trail, and each opens in the card maker to print.
How to set up a scavenger hunt with clues
- Choose the finish. Decide where the hunt ends — the prize, the gift or a snack — and keep that place out of the clues.
- Choose the stops. Pick one clue for every place you want players to visit. We suggest eight to twelve stops for a party and six to ten for young children.
- Choose the style. A clue trail sends everyone along one path, card by card. A find-it list hands out every clue at once.
- Print and hide. The card maker numbers the cards, prints a hiding list and an answer key for the host, and staggers the starting stop for each team.
- Hide cards backwards. Start from the end of the trail so you never have to remember what comes next; give each team its first card by hand.
Writing your own clues
A good clue describes the place by what it does or how it looks — "I catch the rain from the roof and keep it for the plants" for a rain barrel — rather than giving directions. Rhymes help young children remember the clue; describing a thing by what it never does makes it harder for adults. Keep each answer unique in a trail: if two clues share an answer, players will not know which card is next, and the card maker warns you.
Planning guides
Step-by-step plans for particular occasions, each with its own printable list: christmas light scavenger hunt, christmas scavenger hunt ideas, office scavenger hunt, birthday scavenger hunt, bachelorette scavenger hunt, rhyming scavenger hunt clues, easter basket scavenger hunt. All of them are on the guides page.
A sample from each set
| Set | Clue | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor clues | I am cold inside and bright when you peek. I keep the milk fresh for most of the week. | Fridge |
| Outdoor clues | We sit outside in summer, all around one table. Look under the chair nearest the house. | Patio chairs |
| Clues for kids | Time for bed! Look under the pillow where you rest your head. | Under your pillow |
| Clues for teens and adults | I decide whether the house is warm or cold, yet I never feel a thing. | Thermostat |
| Christmas clues | I stand in the corner every December and hold up the shiny things. Look at the back of my stand, on the floor, away from the lights. | Christmas tree stand |
| Thanksgiving hunt | Coats pile up on me when the guests arrive. Look under the top jacket. | Coat pile on the bed |
Questions
How do you make a scavenger hunt with clues?
Pick a finish, choose one clue per hiding place, then hide the cards backwards: the last card at the second-to-last answer, and so on, with the first card in the players' hands.
How many clues should a scavenger hunt have?
We suggest six to ten for young children and eight to twelve for a party. Each set here has more than that, so you can leave some out.
Where can I print scavenger hunt clues?
Choose a set and press Make printable cards. The card maker prints numbered clue cards and a separate answer key.
Are these clues free to use?
Yes. They were written for Hunt Cards; use them for your own party, class or family hunt.
Can I mix clues from different sets?
Yes. Load one set, then add, delete or rewrite cards in the card maker; a hunt holds up to 40 cards.