Treasure Hunt Puzzles

Padlocks, mazes and other clever puzzles; these clues ideas will help you create treasure hunt clues that need to be solve, usually by doing something to unlock them or figure them out.

physical not physical outside only outside or indoors
physical clue not physical clue outside only clue outdoors or indoors clue

difficulty min number of people physical location
Combination Locks

A combination lock gives the next clue by using digits found on other clues

[easy difficulty, 1+ people, non physical, indoor or outdoor]
easyanynot physical clueoutdoors or indoors clue
Cryptex

A simple cryptex-style puzzle made from toilet roll tubes.

[medium difficulty, 1 people, non physical, indoor or outdoor]
medium1not physical clueoutdoors or indoors clue
Invisible Black Light Writing

Use a special pen to write a clue that can only be read with a "black light".

[easy difficulty, 1 people, non physical, indoor or outdoor]
easy1not physical clueoutdoors or indoors clue
Invisible Lemon Juice Ink Writing

A clue is written in lemon juice, which can only be read by gently warming the paper it is written on.

[easy difficulty, 1 people, non physical, indoor or outdoor]
easy1not physical clueoutdoors or indoors clue
Jigsaw Puzzle

The next clue is written down and cut up to form a jigsaw puzzle.

[easy difficulty, 1+ people, non physical, indoor or outdoor]
easyanynot physical clueoutdoors or indoors clue
Letters With Transparent Overlay

A grid of random letters hides a clue, which is revealed by correctly positioning a transparent sheet over the top.

[any difficulty, 1 people, non physical, indoor or outdoor]
any1not physical clueoutdoors or indoors clue
Locked Card

Using two padlocks, pieces of cardboard are locked together, and must be unlocked to solve the clue.

[easy difficulty, 1+ people, non physical, indoor or outdoor]
easyanynot physical clueoutdoors or indoors clue
Magic Eye

An autostereogram (also knowns as a Magic Eye image) is a pattern of seemingly random dots and splashes inside which is hidden the clue answer.

[hard difficulty, 1+ people, non physical, indoor or outdoor]
hardanynot physical clueoutdoors or indoors clue
Word Search

A clue is hidden in a word search by using the word search's leftover letters.

[easy difficulty, 1+ people, non physical, indoor or outdoor]
easyanynot physical clueoutdoors or indoors clue