Yuma Mega 22 to spotlight West Wetlands Park and boost winter recreation

Yuma's annual Mega geocaching event will return to West Wetlands Park with a week-long slate of activities culminating in a Mega event day on Sunday, February 1, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The event draws regional geocachers and families for geo-challenges, awards, door prizes, a poker run, CITO community clean-up, family activities, and information booths.

The festival format mixes competition and community stewardship. Geo-challenges and a poker run appeal to visiting cachers while the CITO clean-up puts conservation front and center, reinforcing the park's role as both a recreation area and an outdoor classroom. Information booths and family activities are intended to introduce newcomers to geocaching and to showcase local outdoor opportunities during Yuma's milder winter season.

Local economic and civic impacts are concrete. The Mega draws visitors who may spend at small vendors on site and at nearby restaurants and services, offering a seasonal boost to the local economy. The event also highlights West Wetlands Park as a nature-education destination, a useful signal to residents and policymakers about the value of maintaining trails, native habitat areas, and visitor amenities that support outdoor recreation and ecotourism.

Organizing a multi-day event and a concentrated Mega day requires coordination with park managers, volunteer stewards, and vendors. Planning considerations include crowd management, parking, restroom and trash service, and safety oversight for family-oriented activities. The CITO element underscores the volunteer labor that helps preserve public spaces, but sustained stewardship depends on ongoing support and clear lines of coordination between organizers, city services, and volunteer groups.

For community members, the Mega is a reminder that winter months in Yuma offer outdoor programming that is different from summer recreation patterns. The event provides an accessible way for families to explore the West Wetlands, for new residents to meet volunteer stewards, and for small vendors to reach a regional audience. It also offers a model for how outdoor events can combine tourism, education, and environmental stewardship.

Check the event website for current scheduling and registration details. The takeaway? If you plan to attend, come prepared to walk the trails, support local vendors, and bring a pair of gloves for the CITO cleanup. Our two cents? Treat the Mega as both a fun day out and an opportunity to invest time in the park that draws visitors and dollars to Yuma County.