The 40 Best Scavenger Hunt Clues for Adults (and Some Riddles) (2024)

Scavenger Hunt, Since the shift to remote and hybrid working, businesses have had to think outside the box and come up with innovative ways to maintain and grow team dynamics. Human beings are social creatures and need to connect to work well together.

Team development is a process that doesn’t happen overnight. Thankfully, the tech world was already well equipped, and when the COVID pandemic took us by surprise, most companies (and employees) had the basic infrastructure. We all just had to learn quickly and adapt. But that’s what humans do best.

Reinventing the wheel

The pandemic also shifted the way HR and management value employee happiness. Happy employees are more productive, and if they feel valued, they feel they are contributing to a greater good rather than just being a small cog in a big wheel.

So how do businesses ensure employee happiness, facilitate team building and keep morale strong in a remote world? Simple, find interactive, innovative, and fun ways to come together in the virtual realm. For example, the year-end office party can just as easily be a virtual party.

All you need is some inspiration and ideas; fortunately, there is plenty to go around. You’ll also find plenty of facilitated team-building activities that take all the pressure off you, handle all the nitty gritty and allow you to sit back and enjoy the fun with your employees.

Another team-building activity that can be enjoyed virtually is an online cooking class. No matter what happens in the world, one thing that will always unite the human race is food. Of course, there are so many benefits beyond having fun and producing good food — but if your staff get to have a good time in the kitchen and cook up a storm while developing their team, why the heck not?

Want some more inspiration? Try a Scavenger Hunt

The scavenger hunt is the perfect activity for team building and getting to know your coworkers better. Make your next office outing a memorable adventure by planning an unforgettable experience.

This fun, interactive game will test everyone’s problem-solving skills while bringing everyone closer as a team.

Let your employees get to know one another better than ever before with this scavenger hunt game that only gets better with age. Whether searching for the perfect vintage hat, exploring a new cafe, or going on a virtual reality adventure, this ultimate scavenger hunt has something for everyone.

What is a scavenger hunt?

A scavenger hunt is an adventure game where players follow clues to answer questions or find items hidden in different locations. Unlike other games that are competitive, a scavenger hunt is a collaborative game that brings people together to work as a team to solve puzzles and find items.

The scavenger hunt is great for team building, group outings, parties, and more. They can be tailored to any age group and are perfect for all skill levels, whether you’re an expert or a beginner. And best of all, you can make them as long or as short as you want.

40 best clues for your ultimate scavenger hunt

The most challenging part of creating a scavenger hunt is coming up with clever, cryptic clues that will are not impossible to solve but enough of a challenge to let the team thinks. So here’s a helping hand.

  1. You cut me on a table, but I’m never eaten. (Deck of cards.)
  2. A band that doesn’t play instruments but has plenty of styles. (Headband)
  3. Everything ends with me. What am I? (Letter G)
  4. How many glasses of water can one drink on an empty stomach? (One)
  5. I am not a lamp, but I can light up. I don’t use any petrol but can start fires. (Matchstick)
  6. I am not an organ, but I have 13 hearts. Tell me, who am I? (Deck of play cards)
  7. I begin and end with the letter “e,” and usually only contain one letter. (Envelope)
  8. I can cause love, but that’s not the ideal outcome. I’m always happy to serve. (Tennis racket)
  9. I can run but cannot walk. I have sound but can’t talk. I have a bed but can’t sleep. (River)
  10. I come in the middle of March and April, but May doesn’t have me. (Letter R)
  11. I get dirty when I become white. (Blackboard)
  12. I greet every guest but never say a word. (Welcome mat)
  13. I have a spine but no bones. (Book)
  14. Are you camping out? Keep me near. However, I cannot solve your fear. It just helps to flick my switch when in the dark, you sense a twitch. (Flashlight)
  15. I have keys, but no locks and space, and no rooms. You can enter, but you can’t go outside. (Keyboard)
  16. I have lots of stars, but I’m not the sky. I’ll be sitting here quietly until you need me. (TV)
  17. I run around the backyard but never move. (Fence)
  18. I used to be a tree until I traded my roots for routes. So I have a rose, but I’m not a garden. (Paper map.)
  19. I’m a bed without sheets, and I’m always dirty. (Flowerbed)
  20. I’m full of holes but can still hold water. (Sponge)
  21. I’m made of water but will die if you put me in water. (Ice)
  22. I’m tall when I’m young and short when I’m old. (Candle)
  23. I’m always running, though I never walk. Sometimes, I can sing, but I never talk. I have hands, and I have a face. You use me to decide your pace. (Clock)
  24. It has four legs but cannot walk. (Table)
  25. It is my property and belongs to me, but others use it more often. (Name)
  26. Flip me open, clap me shut. Whenever you meet a rut, step away and rest your eyes. My glowing screen you can’t disguise. (Laptop)
  27. I have a ring, but no finger. Sometimes I die, but I’ll be revived if you charge me up. (cell phone)
  28. My name means “sightless,” but if you want to see it, all you have to do is open me. (Blinds)
  29. The building that has the most stories. (Library)
  30. Hold me light, hold me gentle. When you handle me, always be careful. But when it’s time to use my insides, tap me hard and crack my outside. Here it comes, the gooey flow. Into the heat, I slowly go. (Egg)
  31. The person who makes me has no use for me. The one who buys me doesn’t use me, but the one who uses me has never seen or used me before. (Coffin)
  32. The place where today comes before yesterday. (Dictionary)
  33. The world lies in me, but I am not the earth. ( Paper map)
  34. This coat can only be put on when wet. (Paint)
  35. What comes after E and before ant? (Elephant).
  36. You answer me, but I never ask any questions. (Telephone)
  37. Your uncle’s brother is your father, but what is your relationship with your uncle’s sister-in-law (his brother’s wife)? (Your mother)
  38. Open, shut, open, shut. When you’re bored, I take the brunt. But there’s nothing here, you see. Time to visit the grocery. (Refrigerator)’
  39. Open me up, and there are lots to see. But sometimes, you still frown at me! You’ll say I’m not diverse enough. I don’t believe it’s my fault you don’t buy new stuff! (Closet)
  40. Fill me up and make me fat. You like me best when I’m like that. But lose track, and you will see you’ve nearly finished what you put in me. (Wallet)
The 40 Best Scavenger Hunt Clues for Adults (and Some Riddles) (2024)

FAQs

What is a bed without sheets and I'm always dirty? ›

Flowerbed. I'm a bed without sheets and always dirty.

How do you make a scavenger hunt fun for adults? ›

To set up a successful scavenger hunt for adults you need to do the following:
  1. Pick a theme for your scavenger hunt.
  2. Make a list of tasks for the participants.
  3. Make or buy prizes for the winners (and the losers)
  4. Invite your friends and split them up into the right sized groups.

How do you make clever clues for a scavenger hunt? ›

40 best clues for your ultimate scavenger hunt
  1. You cut me on a table, but I'm never eaten. ...
  2. A band that doesn't play instruments but has plenty of styles. ( ...
  3. Everything ends with me. ...
  4. How many glasses of water can one drink on an empty stomach? ( ...
  5. I am not a lamp, but I can light up. ...
  6. I am not an organ, but I have 13 hearts.
Oct 12, 2022

What are some good scavenger hunt riddles? ›

Scavenger Hunt Riddles
  • In my reflection, you can see your complexion. - ...
  • I have a head and a tail but no arms and legs. ...
  • What has two hands and also a face, but does not have arms and legs? ...
  • I swing open wide and lock up tight, when I am outside, I keep the house safe at night.
Dec 15, 2022

What has blades but is not a knife? ›

Fan. I have blades but I'm not a knife. Want to cool down? Just bring me to life.

What sheets don't pill? ›

No fabric is completely immune to pilling, as even the highest quality sheets can develop pills with frequent use and washing. However, some fabrics like linen, long-staple cotton, silk, and Tencel are less likely to pill than others due to their strong and durable fibers.

What color sheets look the least dirty? ›

Gray sheets can conceal a wide range of stains, including marks left by dirt and sweat. Dark tones and printed sheets offer do-it-all camouflage to hide a cornucopia of stains.

What to put at the end of a scavenger hunt? ›

Classic scavenger hunt prizes that are always a good idea

Sweets in a ridiculous amount – for example, 5kg of chocolate. Quite often prize ideas for adults tend to include business gifts only. According to one of the event professionals we talked to, his best one so far is candy.

What is a romantic scavenger hunt? ›

Some creative ways to make sure the scavenger hunt is super personalized include: displaying pictures of the two of you throughout the hunt, incorporating inside jokes, nicknames, and shared memories in the clues, sending them to meaningful locations for clues (like where you had your first date), or having a pet help ...

How to write scavenger hunt clues for adults? ›

Here are my Top Five Clue-writing Tips for creating excellent treasure hunt clues:
  1. Use wordplay: I love playing with words when brainstorming scavenger hunt ideas. ...
  2. Employ puzzles: There are so many great puzzles to choose from when looking for treasure hunt ideas: crosswords, wordsearches, sudokus, acrostics, jumbles.
Sep 21, 2009

What are some good outdoor scavenger hunt clues? ›

20 Outdoor Scavenger Hunt Riddles
  • Gate. I guard your house from strangers outside, I'm made of wood or metal, and I stretch wide. ...
  • Car. Wheels I have four, and one to steer inside. I take you everywhere with a GPS to guide. ...
  • Garage. You find your car inside me, I have a door as you can see. ...
  • Park.
Dec 1, 2020

How to create cryptic clues? ›

CRYPTIC CLUES

Tonally it works well to write something vaguely crossword-esque, and it's nice to make the clue tell a little story so the sentence makes literal sense as well as hiding important keywords. Think of words with double meanings, or an unusual way to describe something straightforward.

How do you write scavenger hunt clues for adults? ›

Using numbers in place of letters is an easy way to create the code (eg. 1=a, 2=b, 3=c, etc.), but using pictures or symbols can add a little something special. Using the number code 2-1-20-8-18-15-15-13 = BATHROOM, so once deciphered, hunters would know to look for their next clue in the bathroom.

How do you make an interesting treasure hunt? ›

Here are some steps you can follow for a successful treasure hunt activity:
  1. Hide objects or tell the team what they need to find.
  2. Give the team clues of what they will find.
  3. Define the search location.
  4. Determine the time the team has to find the objects.
  5. The first team to complete the task wins.
Dec 11, 2023

What are good things to put on a scavenger hunt? ›

Ideas for Outdoor Scavenger Hunt

Hunt for forest or outdoor critters or neighborhood pets like squirrels, deer, mice, beavers, raccoons, cats, dogs, or moles. Identify a variety of bugs, leaves, plants, mushrooms, or flowers. Look for different types of cars, either parked or driving by.

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