Geocaching.com/EasyGPS (.loc)
A .loc file is a simple XML waypoint list for geocaches, in the format Geocaching.com and the older EasyGPS tool used before GPX took over.
At a glance
| Extension | .loc |
| Encoding | xml |
| By | Groundspeak, Inc. |
History
Geocaching.com, owned by Groundspeak, Inc., began operating in late 2000. No separate publication date is documented for the .loc format itself.
Where it is used
.loc files carried basic geocache waypoints — name, coordinates and a short description — between geocaching websites, desktop tools like EasyGPS, and GPS receivers.
Structure
A simple XML format holding only basic per-cache fields: name, coordinates, and a short description. GPSBabel's own documentation notes it differs from the format used by the general-purpose EasyGPS tool of the same extension, despite sharing a name.
How widespread
Legacy. GPSBabel's own documentation recommends using GPX from Geocaching.com's Pocket Queries instead, since GPX carries substantially more detail per cache than a .loc file can hold; today's Geocaching.com exports are GPX-based.
RouteConverter support
| Reads | Geocaching.com/EasyGPS |
| Writes | Geocaching.com/EasyGPS |
RouteConverter reads and writes .loc files through the bundled GPSBabel.
Specifications and documentation
FAQ
What is a .loc file?
A .loc file is a simple XML waypoint list for geocaches, in the format Geocaching.com and the older EasyGPS tool used before GPX took over.
How do I open a .loc file?
RouteConverter, the free converter for Windows, macOS and Linux, opens Geocaching.com/EasyGPS files: start the app, load the file, then view it on the map or save it in another format.
What can I convert .loc to?
RouteConverter opens .loc files and saves them as GPX, KML or any other format it can write. More: GPX, KML, all formats.