A boat with no water, a bath with no splash. Look in the dry tub and be there in a flash.Hide the next clue: the bathtub. Lay it in the dry tub, away from the faucet.
Apples, bananas, and what is that? A clue in the fruit bowl. Fancy that!Hide the next clue: the fruit bowl. Stand it between two pieces of fruit.
Blocks and dolls and one lost sock. Lift the lid of the toy box. Knock, knock!Hide the next clue: the toy box. Lay it on top of the toys, under the lid.
Books go in, and your lunch does too. Unzip my front pocket: a clue for you.Hide the next clue: a backpack. Slip it into the front pocket of the hunter's own backpack.
Books stand in rows and never fall. Look behind the tallest book of all.Hide the next clue: the bookshelf. Stand it behind the tallest book on a shelf the hunter can reach.
I'm green and I never go out to play. Look under my pot, I'm not in the way.Hide the next clue: a houseplant. Slide it under the pot or its saucer.
Show all 64 clues (58 more)
Rhymes, continued
It has two arms but has no head. Check your coat pocket, like I said.Hide the next clue: a coat pocket. Use the hunter's own coat, on a hook they can reach.
It turns the sound from loud to low. Look under the remote. Go, go, go!Hide the next clue: the remote control. Lay it flat under the remote, wherever the remote lives.
It's dry indoors, so why's it here? Look in the umbrella: a clue is near.Hide the next clue: the umbrella. Drop it into a closed umbrella that stands by the door.
No fooling here, this one is true: your next clue hides inside a shoe.Hide the next clue: a shoe by the door. Push it into the toe of a shoe the hunter wears.
Round and round the paper goes. Look inside the tube. Who knows?Hide the next clue: the spare toilet roll. Roll it up and slide it into the cardboard tube of a spare roll.
What day is it? Go look and see. Behind the calendar a clue will be.Hide the next clue: the wall calendar. Tape it behind the page for April.
Where do your toes go every night? Look at the foot of your bed. That's right.Hide the next clue: the foot of the bed. Tuck it under the blanket at the foot end.
Wipe your feet, that is what I say. Look under the mat (indoors, okay?).Hide the next clue: the doormat. Lay it under the mat on the inside of the door.
Yesterday's socks and yesterday's shirt. Look in the laundry. (It won't hurt.)Hide the next clue: the laundry basket. Lay it on top of the pile, where it shows.
You eat on top. Now look below. Under the table, there you go.Hide the next clue: the kitchen table. Tape it to the underside, near the edge.
Opposite clues 14
The bottom stair is only a stair. Do not check beside it.Hide the next clue: the bottom stair. Tape it to the side of the lowest step.
The clock is busy telling time. It has no clue behind it.Hide the next clue: a clock. Stand it behind a clock on a shelf or a table.
The cookie jar is empty. No cookies. No clue. Do not peek.Hide the next clue: the cookie jar. Lay it inside, on top. A cookie each makes the lie a better one.
Do NOT lift the couch cushion. There is nothing there. At all.Hide the next clue: a couch cushion. Slide it under the middle cushion.
Do not open your sock drawer. Socks only. Very dull.Hide the next clue: the sock drawer. Lay it on top of the socks.
The fridge has no clue in its door. Do not open it. Do not look.Hide the next clue: the refrigerator door. Prop it against the bottles in the door.
The next clue is NOT with the bread. Bread is boring. Skip it.Hide the next clue: the bread. Lay it beside the loaf, in the bread box or on the bread shelf.
Nobody has ever hidden a clue behind a curtain. Stay away.Hide the next clue: a curtain. Pin it to the back of the curtain, low down.
The pencil cup has pencils in it. That is all. Move along.Hide the next clue: the pencil cup. Roll it up and stand it among the pencils.
Rugs lie flat. This one hides nothing under its corner. Nothing.Hide the next clue: a rug. Lift one corner and lay it flat underneath.
There is no clue under your bed. Do not bother looking.Hide the next clue: under the bed. Lay it just under the edge, where an arm can reach.
Your hat is just a hat. There is no clue inside it. Honest.Hide the next clue: a hat. Use the hunter's own hat, on a hook or a shelf they can reach.
Your piggy bank holds coins, not clues. Do not look under it.Hide the next clue: the piggy bank. Stand the bank on top of it.
Your teddy bear knows nothing. Do not ask. Do not look under it.Hide the next clue: a teddy bear. Sit the bear on the clue.
Backward clues 14
KOOL DNIHEB EHT HCUOCHide the next clue: behind the couch. Tape it to the back of the couch, low down. Read each word backward: LOOK BEHIND THE COUCH.
KOOL EDISNI RUOY HCNUL XOBHide the next clue: a lunch box. Lay it inside the empty box. Read each word backward: LOOK INSIDE YOUR LUNCH BOX.
KOOL NI A RETNIW EVOLGHide the next clue: a glove. Push it into the thumb. Read each word backward: LOOK IN A WINTER GLOVE.
KOOL NI EHT ELZZUP XOBHide the next clue: a jigsaw puzzle box. Lay it on top of the pieces, under the lid. Read each word backward: LOOK IN THE PUZZLE BOX.
KOOL NI EHT GNIRETAW NACHide the next clue: the watering can. Empty the can first and bring it indoors. Read each word backward: LOOK IN THE WATERING CAN.
KOOL NI EHT NIKPAN REDLOHHide the next clue: the napkin holder. Slide it between two napkins. Read each word backward: LOOK IN THE NAPKIN HOLDER.
KOOL NI RUOY EKIB TEMLEHHide the next clue: a bike helmet. Lay it inside the helmet, wherever the helmet is kept indoors. Read each word backward: LOOK IN YOUR BIKE HELMET.
KOOL NI RUOY GNIROLOC KOOBHide the next clue: a coloring book. Slip it between two pages with a corner showing. Read each word backward: LOOK IN YOUR COLORING BOOK.
KOOL NI RUOY NIAR TOOBHide the next clue: a rain boot. Drop it into the boot. Read each word backward: LOOK IN YOUR RAIN BOOT.
KOOL NO RUOY BONKROODHide the next clue: a doorknob. Fold it over a rubber band and hang it on the knob of the hunter's bedroom door. Read each word backward: LOOK ON YOUR DOORKNOB.
KOOL REDNU EHT EUSSIT XOBHide the next clue: the tissue box. Lay it flat underneath. Read each word backward: LOOK UNDER THE TISSUE BOX.
KOOL REDNU EHT HTAB TAMHide the next clue: the bath mat. Lay it flat under a dry mat. Read each word backward: LOOK UNDER THE BATH MAT.
KOOL REDNU EHT TAMECALPHide the next clue: a placemat. Lay it under the mat at the hunter's own place at the table. Read each word backward: LOOK UNDER THE PLACEMAT.
KOOL REDNU RUOY WOLLIPHide the next clue: a pillow. Use the hunter's own pillow. Read each word backward: LOOK UNDER YOUR PILLOW.
Fake treasures 12
A box in a box in a box. April Fools. Keep opening.Fake treasure: three boxes one inside the other, with the last clue in the smallest. Tape this strip to the outside and set the decoy where the clue before it points, or beside that place if it will not fit.
A jar of gold! April Fools. It is dry noodles. Look under the jar.Fake treasure: a jar of dry pasta standing on the last clue. Tape this strip to the outside and set the decoy where the clue before it points, or beside that place if it will not fit.
A treasure chest! April Fools. It is a shoebox. Open it anyway.Fake treasure: a shoebox with a paper lock drawn on it and the last clue inside. Tape this strip to the outside and set the decoy where the clue before it points, or beside that place if it will not fit.
Congratulations! A box of brown E's. April Fools. Look under them.Fake treasure: a box of letter E's cut from brown paper, with the last clue under them. Tape this strip to the outside and set the decoy where the clue before it points, or beside that place if it will not fit.
First prize: an envelope marked TOP SECRET. April Fools. Open it.Fake treasure: a sealed envelope that holds only the last clue. Tape this strip to the outside and set the decoy where the clue before it points, or beside that place if it will not fit.
Here is your pot of gold. April Fools: it is paper. Dig to the bottom.Fake treasure: a bowl of yellow paper circles with the last clue under them. Tape this strip to the outside and set the decoy where the clue before it points, or beside that place if it will not fit.
This map shows where the prize is. April Fools: it is blank. Unroll it all the way.Fake treasure: a blank sheet rolled up and tied like a map, with the last clue rolled inside. Tape this strip to the outside and set the decoy where the clue before it points, or beside that place if it will not fit.
The treasure is a rock. A very nice rock. April Fools. Lift it.Fake treasure: a pebble in a gift box, sitting on the last clue. Tape this strip to the outside and set the decoy where the clue before it points, or beside that place if it will not fit.
TREASURE! Open me first. (April Fools. Read what is inside.)Fake treasure: a wrapped box with nothing in it but the last clue. Tape this strip to the outside and set the decoy where the clue before it points, or beside that place if it will not fit.
You win a brand new pair of socks. April Fools. They are yours. Unroll them.Fake treasure: a wrapped pair of the hunter's own socks with the last clue rolled inside. Tape this strip to the outside and set the decoy where the clue before it points, or beside that place if it will not fit.
Your prize: one spoon. April Fools. Look under the spoon.Fake treasure: a spoon in a gift bag, lying on the last clue. Tape this strip to the outside and set the decoy where the clue before it points, or beside that place if it will not fit.
Your treasure is a banana. April Fools. You may still eat it. Look under it.Fake treasure: a banana with a bow on it, lying on the last clue. Tape this strip to the outside and set the decoy where the clue before it points, or beside that place if it will not fit.
Real treasure 8
April Fools is finished here. The real prize is ____. Give a cheer!Final clue. After printing, write where the real prize is in the blank, such as behind the couch or in the bathtub. This strip goes in or under the fake treasure, as its note says.
Cross my heart, no fibs, no fake. The treasure is ____, yours to take.Final clue. After printing, write where the real prize is in the blank, such as behind the couch or in the bathtub. This strip goes in or under the fake treasure, as its note says.
Every joke must have an end. The real prize is ____, my friend.Final clue. After printing, write where the real prize is in the blank, such as behind the couch or in the bathtub. This strip goes in or under the fake treasure, as its note says.
Fooled you once and fooled you twice. Look ____ for something nice.Final clue. After printing, write where the real prize is in the blank, such as behind the couch or in the bathtub. This strip goes in or under the fake treasure, as its note says.
The joke is over, the fooling is done. Look ____ and the prize is won.Final clue. After printing, write where the real prize is in the blank, such as behind the couch or in the bathtub. This strip goes in or under the fake treasure, as its note says.
Last clue, true clue, nothing to hide. The treasure is ____. Look inside.Final clue. After printing, write where the real prize is in the blank, such as behind the couch or in the bathtub. This strip goes in or under the fake treasure, as its note says.
No more tricks, this one is true. The real treasure waits ____ for you.Final clue. After printing, write where the real prize is in the blank, such as behind the couch or in the bathtub. This strip goes in or under the fake treasure, as its note says.
You kept on going when you were tricked. Look ____ for the prize we picked.Final clue. After printing, write where the real prize is in the blank, such as behind the couch or in the bathtub. This strip goes in or under the fake treasure, as its note says.
How this list was compiled: An original list of October 2026: 64 strips for a treasure trail played as an April Fools joke at home. 16 rhymes name the next hiding place, 14 opposite clues say where not to look, 14 clues spell each word backward, 12 strips go on a fake treasure and 8 final clues leave a gap for where the real prize waits. Nothing was copied from another clue list. The one fact stated, that April Fools' Day falls on 1 April, was read on 2026-10-15 at Wikipedia's article April Fools' Day, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_Fools%27_Day. Every joke is on the trail, not on a person: no food is spoiled or swapped, nothing makes a mess, nothing is meant to scare, and the trail always ends at a real prize. Every hiding place is one a child reaches from the floor, and none is at a stove, an oven, a medicine or cleaning cupboard, a garage, a pool or a road. Licence: own work
How it works
This April Fools treasure hunt fools the hunters twice. Some clues say the opposite of what they mean, and the first treasure they reach is a joke. The last strip tells the truth and leads to the real prize.
Read the full guide
How the prank trail works
The page opens on seven strips, in hiding order. Three rhymes name the next hiding place. Two clues say where not to look, which is where the next strip is. The sixth goes on a decoy, such as an empty wrapped box, and the seventh, the true one, hides inside it. Little kids leaves the opposite clues out; Backward spells every word in reverse.
Print, cut and hide
No such hiding place at home? Remove that row with × and press the button to fill the gap. Print puts the hiding places on a page of their own. Fill in the blank on the last strip by hand and hide the real prize first.
Play the decoy straight: wrap it, put a bow on it, and look proud when they find it.
Keep the real prize better than the joke, so the last laugh is theirs.
Questions and answers
How do you set up an April Fools treasure hunt?
Print a trail and cut the strips. Hide the real prize, put the last strip inside the decoy, then work backward: each strip sits where the one before it points. Hand over the first clue at breakfast on April 1.
Is a treasure hunt a good April Fools joke for kids?
Yes, because the joke is on the trail and not on a person. Everyone is fooled together, nothing is spoiled, spilled or scary, and it ends with a real prize.
What can the fake treasure be?
Anything harmless that looks like a prize for one second: an empty wrapped box, a bowl of yellow paper coins, a rolled pair of the hunter's own socks, a banana with a bow. The note under the sixth strip names one.
What are some April Fools scavenger hunt clues?
Two from the trail. An opposite clue: "Do NOT lift the couch cushion. There is nothing there. At all." A rhyme: "No fooling here, this one is true: your next clue hides inside a shoe."