Press Pick 8 new clues for seven pirate rhymes and a final clue that ends: X marks the spot.
Pirate Treasure Hunt Clues
Thirsty crew? The scuttlebutt's near. Lift the stack of cups. The clue is here!Hide the next clue: the stack of plastic cups. On this ship it is the scuttlebutt, the barrel the crew drank water from. Roll it up inside the top cup.Trail
The stern is the back, as sailors know. To the back door handle, off ye go!Hide the next clue: the back door handle. On this ship it is the stern, the rear of the ship. Tie it on outside, or tape it just below.Trail
The bow is the front of every ship. To the table by the front door, skip!Hide the next clue: the table by the front door. On this ship it is the bow, the front of the ship. Stand it against whatever sits on the table.Trail
The jolly boat carries bread and jam. In the picnic basket, here I am!Hide the next clue: the picnic basket. On this ship it is the jolly boat, the small boat that ferried crew and stores. Drop it inside.Trail
Around the capstan the sailors stomp. Find our clue on the old tree stump.Hide the next clue: the tree stump. On this ship it is the capstan, the round winch sailors walked around to raise the anchor. Set a stone on the strip.Trail
A figurehead rides out in front. The door knocker ends this part of the hunt.Hide the next clue: the door knocker. On this ship it is the figurehead, the carving at the very front. Tape it just under the knocker.Trail
A sailor's sea chest holds his clothes. Try the bottom dresser drawer. Who knows?Hide the next clue: the bottom dresser drawer. On this ship it is the sea chest, the box that held a sailor's things. Lay it on top of the clothes.Trail
No more riddles, no more sea. X marks the spot: look ____ and see.This strip ends the trail. Fill the gap in pen with the chest's berth: inside the toy tent, say, or beneath a hall bench.Chest
These pirate treasure hunt clues turn a home into a ship: the cracker box is the galley, the wagon is the longboat, a low branch the crow's nest. Every deal is seven clues and a last one for the chest.
Read the full guide
Chart the trail
The page opens on seven easy rhymes that name each hiding place, for ages 4 to 7. Riddles deals pirate riddles for treasure hunt crews of 8 and up: the same places, never named. The menu under the button keeps the trail Below deck (indoors) or On deck (yard and porch). Lock each clue whose place you have and Swap the rest.
Print, cut and hide backward
Press Hide all answers, then Print: each clue prints over a blank line, and the hiding places print on a last page for you. Write where the chest is in the final clue. Hide the chest first, then work back to the start.
Tips
The note under each clue gives the ship word's meaning: the scuttlebutt was the barrel a crew drank water from.
Any box makes a chest. Fill it with whatever the crew likes: stickers, chocolate coins or a new book.
Questions and answers
How do you create a pirate treasure hunt?
Deal a trail, lock the clues whose hiding places you have, then print and cut the strips. Hide the chest, then hide each clue at the place the clue before it names. Hand the first strip to the crew.
What do you write on the last clue of a pirate treasure hunt?
Where the chest is. Each final clue ends on X marks the spot with a blank, and you fill it in by hand after printing: under the porch chair, in the bathtub, behind the couch.
What are the ship names on the clues?
Real ship words, used as sailors used them. The galley is the kitchen, the hold is where cargo rides, the stern is the back and the bow the front. The note under each clue explains its word.
Are the clues too hard for a five year old?
The easy rhymes name the hiding place outright, so a five year old needs only to hear one read aloud. The riddles never name the place and suit children of 8 and up.
A figurehead rides out in front. The door knocker ends this part of the hunt.Hide the next clue: the door knocker. On this ship it is the figurehead, the carving at the very front. Tape it just under the knocker.
A hole in the hull? Don't shout or cry. Peek through the fence's knothole eye.Hide the next clue: the knothole in the fence. On this ship the fence is the hull. Roll the strip and poke it into the hole, or tape it beside a board with a knot.
A sailor's sea chest holds his clothes. Try the bottom dresser drawer. Who knows?Hide the next clue: the bottom dresser drawer. On this ship it is the sea chest, the box that held a sailor's things. Lay it on top of the clothes.
Ahoy! The galley's snack won't hide. Open the cracker box. Look inside!Hide the next clue: the cracker box. On this ship it is the galley, the ship's kitchen. Slip it under the box flap.
Show all 68 clues (64 more)
Easy rhymes, continued
All hands on deck, and sit a spell. The garden bench has a clue to tell.Hide the next clue: the garden bench. On this ship it is the deck. Wedge it between two slats of the backrest.
All hands to the lifeboat, quick as a fox! Look in the biggest cardboard box.Hide the next clue: the biggest cardboard box. On this ship it is the lifeboat. Drop it inside, or tape it to a flap.
Around the capstan the sailors stomp. Find our clue on the old tree stump.Hide the next clue: the tree stump. On this ship it is the capstan, the round winch sailors walked around to raise the anchor. Set a stone on the strip.
Arr, a sailor's bunk is where ye sleep. At the foot of the bed, take a peep.Hide the next clue: the foot of the bed. On this ship it is the bunk, a bed built into a ship. Lay it on the covers at the far end from the pillow.
Ballast is heavy and sits down low. Behind the bag of rice ye go!Hide the next clue: the bag of rice. On this ship it is the ballast, the weight kept low in a ship. Stand it behind the bag on a low shelf.
The bow is the front of every ship. To the table by the front door, skip!Hide the next clue: the table by the front door. On this ship it is the bow, the front of the ship. Stand it against whatever sits on the table.
The captain's cabin has one soft seat. Check the beanbag chair, matey. Neat!Hide the next clue: the beanbag chair. On this ship it is the captain's cabin. Tuck it under the edge, one corner showing.
Ding, ding! The ship's bell marks the time. Look by the xylophone's chime.Hide the next clue: the toy xylophone. On this ship it is the ship's bell, which marks the time for the crew. Slide it under the bars.
Down in the hold the cargo's packed. Lift the storage tub's lid. That's a fact!Hide the next clue: the storage tub. On this ship it is the hold, where the cargo rides. Tape it under the lid.
Drop the anchor! It's heavy as lead. Look by the potting soil instead.Hide the next clue: the bag of potting soil. On this ship it is the anchor. Tuck it under a corner of the bag.
The forecastle is where the crew sleeps tight. Search the playhouse, left and right.Hide the next clue: the playhouse or play tent. On this ship it is the forecastle, the crew's quarters at the front. Tape it inside the doorway.
Grab the oars and pull, me crew! The rackets hide a clue for you.Hide the next clue: the sports rackets. On this ship they are the oars. Thread it through the strings of one racket.
Hard to port! The tiller is tall. It's the mop that leans against the wall.Hide the next clue: the mop. On this ship it is the tiller, the long lever that steers a small boat. Tape it to the handle at a child's height.
Hoist the sail and catch the breeze! Check the window blind, if ye please.Hide the next clue: the window blind. On this ship it is the sail. Tape it to the bottom rail, where a child reaches.
The jolly boat carries bread and jam. In the picnic basket, here I am!Hide the next clue: the picnic basket. On this ship it is the jolly boat, the small boat that ferried crew and stores. Drop it inside.
The mast stands tall and thin and straight. Find the garden stake, shipmate!Hide the next clue: the garden stake. On this ship it is the mast. Tie it on with yarn at a child's height.
Our ensign flies for all to see. By the garden flag your clue will be.Hide the next clue: the garden flag. On this ship it is the ensign, the ship's flag. Clip it to the bottom corner.
The quarterdeck is the captain's spot. Check the porch swing. Like it or not!Hide the next clue: the porch swing. On this ship it is the quarterdeck, the officers' deck. Tuck it between the seat slats.
The rigging's ropes go round and round. In the ball of string a clue is found.Hide the next clue: the ball of string. On this ship it is the rigging, the ship's ropes. Tuck it under the loose end.
Row the longboat to the shore! The wagon holds one clue more.Hide the next clue: the wagon. On this ship it is the longboat, the rowboat a sailing ship carried. Lay it in the wagon bed under a stone.
Step through the gangway, mind the floor. A clue hangs on your bedroom door.Hide the next clue: the bedroom doorknob. On this ship it is the gangway, the opening where the crew comes aboard. Hang it from the knob on a loop of tape.
The stern is the back, as sailors know. To the back door handle, off ye go!Hide the next clue: the back door handle. On this ship it is the stern, the rear of the ship. Tie it on outside, or tape it just below.
The taffrail runs around the stern. At the back porch rail it's your turn.Hide the next clue: the back porch railing. On this ship it is the taffrail, the rail at the stern. Tie it to a post at a child's height.
Take the helm and steer us true! The toy truck's wheel has a clue for you.Hide the next clue: the toy truck. On this ship it is the helm, the wheel that steers. Fold it into the cab or tape it underneath.
Thirsty crew? The scuttlebutt's near. Lift the stack of cups. The clue is here!Hide the next clue: the stack of plastic cups. On this ship it is the scuttlebutt, the barrel the crew drank water from. Roll it up inside the top cup.
Up in the crow's nest, lookouts see. Reach the lowest branch of the tree.Hide the next clue: the lowest branch of a tree. On this ship it is the crow's nest, where the lookout stands. Tie it with yarn to a branch a child reaches from the ground.
Riddles 30
A branch grew here once. Now I am a small round window in a wooden wall. What am I?Hide the next clue: the knothole in the fence. On this ship the fence is the hull. Roll the strip and poke it into the hole, or tape it beside a board with a knot.
A thousand white grains in one soft sack, and I slump on the low shelf. What am I?Hide the next clue: the bag of rice. On this ship it is the ballast, the weight kept low in a ship. Stand it behind the bag on a low shelf.
Four wheels, no engine, no fuel. One small hand is all the crew I need. What am I?Hide the next clue: the toy truck. On this ship it is the helm, the wheel that steers. Fold it into the cab or tape it underneath.
I am a sack of dark earth that has never seen a field. Flowers start in me. What am I?Hide the next clue: the bag of potting soil. On this ship it is the anchor. Tuck it under a corner of the bag.
I am a thin stick pushed in the ground so a wobbly plant can lean on me. What am I?Hide the next clue: the garden stake. On this ship it is the mast. Tie it on with yarn at a child's height.
I am one long line wound into a moon. Pull me end and I grow thin. What am I?Hide the next clue: the ball of string. On this ship it is the rigging, the ship's ropes. Tuck it under the loose end.
I am the lowest arm of a giant who never walks. Birds perch on me. What am I?Hide the next clue: the lowest branch of a tree. On this ship it is the crow's nest, where the lookout stands. Tie it with yarn to a branch a child reaches from the ground.
I am the lowest of me brothers. Pull me out and I show ye folded shirts. What am I?Hide the next clue: the bottom dresser drawer. On this ship it is the sea chest, the box that held a sailor's things. Lay it on top of the clothes.
I am woven, with a lid and two handles, and I carry lunch out to the grass. What am I?Hide the next clue: the picnic basket. On this ship it is the jolly boat, the small boat that ferried crew and stores. Drop it inside.
I came with a delivery and stayed on as a ship. Brown walls, four flaps. What am I?Hide the next clue: the biggest cardboard box. On this ship it is the lifeboat. Drop it inside, or tape it to a flap.
I hang by two chains and rock ye like a ship at anchor, yet I never leave port. What am I?Hide the next clue: the porch swing. On this ship it is the quarterdeck, the officers' deck. Tuck it between the seat slats.
I have a door and a roof, and no grown-up fits inside. The crew meets in me. What am I?Hide the next clue: the playhouse or play tent. On this ship it is the forecastle, the crew's quarters at the front. Tape it inside the doorway.
I have a lid and no lock, and I keep the cargo ye only want twice a year. What am I?Hide the next clue: the storage tub. On this ship it is the hold, where the cargo rides. Tape it under the lid.
I have a long neck and a head of rope, and I dance when the deck is wet. What am I?Hide the next clue: the mop. On this ship it is the tiller, the long lever that steers a small boat. Tape it to the handle at a child's height.
I have four wheels and one long handle, and I haul yer treasure down the path. What am I?Hide the next clue: the wagon. On this ship it is the longboat, the rowboat a sailing ship carried. Lay it in the wagon bed under a stone.
I have no legs and no bones, yet the captain sinks into me with a sigh. What am I?Hide the next clue: the beanbag chair. On this ship it is the captain's cabin. Tuck it under the edge, one corner showing.
I have no voice, yet I announce every visitor. Lift me and let me drop. What am I?Hide the next clue: the door knocker. On this ship it is the figurehead, the carving at the very front. Tape it just under the knocker.
I run around the edge so no sailor falls off the porch. Slide a hand along me. What am I?Hide the next clue: the back porch railing. On this ship it is the taffrail, the rail at the stern. Tie it to a post at a child's height.
I stand by the front door and catch keys, mail and whatever ye carry in. What am I?Hide the next clue: the table by the front door. On this ship it is the bow, the front of the ship. Stand it against whatever sits on the table.
I wave all day and never say hello. The wind tells me which way to point. What am I?Hide the next clue: the garden flag. On this ship it is the ensign, the ship's flag. Clip it to the bottom corner.
Long handles, round heads full of strings. We swat at anything that flies. What are we?Hide the next clue: the sports rackets. On this ship they are the oars. Thread it through the strings of one racket.
Me cargo is dry and square and salty. Shake me and I rattle, matey. What am I?Hide the next clue: the cracker box. On this ship it is the galley, the ship's kitchen. Slip it under the box flap.
Once I held up a hundred branches. Now I am a round seat with rings to count. What am I?Hide the next clue: the tree stump. On this ship it is the capstan, the round winch sailors walked around to raise the anchor. Set a stone on the strip.
Raise me and daylight boards the ship. Lower me and the cabin goes dim. What am I?Hide the next clue: the window blind. On this ship it is the sail. Tape it to the bottom rail, where a child reaches.
Slats for a seat and iron for feet. I wait among the flowers for tired sailors. What am I?Hide the next clue: the garden bench. On this ship it is the deck. Wedge it between two slats of the backrest.
Strike me colored bars and I sing a ladder of notes, low to high. What am I?Hide the next clue: the toy xylophone. On this ship it is the ship's bell, which marks the time for the crew. Slide it under the bars.
Turn me head and yer own cabin opens. I am round and I never get dizzy. What am I?Hide the next clue: the bedroom doorknob. On this ship it is the gangway, the opening where the crew comes aboard. Hang it from the knob on a loop of tape.
We sleep one inside another in a tower, and wake when the crew is thirsty. What are we?Hide the next clue: the stack of plastic cups. On this ship it is the scuttlebutt, the barrel the crew drank water from. Roll it up inside the top cup.
Ye grab me each time ye leave by the stern of the house. I turn or I tip. What am I?Hide the next clue: the back door handle. On this ship it is the stern, the rear of the ship. Tie it on outside, or tape it just below.
Yer toes point at me all night long. I am the far shore of yer blanket. What am I?Hide the next clue: the foot of the bed. On this ship it is the bunk, a bed built into a ship. Lay it on the covers at the far end from the pillow.
Below deck (indoors) 8
Arr, the last clue! Drop anchor here. X marks the spot: ____.This strip ends the trail. Fill the gap in pen with the chest's berth: inside the toy tent, say, or beneath a hall bench.
Land ho! Yer treasure waits ashore. X marks the spot ____, nothing more.This strip ends the trail. Fill the gap in pen with the chest's berth: inside the toy tent, say, or beneath a hall bench.
The map ends here, brave crew. X marks the spot, and the spot is ____.This strip ends the trail. Fill the gap in pen with the chest's berth: inside the toy tent, say, or beneath a hall bench.
No more riddles, no more sea. X marks the spot: look ____ and see.This strip ends the trail. Fill the gap in pen with the chest's berth: inside the toy tent, say, or beneath a hall bench.
Shiver me timbers, the hunt is done! X marks the spot ____. Go on, run!This strip ends the trail. Fill the gap in pen with the chest's berth: inside the toy tent, say, or beneath a hall bench.
Well sailed, matey, ye earned yer share. X marks the spot ____. Go there!This strip ends the trail. Fill the gap in pen with the chest's berth: inside the toy tent, say, or beneath a hall bench.
X marks the spot, me hearties! Put down the spade. The chest is ____.This strip ends the trail. Fill the gap in pen with the chest's berth: inside the toy tent, say, or beneath a hall bench.
Ye read every clue and never ran aground. X marks the spot: ____.This strip ends the trail. Fill the gap in pen with the chest's berth: inside the toy tent, say, or beneath a hall bench.
How this list was compiled: Written for this site by its editors on 2 October 2026: original clues for a pirate treasure trail at home. Each of 30 hiding places, 15 indoors and 15 in the yard and on the porch, is renamed as part of a ship and has an easy rhyme and a riddle in a pirate's voice. Eight final clues end on X marks the spot, with a blank for where the chest is. Nothing was copied from another clue list, and no pirate from a book, a film or a game appears. The ship words (galley, hold, bunk, sea chest, helm, rigging, scuttlebutt, ballast, gangway, tiller, bow, stern, crow's nest, capstan, mast, longboat, hull, taffrail, quarterdeck, figurehead, jolly boat, ensign, forecastle and the rest) follow their entries in Wikipedia's Glossary of nautical terms, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_nautical_terms_(A–L) and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_nautical_terms_(M–Z), read on 2 October 2026 (text under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license). Every hiding place is one a child reaches from the ground: no stove, oven, garage, pool or road, and no clue asks anyone to climb. The note under each clue names the hiding place, gives its ship name and says where the paper strip goes. Licence: own work