The Cole Stroll
Puzzle Hunt
The Cole Stroll is a self-guided puzzle hunt through the Cole Valley and Upper Haight neighborhoods of San Francisco, California. Teams of up to four Players acquire points by solving clues correctly as they progress through a series of public and private spaces.
The Cole Stroll features riddles, games, snacks, puzzles, trivia and poetry. This site-specific hunt moves you through a few of Cole Valley’s best kept independent businesses. It covers approximately one mile, over two hours, on foot. The Cole Stroll is powered by the ClueKeeper mobile app available for free on iOS and Android.
Cole Valley is like a small town in the middle of a big city. Come experience it for yourself with family-friendly content that is hidden in plain sight. Purchase a ticket for The Cole Stroll and invite up to three friends to play along with you on their own mobile devices.
#TheColeStroll
What People Are Saying…
“The Cole Stroll was a magical afternoon for me and nine friends, gathered for my wife's birthday. We live in Cole Valley and love discovering history and hidden surprises, so this sounded fun and unique. It turned out to be even better than I hoped. It's clever and funny and surprising and really did leave everyone in my group—which ranged from young children to college-aged kids to parents—smiling. A big thank you to the creators.”
— Joseph N., March 2022
“You have an amazing eye for fun and whimsy and a terrific sense of humor. The Cole Stroll is clever and creative. If you enjoy making experiences like this, I really encourage you to keep at it.”
— John O., February 2022
“What really made the stroll enjoyable was the variety of clues, puzzles, riddles and locations. Something for everyone. Not repetitive and not too impossible to solve. My husband and I had a great time”
— Diana H., April 2022
FAQs
+ What are the hours of operation?
This experience is self-guided but Players will progress through a series of public and private spaces. As such, you must plan to start and end your stroll within the hours of operation listed on your ticket. The entire hunt takes approximately two to three hours to complete, depending on how much time you take to check things out along the way. This is not a race and time is not a factor in your success. Players are encouraged to linger and explore the along the way.
+ Can I play alone or as a team?
Yes. Each hunt code can only be used only once. To form a team, have one player enter the hunt code on behalf of the team. That player can then use the "Add Team Members" feature in the app to add up to three additional Players that can particpate in synchronous play along with you.
+ What is the level of difficulty?
Easy to Moderate. There are approximately twenty clues in all. Three of the clues are Moderate to Difficult. Some require specific knowledge of general topics such as music or dogs. Many of the clues can be solved by children aged five and older. Most of the clues offer a series of HINTS to keep players progressing forward and having fun. Players can also SKIP clues if you get stuck for any reason but it’s not recommended.
+ Is this site specific?
Yes. The Cole Stroll is designed for Players to interact with the spaces through which they pass. Some of the clues can only be solved by a Player who can access a specific object in the space, store or sidewalk. However, the app does not require that the Player be in a specific geo-location to solve any of the clues. Most clues have hints and failsafes that allow Players to experience the Cole Stroll from anywhere, though we don't reccomend that approach. Go out take the stroll.
+ How is it played?
The primary goal is to have fun. Enjoy the people and places along the way. Acquire as many points as possible by solving sequential clues correctly. Each solution will unlock the next clue. Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom of each page before you move to the next screen in the app. Most clues allow players to guess the answer multiple times with no penalty. Some clues will warn players that they have only one chance to submit a final answer. Any words that appear in blue font are web links that will send the Player to the internet for additional information. Except for these links, players are discouraged from looking for solutions to clues on the internet. Use all the available HINTS instead, or just guess. The final HINT in each clue will reveal the answer. This is not a race and time is not a factor for scoring.
+ What's included?
Each hunt code allows for up to four players working together as a team using an intuitive mobile app. The hunt features riddles, games, stories, puzzles, history, trivia and augmented reality clues. Several small hidden objects are acquired by Players along the way. Players are encouraged to purchase snacks and other items at their own expense from our partners along the way.
+ Is it family friendly?
Yes. It is recommended for ages five and up and all content is family-friendly. Use your own discretion. The Cole Stroll is optimized for immature audiences of all ages.
+ What items do I need to play?
HARDWARE: Each team of players needs at least one mobile device (iOS or Android) with reliable carrier connection. Ideally, every player on a team will have their own mobile device for a shared and synchronous gaming experience.
SOFTWARE: Install the free ClueKeeper mobile app available on iOS and Android.
OTHER: Comfortable shoes and weather appropriate clothing. (1) 16 oz. bottle of water is required to solve one of the clues. Bring it with you or purchase it along the way. Pen & Paper can be useful but is not required.
+ How do I get started?
Step 1: Purchase The Cole Stroll on this website. You will receive an email with a unique HUNT CODE.
Step 2: Download and install the free ClueKeeper mobile app available on iOS and Android.
Step 3: Enter your HUNT CODE into the ClueKeeper app to load The Cole Stroll. Use the ADD TEAM MEMBERS feature in the app to add up to three additional Players.
Step 4: Plan to start/end your hunt from the corner of Carl Street and Cole Street DURING the OPERATION HOURS listed on your ticket. This corner is also a MUNI metro stop on the N-Judah line if you plan to arrive via public transport.