Halloween Hunt Around the House: 10 Stops to Follow
Hand the children the first clue, then let them follow ten hiding spots from the doormat to a bed pillow. A finish slip sends everyone back to the kitchen prize bowl. The printable cards above give you the words; the map below tells you exactly where to hide them. For children who aren’t reading yet, use a reading buddy or draw the suggested pictures.
Follow the ten-stop trail
The route is doormat → coat pocket → fridge door → bathroom towel rail → couch cushions → remote basket → bookshelf → toy box → dining chair → bed pillow → kitchen prize bowl. These are ten hiding stops, not a requirement for six separate rooms. Pick the particular coat, book, chair and pillow before printing or drawing.
Card 1 stays with you. It points to the doormat, where card 2 waits. Card 2 points to the coat pocket, where card 3 waits. Continue that pattern until card 10, hidden beneath the dining chair, sends players to the finish slip beneath the pillow.
For one group, print ten riddle cards and the finish slip. For two teams sharing the trail, print an extra card 1 and leave the hidden cards in place for both teams to read. Small teams of two or three are one option; you can also hunt together as a single group. Use separate turns if several teams would crowd the same spots. Reversing the route will not work with these clues.
The pack’s random picker previews cards; it does not choose the next clue during play. Print the page and cut between the numbered entries you need. There is no separate download file. Keep the map and unused swap cards with the host. For help preparing a helper’s copy or another game, see printable party games.
Draw pictures for children who aren’t reading yet
The picture group above lists what to draw; it does not contain ready-made illustrations. Draw a doormat on card 1, a coat pocket on card 2, and the remaining objects in order. Number the backs so you can hide them using the same map as the riddles. Add an arrow under the dining chair so the picture points beneath the seat, not to the tabletop.
You can put a picture and its riddle on the same card, or attach the two versions together. That lets younger children recognize the object while a reading buddy reads aloud. Take turns finding and reading cards so the same child doesn’t lead every stop. If you would rather have a seated picture game afterward, try Halloween picture bingo.
Hide each card in the right place
Have the cards, finish slip, scissors, tape, marker and prize bowl ready. Use this as the host’s checklist; players should only see their next clue.
- Keep card 1 with the host to hand out at the start.
- Hide card 2 beneath the doormat, with one corner showing.
- Tuck card 3 into the chosen coat pocket.
- Attach card 4 to the outside of the fridge door at a height the children can reach.
- Put card 5 on the bathroom towel rail.
- Put card 6 between the middle couch cushions.
- Lay card 7 beneath the remotes in their basket.
- Put card 8 in the chosen book on the bookshelf, with its top showing.
- Rest card 9 on top of the toys in the toy box.
- Attach card 10 beneath the seat of the chosen dining chair.
- Lay the finish slip flat beneath the chosen bed pillow.
- Put the prize bowl on the kitchen table, with one prize per hunter and two spares if you want them.
- Walk the whole trail: read card 1, find card 2, and keep going until the finish slip sends you back to the bowl.
Host notes to print
Write down the exact objects you used, especially if more than one could fit a clue.
| Detail | Your notes |
|---|---|
| Start location and adult handing out card 1 | ______________________________ |
| Coat pocket for card 3 | ______________________________ |
| Book holding card 8 | ______________________________ |
| Chair holding card 10 | ______________________________ |
| Bed pillow hiding the finish slip | ______________________________ |
| Replacement clue and new hiding spot | ______________________________ |
| Another replacement clue and hiding spot | ______________________________ |
| Number of hunters and prizes needed | ______________________________ |
| Adult helping each group | ______________________________ |
| Rooms included in the hunt | ______________________________ |
Checkmarks are not saved when you leave the page.
Replace hiding spots your home doesn’t have
Moving a hidden card means changing the clue on the previous card. The three replacements in the pack tell you which player card to change.
| Missing object | What to change | Where the hidden card goes |
|---|---|---|
| Doormat | Replace card 1 with the shoe-rack clue; draw shoes on a rack for its picture | Card 2 on the shoe rack |
| Remote basket | Replace card 6 with the snack-cupboard clue; draw that cupboard | Card 7 on the chosen snack shelf |
| Toy box | Replace card 8 with the laundry-basket clue; draw that basket | Card 9 on top of the clothes in the basket |
For another missing object, write a clue that names the place you’re actually using, then change its picture too. Read through both the clue and the hiding map after any change.
The optional paper-bat card adds a visit to the lamp table. Put it beside card 6 between the couch cushions, and ask the group to read it first. After everyone collects a bat, they read card 6 and continue to the remote basket. It adds an activity, not a guaranteed number of minutes. For a different theme on another day, use the dinosaur scavenger hunt kit as a separate hunt rather than mixing its clues into this trail.
Put candy or paper bats along the trail
For a candy version, put wrapped candy beside the hidden clues and decide how much each hunter takes. For a food-free version, set cups of paper bats or foam stickers at stops 3, 6 and 9: the fridge door, remote basket and dining chair. Put enough in each cup for every hunter to take one, including teams starting later.
Both versions can finish with one small prize per child at the kitchen table, such as wrapped candy, stickers or mini erasers. Ask families about food needs before buying candy and check its labels; a separate bowl alone does not establish that a food is suitable for a guest. The Halloween games and food guide can help you arrange snacks and choose how spooky the rest of the party will be.
An example 20-minute setup
This is an illustrative setup plan, 20 minutes total, assuming you’ve chosen the hiding spots and are using the riddle cards. Allow extra time to draw pictures, change clues or troubleshoot the printer.
- Minutes 0–5: Print and cut. Print the ten riddles, finish slip and host map. Keep any replacement clues you need.
- Minutes 5–8: Check the cards. Number the backs, separate the host notes from the player cards, and confirm any replacements.
- Minutes 8–16: Hide the trail. Keep card 1 out, hide cards 2–10, and place the finish slip, token cups and prize bowl.
- Minutes 16–20: Test the route. Follow every clue in order and correct any mismatch before handing out card 1.
You can print a few days ahead and check the hiding spots on party morning. After a round, reset the same trail if children want another go; the replacement cards are not a complete second deck.
What to play after the hunt
Keep a follow-up activity ready without relying on the hunt to fill a fixed time. Halloween acting cards give children something to act out; the Halloween paper puppet craft kit offers a separate craft to prepare at the table. Clear the clue cards away before moving to either activity.
If you want to go outside instead, nature scavenger hunt cards use things to spot rather than this hidden-card chain. Save the Christmas hunt inside the house and Valentine scavenger hunt for their own holidays; each needs its own clues and hiding map.
Questions about the Halloween hunt
How long does the hunt take?
Leave room in your party plan for reading, hints and turns finding clues. How long the hunt lasts will depend on how quickly the children find and read each card. The 20-minute example above is for setup, not play.
Can children who aren’t reading play?
Yes: have a buddy read the clues aloud, or draw the objects listed in the picture group. Decide how much help to give from the children’s reading and familiarity with the house.
How many children can play?
For a party of 2–12 hunters, try small teams of two or three, or hunt together. Teams can share the forward trail if the cards stay in place. For a larger group, use separate turns; don’t send teams along the clues in opposite directions.
What if a room or object is missing?
Use the shoe-rack, snack-cupboard or laundry-basket replacements above. For other changes, rewrite the previous card so it points to your new hiding spot and update its drawing. Test the entire chain afterward.
Where does the hunt finish?
Card 10 sends players to the bed pillow. The finish slip beneath it sends them back to the kitchen table, where the prize bowl waits. There is no prize hidden in the bed.