KANE COUNTY, IL — The Great Orb Hunt may officially be over, but the treasure hunting isn't.
About 58 of the 150 handcrafted glass and ceramic orbs hidden across Kane County this fall were still waiting to be discovered as of the latest count, according to organizers.
The annual Great Orb Hunt, a partnership between the Forest Preserve District of Kane County and Fine Line Creative Arts Center, officially ran from Sept. 10 through Sept. 30. Organizers are no longer placing new orbs, but those that weren't found during the event remain hidden for visitors to discover.
"Although we're no longer actively hiding orbs after Sept. 30, there are still roughly 58/150 orbs left," organizers said in a recent social media update. "These beauties are spread across all three locations, and they would love a forever home!"
The remaining orbs can be found at:
Hunters should search roughly 1 to 5 feet from designated trails and look both high and low. Orbs are not hidden in waterways or maintained areas, and maps provided by organizers identify sections where hunters shouldn't bother searching.
Anyone who finds an orb is asked to register the discovery so organizers can keep an updated count of how many remain.
The fact that dozens of orbs remain shouldn't come as a surprise to veteran hunters.
Laurie Metanchuk, director of community engagement for the Forest Preserve District of Kane County, previously told Patch that one of the quirks of the Great Orb Hunt is that organizers never know exactly how many undiscovered treasures remain outdoors.
Some orbs are found but never registered, while others can remain hidden long after the official hunt ends.
In fact, a participant earlier this year discovered and registered an orb left over from the 2025 hunt. It had survived an entire winter outdoors and, despite showing some wear, was still beautiful, Metanchuk said.
"Orbs that go undiscovered remain that way, until they're found," she previously told Patch.
That means this year's remaining treasures could potentially be discovered weeks — or even months — from now.
Artists at Fine Line Creative Arts Center created this year's 150 individual glass and ceramic orbs, each with its own unique design.
During the official three-week hunt, organizers intentionally released the orbs in small batches rather than hiding all 150 at once. Typically, four or five were placed at each location per day.
"We don't want them all potentially found on day 1," Metanchuk previously told Patch.
The strategy gave hunters a reason to return to the preserves throughout September and meant someone who came up empty-handed during one visit still had another chance.
The hunt drew plenty of interest. Metanchuk said the district couldn't determine exactly how many people participated, but trails were noticeably busy. During one trip to LeRoy Oakes to hide orbs, she said it was nearly impossible to find a stretch of trail without another hunter nearby.
Finding one isn't necessarily easy, either.
"The forest preserves are huge properties," Metanchuk previously told Patch. "Finding one of 50 orbs may seem easy, but I promise it isn't. That's part of what makes finding one so special."
Fine Line handles the orb registration process, and organizers are asking anyone who finds one of the remaining treasures to make sure they report their discovery.
So, while the 2026 Great Orb Hunt's official hiding period is finished, anyone who came up empty-handed in September still has a reason to hit the trails.
With roughly 58 handcrafted treasures reportedly still tucked away, there's plenty left to find.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
St. Charles Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.