🔎 HikingGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4AdditionRoundingSubtractionMultiplicationDivision
The Mystery of Pinecone Ridge
Someone took the golden trail sign from Pinecone Ridge! Park Ranger Pat needs your help to examine trail clues, interview suspects, and figure out who snatched the sign.
Suspects
Possible suspects
Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.
21 of 21 still in play
| Name | Gear Item | Trail Snack | Belt Clip | Hat Style | Trail Fear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jasper Ridge | Headlamp | Energy Bar | Left Belt Clip | Blue Sunhat | Fear of Mud |
| John Muir | Pocket Knife | Granola | Right Belt Clip | Green Visor | Fear of Heights |
| Ridge Walker | Telescope | Beef Jerky | Right Belt Clip | Blue Sunhat | Fear of Bees |
| Junko Tabei | Headlamp | Trail Mix | Left Belt Clip | Red Cap | Fear of Mud |
| Ranger Rick | Compass | Energy Bar | Right Belt Clip | Green Visor | Fear of Bees |
| Oakley Pine | Pocket Knife | Beef Jerky | Left Belt Clip | Blue Sunhat | Fear of Bees |
| Cliff Hanger | GPS Tracker | Granola | Left Belt Clip | Red Cap | Fear of Bees |
| Canyon Cruz | Compass | Granola | Right Belt Clip | Red Cap | Fear of Bees |
| Fern Valley | Headlamp | Energy Bar | Left Belt Clip | Green Visor | Fear of Bees |
| Tenzing Norgay | Pocket Knife | Energy Bar | Left Belt Clip | Blue Sunhat | Fear of Bees |
| Maya Forest | Headlamp | Dried Mango | Right Belt Clip | Blue Sunhat | Fear of Mud |
| Cheryl Strayed | GPS Tracker | Granola | Left Belt Clip | Blue Sunhat | Fear of Heights |
| Daisy Glen | Telescope | Energy Bar | Right Belt Clip | Red Cap | Fear of Mud |
| River Stone | GPS Tracker | Dried Mango | Left Belt Clip | Blue Sunhat | Fear of Bees |
| Sam Peak | Headlamp | Beef Jerky | Right Belt Clip | Blue Sunhat | Fear of Bees |
| Skye Summit | Headlamp | Beef Jerky | Left Belt Clip | Blue Sunhat | Fear of Bees |
| Sierra Woods | Pocket Knife | Granola | Left Belt Clip | Blue Sunhat | Fear of Mud |
| Edmund Hillary | GPS Tracker | Granola | Right Belt Clip | Blue Sunhat | Fear of Bees |
| Aron Ralston | Headlamp | Dried Mango | Left Belt Clip | Green Visor | Fear of Heights |
| Bear Grylls | Telescope | Beef Jerky | Left Belt Clip | Blue Sunhat | Fear of Bees |
| Alex Honnold | GPS Tracker | Beef Jerky | Right Belt Clip | Blue Sunhat | Fear of Mud |
Clue 1
Addition
Ranger Pat counts all the canteens collected along the path to unlock the first trail clue.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
7639
7073
4610
T
7639
4243
8935
7300
6097
3577
8935
6557
5474
7300
T
7639
5474
3064
4610
4719
6557
3064
T
7639
4610
8935
T
7639
4610
6557
4610
4243
6128
3280
3577
8935
4243
4719
4433 + 3206 =T
2309 + 1268 =B
2038 + 2572 =E
2247 + 3227 =D
1902 + 4226 =G
3196 + 1523 =S
1096 + 2184 =Y
1909 + 4188 =L
5861 + 3074 =A
3741 + 3332 =H
4045 + 3255 =I
2794 + 1449 =R
2599 + 3958 =N
1197 + 1867 =O
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Rounding
The ranger checks a digital altimeter that rounds elevation numbers to the nearest hundred.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
A
290
300
230
30
1300
9000
3700
3700
3700
A
290
300
A
290
20
9000
7000
30
170
9000
20
30
5000
20
230
1100
4300
1300
30
50
9000
30
900
A
290
230
20
Round 287 to the nearest tenA
Round 233 to the nearest tenI
Round 337 to the nearest hundredW
Round 1,096 to the nearest hundredP
Round 169 to the nearest tenB
Round 894 to the nearest hundredR
Round 8,755 to the nearest thousandE
Round 6,716 to the nearest thousandF
Round 4,807 to the nearest thousandC
Round 48 to the nearest tenH
Round 1,296 to the nearest hundredN
Round 3,659 to the nearest hundredS
Round 24 to the nearest tenL
Round 4,316 to the nearest hundredO
Round 28 to the nearest tenT
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
The detective calculates how many wooden trail markers are missing from the north loop.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
4622
5543
4502
5453
2696
2817
4402
4502
5453
4502
8303
5186
2696
8278
4502
8840
2817
4502
2696
5453
2696
3367
4502
5453
1709
7472
2591
8303
1709
7472
4502
4502
5543
1292
3367
4502
5355 - 733 =T
11627 - 3349 =P
2394 - 1102 =I
9376 - 1904 =B
4128 - 2419 =Y
8799 - 3256 =H
10581 - 1741 =D
9044 - 4542 =E
9697 - 1394 =S
7427 - 4060 =V
4587 - 1996 =U
3144 - 327 =N
3175 - 479 =A
7802 - 3400 =G
9391 - 3938 =R
6748 - 1562 =C
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The scouts inspect equal rows of supply tents at base camp to uncover evidence.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
A
132
25
15
21
55
11
21
32
81
A
132
99
99
81
1
55
A
132
16
120
A
132
11
144
32
99
81
55
15
144
77
12 × 11 =A
11 × 1 =S
5 × 5 =B
5 × 3 =L
12 × 12 =O
9 × 9 =H
5 × 11 =E
8 × 2 =D
7 × 11 =G
8 × 4 =N
7 × 3 =U
9 × 11 =T
12 × 10 =W
1 × 1 =R
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The trail leader splits leftover water bottles equally among the hiking search teams.
First solve each problem. Then find each answer in the list below and cross that sentence out. One sentence will be left — that's exactly what the villain did!
Step 1 — solve these
42 ÷ 6 = ?
32 ÷ 8 = ?
56 ÷ 7 = ?
60 ÷ 10 = ?
70 ÷ 7 = ?
40 ÷ 8 = ?
6 ÷ 6 = ?
132 ÷ 11 = ?
18 ÷ 9 = ?
77 ÷ 7 = ?
63 ÷ 7 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain focused a small telescope, then snacking on dried mango.
2.The villain focused a small telescope, then munching on trail mix.
3.The villain focused a small telescope, then munching beef jerky.
4.The villain shined a bright headlamp, then munching beef jerky.
5.The villain shined a bright headlamp, then chewing crispy granola.
6.The villain unfolded a pocket knife, then eating an energy bar.
7.The villain checked a digital gps, then snacking on dried mango.
8.The villain unfolded a pocket knife, then munching beef jerky.
9.The villain focused a small telescope, then eating an energy bar.
10.The villain checked a digital gps, then chewing crispy granola.
11.The villain flashed a shiny compass, then munching beef jerky.
12.The villain flashed a shiny compass, then chewing crispy granola.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of Pinecone Ridge
Culprit: Bear Grylls (Telescope · Beef Jerky · Left Belt Clip · Blue Sunhat · Fear of Bees)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE TRAIL BANDIT DOES NOT EAT ENERGY BARS"4433 + 3206 = 7639 (T) · 2309 + 1268 = 3577 (B) · 2038 + 2572 = 4610 (E) · 2247 + 3227 = 5474 (D) · 1902 + 4226 = 6128 (G) · 3196 + 1523 = 4719 (S) · 1096 + 2184 = 3280 (Y) · 1909 + 4188 = 6097 (L) · 5861 + 3074 = 8935 (A) · 3741 + 3332 = 7073 (H) · 4045 + 3255 = 7300 (I) · 2794 + 1449 = 4243 (R) · 2599 + 3958 = 6557 (N) · 1197 + 1867 = 3064 (O)
- Clue 2 (Rounding): "A WITNESS SAW A LEFT BELT CLIP ON THE TRAIL"Round 287 to the nearest ten = 290 (A) · Round 233 to the nearest ten = 230 (I) · Round 337 to the nearest hundred = 300 (W) · Round 1,096 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (P) · Round 169 to the nearest ten = 170 (B) · Round 894 to the nearest hundred = 900 (R) · Round 8,755 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (E) · Round 6,716 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (F) · Round 4,807 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (C) · Round 48 to the nearest ten = 50 (H) · Round 1,296 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (N) · Round 3,659 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (S) · Round 24 to the nearest ten = 20 (L) · Round 4,316 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (O) · Round 28 to the nearest ten = 30 (T)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE RANGER ESCAPED NEAR A VERY BUSY BEEHIVE"5355 - 733 = 4622 (T) · 11627 - 3349 = 8278 (P) · 2394 - 1102 = 1292 (I) · 9376 - 1904 = 7472 (B) · 4128 - 2419 = 1709 (Y) · 8799 - 3256 = 5543 (H) · 10581 - 1741 = 8840 (D) · 9044 - 4542 = 4502 (E) · 9697 - 1394 = 8303 (S) · 7427 - 4060 = 3367 (V) · 4587 - 1996 = 2591 (U) · 3144 - 327 = 2817 (N) · 3175 - 479 = 2696 (A) · 7802 - 3400 = 4402 (G) · 9391 - 3938 = 5453 (R) · 6748 - 1562 = 5186 (C)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "A BLUE SUNHAT THREAD WAS ON THE LOG"12 × 11 = 132 (A) · 11 × 1 = 11 (S) · 5 × 5 = 25 (B) · 5 × 3 = 15 (L) · 12 × 12 = 144 (O) · 9 × 9 = 81 (H) · 5 × 11 = 55 (E) · 8 × 2 = 16 (D) · 7 × 11 = 77 (G) · 8 × 4 = 32 (N) · 7 × 3 = 21 (U) · 9 × 11 = 99 (T) · 12 × 10 = 120 (W) · 1 × 1 = 1 (R)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 3) → Bear Grylls42 ÷ 6 = 7 · 32 ÷ 8 = 4 · 56 ÷ 7 = 8 · 60 ÷ 10 = 6 · 70 ÷ 7 = 10 · 40 ÷ 8 = 5 · 6 ÷ 6 = 1 · 132 ÷ 11 = 12 · 18 ÷ 9 = 2 · 77 ÷ 7 = 11 · 63 ÷ 7 = 9
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Rounding, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Mystery of Pinecone Ridge — set in Pinecone Ridge State Park
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects