The basic idea of the Hunt is quite simple: solve as many clues (or puzzles) as possible in the given time (approximately 5 hours).
There are a total of 26 clues, labeled A through Z. The committee has placed the clues in an open desert area bounded approximately by Bell Road to the south, the Cave Creek - Carefree area to the north, and between 19th Avenue and 148th Street. This is roughly 300 square miles.