A man named Harry LaFrance was said to have been hiking in the Superstitions, and when he took refuge in a cave from a sudden storm, he found a very large pile of gold bars. This trail will wind you through some amazing sights and scenes. Along with the body was found a mysterious note ensconced within a bottle, which said that he had broken his leg and needed help, but which also stated that he had had managed to find the legendary Lost Dutchmans Mine. After an intensive search, Ruths skull was was found at the bottom of a remote ravine, sitting out there all alone in the unforgiving desert. Compiled and edited by Kathy Weiser-Alexander / Legends of America, updated July 2021. With its jagged ridges growing straight up from its surroundings, the volcanic range is recognizable from a distance. We made a few stops along the way to do a little sightseeing and to fill our stomachs. So firmly do the Pimas rely on this prophecy that they will not cross the Superstition Mountains, for there sits Cherwit Make-awaiting the culmination of their wickedness to let loose on the earth a mighty sea that lies dammed behind the range. Weve arrived! It seemed to be a man-made meadow, flat like a work area for a mine perhaps. The Superstition Mountains are a mountain range east of Phoenix and are known for their picturesque volcanic peaks and and jagged canyons. Thats when we split up into two teams. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 13 min to complete. Reservations will canceled be refunded. Try this 4.3-mile loop trail near Apache Junction, Arizona. The legend says there are millions of dollars in gold in those mountains. Each scouting trip, we hope to find enough clues to get us to want to come back. The Jesuit priests were the most educated and loyal orders to the King of Spain (and to the Pope). The elevation gain is also gradual. Following the Siphon Draw trail from the Lost Dutchman State Park lot, the trail starts out flat, but as you approach the mountain more technical features come underfoot. Everyone else went ahead to prepare for the climb. Were here for more than what the average person has heard or studied by looking up The Lost Dutchman Mine Legend. Treasures In America have been in contact with many historians, geologists, researchers, and treasure hunters alike that have spent years researching and studying this area. Mar 18, 2022. has it that in about the 1870s a German miner named Jacob Waltz found gold in We also were able to see how diving for clues at this location would take more advanced equipment than what we had brought with us this trip. Emese Fromm is a Phoenix-based freelance travel writer, translator, and language instructor. Softcover, 112 pages. In any case, that surviving member is then told to have confided in Jacob Waltz, a man whose mistaken nationality was used to christen the hidden treasure, telling him where exactly in the Superstition Mountains that he could have found it. There are still those who obsessively search for it and try to decode its secrets, but no one has ever really quite managed to find it, to the point that many skeptics question whether it ever really existed at all. I kept saying, Pretty soon guys, its coming up here. $25.00 Yearly Superstition West Treasure Hunters meets in Apache Junction on the . Treasure Loop Trail is a 2.4-mile loop hike at the west base of the Superstition Mountains. The road that led up to Canyon Lake was a winding road with many switchbacks. Dave! We were anxious to get breakfast and packing up the equipment out of the way that morning because we wanted to get Dave down into the water. Todd, Ryan, Shaun, and I were the first to meet up. After a few hours of guy talk and singing along with many songs on the radio, I knew we were getting close to where we could see the famous Superstition Mountains from a distance. The day was getting later, faster than I had wanted it to, so I abandoned my search to head back to Shaun and Antonio. We try to stay focused on sites that seem promising, and not all of them do. I do enjoy "Mysteries of the Superstition Mountain" episodes. to find a little shaft thats been covered a least 6 feet in depth thats I looked at a few of the pics they had shown me and we were able to pinpoint the area with our GPS. Consider the severe elements in the Superstition Mountains, during that past 250-300+ years, and the fact that the marker in that area would not be made of granite, but of porous stone that would severely deteriorate. 6109 N. Apache Trail Rocky terrain and a change in elevation make this trail hard for most people. A Spanish Arrastra After docking the boat, no time was wasted in loading up the truck to head out to our next destination, a possibly lost Spanish arrastra site within the Superstition Mountains. We met up with Shaun and the rest of the group and they were set up and ready to climb. Rumors of gold, silver and other minerals attracted miners to stake claims . This is a nice introductory hike to the Superstition mountain wilderness area. The curse of the treasure would continue in the 1940s, when a 62-year-old treasure hunter by the name of James A. Carvey journeyed into the Superstition Mountains and also ended up dead and with his head separated from his shoulders. The day was over and we needed to wind down, no better way than sitting at a dinner table, talking about our day and our accomplishments. This trail is especially beautiful in spring, when you are surrounded by some of the most colorful desert wildflowers. He's written articles for MU and Daily Grail and has been a guest on Coast to Coast AM and Binnal of America. Did you know that many parks today would not exist without the Roosevelt Presidents, who were both highly instrumental in pioneering the park movement in the United States? When I told the team that we were on our own and that we had to figure out how to pack up the equipment, they all said, Lets get to Work. After a few hours, we finally had everything ready to go. Opened in 1977 at the foot of Superstition Mountain, Lost Dutchman State Park offers the perfect introduction to this desert wilderness. E Superstition Mountain Drive Property Records (Gold Canyon, Arizona) View property records for 20 addresses located on E Superstition Mountain Drive in Gold Canyon, Arizona, including property ownership, deeds, mortgages, titles & sales history, current & historic tax assessments, legal, parcel & structure description, land use, zoning & more. The only thing that seems to remain consistent is the location-- somewhere in the Superstition Mountains in Arizona. It was at this point that the tale of the Dutchmans Mine was spun. Stop at the visitor center and talk to the rangers to learn about the park and trails, then pick up a map and head outside to get on a trail and start exploring. Yes, the famous Dutchman mine and its glory Legend is well known, but thats not exactly the real reason were here. Out in the remote badlands of the U.S. state of Arizona, just to the east of the Phoenix metropolitan area lies a sun scorched, dried up, arid moonscape of twisted peaks and sprawling expanse of badlands called the Superstition Mountains, at one time called the Sierra de la Espuma by Spanish settlers. The Superstition Mountain Lost Dutchman Museum displays the artifacts, history and folklore of the Superstition Mountains and surrounding region. Legend These two work hard to stay in shape and keep up with their training because there are so many places they get sent to climb down into like shafts, caves, & more. That night, we sat around the campfire and planned out the next day. Discover this 2.3-mile loop trail near Apache Junction, Arizona. We had spent many months planning and prepping for this but yet, the outcome was still unsure. Almost everyone either knows or has heard of the Lost Dutchman Mine. Experts say theyre not haunted theyre enormous. Registration required! Local singer, guitarist, & songwriter from Copper Country will be performing all original stories and songs focusing on our local areas, animals, and characters. The name came from area farmers, who heard tales from the Pima Indians. Moderate 4.6 (1800) Tonto National Forest. A group of modern day treasure hunters search for the Lost Dutchman mine in the Superstition mountain range of Arizona. Throughout history, foresters have had an interesting relationship with wildfires as they learned more about their ecological impact. Todd,Antonio,andIwere in one truck, whileShaun, David, andRyan were in the other. Superstition Mountain is a dramatic expression of Arizona Living at its finest. the Superstition Mountains recovered some, and then hid Regardless of gold, the Superstition Wilderness offers a much better treasure: a stunning desert environment to explore. In preparation for this trip, we had scouted out (by the use ofGoogle Earthand Topo maps) and selected a few areas of interest we wanted to be sure to check out. We decided to abandon our search because we were losing daylight and we still had to get to the next destination where Shaun and Antonio needed to reach a peak to do some climbing. 1:00. The Superstition Mountains in Arizona are bound to be home to at least a few good stories by virtue of their name alone. As recent as January 2011, the Arizona Republic reported more remains found in the Superstition Mountains, suspected to be three Utah friends who disappeared the . Although the speculation and uncertainty surrounding the validity of these stories does contribute a great deal to the mystery of the Superstition Mountains, the slew of disappearances and even deaths of those who have gone searching for its treasures adds a great deal of eeriness to it. ~ The Lost Dutchmans Mine, Canyon Lake and the Wonders Under the Water The Lost Dutchmans Mine. The Superstition Wilderness was declared a National Wilderness Area in 1964. cant touch this. During that time, the rest of the team transferred all the gear from the truck to the docks. Id like to rewind a bit to explain why were here so that you may understand a few things. There have been countless such deaths and disappearances in the region over the years, many of them with missing heads or gunshot wounds to the head. Take a stroll along the Native Plant Trail or hike the challenging Siphon Draw Trail to the top of the Flatiron. El sendero es de 1.5 millas con terreno rocoso, pero sin mucha cambia de elevacin. After carefully scoping out the area, we headed down the road as there was so much to do and only so much daylight. The Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine (also known by similar names) is, according to legend, a rich gold mine hidden in the southwestern United States. In one of their episodes, Larry Hedrick talked about a lost shipment of Dragoon pistols. Despite all the uncertainty surrounding the history of the Superstition Mountains and some of the inexplicable occurrences which have happened there, people generally agree on one thing: mysterious, eerie, and strange all are descriptions which adequately describe the Superstition Mountains. Trust at your own peril if you dare to tread into HISTORYs Legend of the Superstition Mountains. poppy wildflowers that is. Read another story from us: Legends Surrounding Devils Tower Americas First National Monument. the mine. But, in order to discover any of that, we first had to see how clear the water was. It was a good challenge for them. Arizona's birds have adapted and evolved to thrive in desert habitats, and have made an impact on the environment and even the local cultures. They began extracting the gold ore from the site, eventually attracting attention from the community. It was something we needed to do on this scouting trip so we could know for sure what equipment we needed to bring on the next trip. In June 1931, Dr. Adolph Ruth set out on a two-week voyage through the legendary Superstition Mountains in search for the lost treasure. The mountain range is indeed one of the most scenic sights in the vicinity of the city. This was one of my best trips yet! We turned on our 2-way radios and both teams wished each other luck as we separated. We will also go over bird watching basics for those that are interested! Also in that year was the disappearance of two young boys, Ross Bley and Charles Harshbarger, whose bodies were never found. At this point, we split into two separate trucks and we were on our way to Apache Junction, looking for the Lost Dutchman Mine. Registration required. The site is said to have been mined by a . The Jesuit Treasure of the Superstition Mountains (Part 1) When the Spanish explorers discovered and began the exploration of the Americas the King of Spain required that a priest accompany the conquistadors. Este programa bella, siguiendo el famoso atardecer de Arizona, termina bajo la luz de la luna llena que sube las montaas misteriosos de las Superstition. A Wild West experience would not be complete without a horseback ride. Our goal, to share the worlds unique, hidden and once in a lifetime locations with you to create unforgettable memories. Mexican miners. After some time on the lake, we had located and made our way to our first area of interest. The Mysterious Men in Black and Their Equally Weird Cars, Lab-Grown Human Mini Brains Are Being Developed for Biocomputers, Strange Accounts of Dwarf Aliens and their Apocalyptic Messages from Mexico, Unmarked Black Helicopter Above Chicago Sparks Conspiracy Theories, Shamans, Psychedelics, and One Man's mystical Journey in the Amazon to Find a Miracle Cure. Indeed, we will keep an eye out for clues on it, but we have other things on our agenda to do and look for in our time here. Ft. 3060 S Primrose Ct, Gold Canyon, AZ 85118. However, the doctor did not know the path to the place as he was blindfolded by those accompanying him. About 40 minutes later I could see them making their way back down a steep hill. Superstition Mountain Treasure Hunters Boys and Girls Club 1755 N Idaho Rd Apache Junction, AZ 85120 www.smth-gold.com. Jeep and helicopter tours are . We loaded the truck and made our way to Mesquite, Nevada. Its very name derives from the mystery surrounding it. After you learn a thing or two about the gold rush in Arizona, the Apache tribes, and the lost Dutchman, you might want to experience a gold-mining ghost town. When we all met back at the trucks, we had many stories to tell each other. If this were true, it would substantiate the allegation. He did have gold. Initially, there were next to no clues which could have identified him. We wanted to be there now, and it seemed like it took forever. In 1848, Apaches massacred between 100 and 400 men because they wanted them off their sacred land. Since 1880 records show many have died or disappeared. Good job guys! We spent at least 2 hours looking and we had had no luck, not a clue! The drive there was full of excitement and anticipation, we discussed our individual plans and got pumped up while listening to our favorite music. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 13 min to complete. Biology, nature, and cryptozoology still remain Brent Swancers first intellectual loves. There were a few nerve-racking thoughts going through my mind about the dive because this was the first trip that Dave had dove with us with his. Next to the Grand Canyon, the Superstition Mountains are Arizona's most photographed landmark. All Rights Reserved. The initial search party found no trace of him, but then, in December 1931, they found a human skull with two holes from a .44 caliber. Copyright 2023 KJZZ/Rio Salado College/MCCCD. It takes you on a walk at the foot of Superstition Mountain, the namesake of the mountain range. An easy to moderate day hike, Treasure Loop is a must-do for all outdoor enthusiasts. The Superstition Mountains are located about 35 miles southeast of Phoenix and east of Apache Junction. Superstition Wilderness Area This Wilderness was designated in 1939, and was expanded to its present size in 1984. His body has never been found. Cursed, blighted, tainted, whatever you want to call it. The Lost Dutchman's Mine has gone on to become a pop cultural legend, written of in countless books and appearing on numerous TV shows. Over the years, many people have tried to find the Lost Dutchman's mine, and several have lost their lives searching for gold hidden in the Superstition Mountains. We searched around the area, leaving no stone unturned. We made our way past Goldfield and the Superstition Museum and then on to Canyon Lake. it. federal government theyll say 'thats nice.' His skull was discovered with a hole made by what AZ Central reports to be an Army-style .44 caliber revolver. There has been much speculation as to who killed him and why, but no conclusions have been drawn. 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