17 Real Hidden Treasures In Arizona Waiting To Be Discovered

By Keith Jackson - Geologist

| Updated

17 Real Hidden Treasures In Arizona Waiting To Be Discovered

By Keith Jackson - Geologist

Updated

Did you know that Arizona is more than just stunning sunsets and rugged deserts? Hidden among the rocky canyons and dusty trails are stories of treasures lost to time.

Hunting for lost treasure is an adventure waiting for anyone bold enough to try. You could be walking the same paths as explorers and cowboys who once stashed fortunes worth millions of dollars.

Locals know this state holds secrets in every corner. And who knows? You might stumble upon a clue to one of these hidden fortunes. There’s no telling what you could uncover, and that’s half the fun.

The Incredible Treasures Of Arizona That Are Waiting To Be Discovered

Set forth into the unknown and discover these treasures still lost to history:

The Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine – $200,000,000+

Deep in Arizona’s Superstition Mountains lies one of America’s most famous hidden treasures – the Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine. Despite its name, the mine was discovered by a German immigrant named Jacob Waltz (not a Dutchman) in the 1800s.

Before he died in 1891, Waltz pulled enough gold from the mine to live comfortably and even pay his bills with raw gold nuggets. According to stories, Waltz revealed clues about the mine’s location on his deathbed to a woman named Julia Thomas, a friend who cared for him.

Tales suggest the mine’s gold is so pure that it does not need refining. If found, it could be one of the most valuable gold caches in the world.

How much the treasure would be worth today

Many experts estimate the gold in the Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine could be worth $200 million or more.

Skeleton Canyon Gold – $60,000,000+

The Skeleton Canyon gold is a legendary treasure hidden in a rugged canyon on the Arizona-New Mexico border.

In the 1880s, Mexican bandits stole millions in gold coins and bars from a wealthy Mexican estate. Running from the law, they crossed into the United States and hid their loot in the canyon’s rocky terrain.

The story took a dark turn when the bandits were ambushed and killed shortly after hiding the treasure. They packed the gold into leather bags and tucked them under large rocks, somewhere in the canyon.

How much the treasure would be worth today

The Skeleton Canyon gold is estimated to be worth around $60 million.

Montezuma’s Treasure – $100,000,000+

Montezuma’s Treasure is a legendary hoard of gold and jewels hidden by the Aztecs during the Spanish conquest of Mexico. According to the story, the Aztecs transported their riches north to protect them from Spanish invaders.

Legend has it, that the treasure made its way into Arizona and was hidden in the Verde Valley or near Montezuma Castle.

The treasure is said to include gold artifacts, ceremonial items, and precious stones from the Aztec Empire. While there is no evidence that Montezuma himself hid the treasure, his name became tied to the legend over time.

How much the treasure would be worth today

Montezuma’s Treasure is estimated to be worth over $100 million.

Silver King Mine Payroll Robbery – $1,000,000+

The Silver King Mine payroll robbery is a story of stolen gold and a missing fortune tied to Arizona’s mining history. In the late 1870s, the Silver King Mine near Superior, Arizona, was one of the richest silver mines in the state.

During a payroll delivery, a stagecoach carrying gold coins meant for miners’ wages was ambushed by outlaws.

The robbers killed the guards and made off with the gold but were later tracked by a posse. To avoid capture, the bandits supposedly buried the loot in the rugged mountains near Superior. The missing payroll is said to include thousands of dollars in silver.

How much the treasure would be worth today

The Silver King Mine payroll treasure is estimated to be worth over $1 million.

The Canyon Diablo Train Robbery – $3,000,000+

The Canyon Diablo train robbery is one of Arizona’s most notorious tales of stolen treasure. In 1889, outlaws Jim Parker and Sam Ketchum pulled off a bold train robbery near Flagstaff at Canyon Diablo.

They escaped with bags of gold and silver coins, which they hid somewhere near the canyon’s bridge to avoid capture. The stolen loot was reportedly worth thousands of dollars at the time.

The rough, remote landscape has kept this treasure safe from discovery for over 130 years.

How much the treasure would be worth today

The Canyon Diablo train robbery treasure is estimated to be worth over $3 million.

Spanish Treasure Cave in the Santa Rita Mountains – $15,000,000+

The Spanish Treasure Cave in the Santa Rita Mountains is a legendary site tied to Arizona’s colonial past. In the 1600s, Spanish explorers and missionaries traveled through the region in search of gold and silver.

This cache reportedly contains gold coins, and religious artifacts such as crosses and chalices. It was apparently hidden deep inside a cave in the Santa Rita Mountains, located south of Tucson.

The legend often mentions Father Kino, a Jesuit missionary, who worked in the area during that time. He may have known about or been connected to the treasure.

How much the treasure would be worth today

The Spanish Treasure Cave is estimated to be worth over $15 million.

The Tumacacori Mission Treasure – $10,000,000+

The Tumacacori Mission Treasure is a famous legend linked to the Tumacacori Mission, located in southern Arizona near Tubac. In the 1700s, Spanish priests and settlers used the mission as a center for worship and trade.

The hidden treasure reportedly includes gold bars, silver coins, and valuable religious items such as chalices and crosses. According to legend, the cache was buried somewhere near the mission grounds or in the nearby mountains.

Some accounts suggest that Father Eusebio Kino, a Jesuit missionary who helped establish missions in the region, may have had knowledge of the treasure’s hiding place.

How much the treasure would be worth today

The Tumacacori Mission Treasure is estimated to be worth over $10 million.

The Lost Adams Diggings – $20,000,000+

The Lost Adams Diggings is one of Arizona’s greatest treasure mysteries. Back in the 1860s, a man known only as Adams and his crew discovered what they called a canyon where “walls cried tears of gold.”

Led by a young Pima-Mexican guide, the group found their way through a narrow canyon entrance to their golden prize. Inside, they discovered massive gold nuggets scattered everywhere and quickly filled an old Indian grinding basin with their incredible find.

Their luck changed when Apache Chief Nana and his warriors appeared at their camp with warnings about sacred boundaries. After some men ventured into forbidden areas, most of the group was killed in an Apache attack, leaving only Adams and one other survivor.

Adams spent years trying to find the canyon again but never could relocate his golden discovery. The legend lives on today, inspiring countless treasure hunters who believe that somewhere in the Southwest wilderness, the Lost Adams Diggings still holds its secrets.

How much the treasure would be worth today

The Lost Adams Diggings treasure is estimated to be worth over $20 million.

Robbers’ Roost Loot – $12,000,000+

Robbers’ Roost Loot is a famous treasure tied to Arizona’s outlaw history. In the late 1800s, a group of outlaws known as the “Robbers’ Roost Gang” hid a large stash of stolen gold, silver, and cash.

The gang, led by infamous bandits, used a cave or remote area in the Arizona desert as a hideout for their loot. The treasure is said to include gold coins, silver bars, and other valuable items stolen from stagecoaches and trains.

The notorious Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, are often connected to the hidden treasure. They were widely believed to be a part of the gang responsible for stashing the loot before fleeing to South America.

How much the treasure would be worth today

The Robbers’ Roost Loot is estimated to be worth approximately $12 million.

Peralta Stone Maps and Gold – $25,000,000+

The Peralta Stone Maps and Gold are tied to one of Arizona’s most famous treasure legends. In the 1800s, the Peralta family, believed to be of Mexican origin, discovered a rich gold mine in the Superstition Mountains.

According to stories, they used stone maps to mark the location of the mine and buried the gold to keep it hidden from outsiders. The Peralta family allegedly created detailed maps to guide others to the mine, but they were lost over time.

The most famous of these maps was said to have been created by a member of the Peralta family, possibly a son, who hid the treasure after the mine was raided.

How much the treasure would be worth today

The Peralta Stone Maps and Gold are estimated to be worth around $25 million.

The Lost Escalante Mine – $15,000,000+

The Lost Escalante Mine is one of Arizona’s most elusive treasure legends. In the 1700s, a Spanish explorer named Francisco Escalante discovered a rich gold mine in the Arizona desert.

After mapping the location of the mine, Escalante and his men reportedly hid the gold to protect it from the Spanish crown and anyone else who might steal it.

The mine’s exact location has never been found. Some say it is hidden near the Gila River, while others suggest it is buried deep within the rugged Arizona mountains.

How much the treasure would be worth today

The Lost Escalante Mine’s treasure is estimated to be worth about $15 million.

The Catalina Mountains Gold Cache – $10,000,000+

The Catalina Mountains Gold Cache is another legendary treasure of Arizona. In the 1800s, a group of Spanish miners is said to have hidden a large stash of gold in the Catalina Mountains to prevent it from falling into the hands of American settlers.

According to the story, the miners had been transporting gold to the Spanish settlements in Mexico when they were attacked by Apache warriors.

After the attack, the miners, realizing they could not safely carry the gold further, decided to bury it in a remote location in the Catalina Mountains.

How much the treasure would be worth today

The Catalina Mountains Gold Cache is worth around $10 million.

The Bisbee Miner’s Fortune – $5,000,000+

The Bisbee Miner’s Fortune is a well-known Arizona treasure hidden during the early 1900s. The treasure is a large stash of gold, silver, and valuable mining equipment that was hidden by miners from the Bisbee copper mines.

As the story goes, the miners feared the mine would be overtaken by a rival group or the government, so they decided to bury their haul to keep it safe.

The treasure is said to have been buried somewhere near Bisbee, Arizona, in the nearby hills or caves.

How much the treasure would be worth today

The Bisbee Miner’s Fortune is estimated to be worth around $5 million.

The Lost Soldiers’ Treasure in Fort Bowie – $3,000,000+

The Lost Soldiers’ Treasure is believed to be a cache of gold, silver, and valuables hidden by U.S. soldiers during the Apache Wars in the 1800s. The treasure was said to have been buried at Fort Bowie, Arizona, as the soldiers sought to protect it from Apache raids.

As the story goes, the soldiers were retreating from the fort and decided to hide their loot to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. The treasure is thought to include gold coins, silver bars, and possibly military supplies that were of great value at the time.

Some accounts suggest that a group of soldiers led by a Captain, possibly Captain Thomas, was responsible for hiding the treasure before they abandoned the fort in the late 1800s.

How much the treasure would be worth today

The Lost Soldiers’ Treasure could be worth an estimated $3 million.

The Bradshaw Mountain Loot – $2,000,000+

The Bradshaw Mountain Loot is a rumored treasure hidden in the Bradshaw Mountains of Arizona. The story goes that in the 1860s, a group of outlaws led by a man named Bradshaw, possibly a member of the notorious outlaw gang, hid their stolen gold and silver in the mountains.

Bradshaw and his gang were said to have hidden the loot in a cave or deep crevices within the mountains before they were eventually tracked down by authorities.

It is thought to be hidden somewhere in the rugged terrain of the Bradshaw Mountains, with many theories pointing to the area near the town of Prescott. The loot was buried around the time of Bradshaw’s death in the late 1860s.

How much the treasure would be worth today

The Bradshaw Mountain Loot could be worth an estimated $2 million.

The Gila River Cache – $1,500,000+

The Gila River Cache is a legendary treasure hidden along the Gila River in Arizona. The story goes that in the 1800s, a group of Spanish soldiers buried a large amount of gold and silver in the area to protect it from Apache attacks.

It is thought that the soldiers buried the treasure after a failed attempt to transport it back to Mexico. The soldiers, under the command of a Spanish officer, hid the loot to keep it out of enemy hands, but they were eventually killed by Apache warriors.

How much the treasure would be worth today

The Gila River Cache could be worth an estimated $1.5 million.

The Apache Leap Gold – $2,000,000+

The Apache Leap Gold is a legendary treasure linked to a tragic event in the late 1800s. It is said that during the Apache Wars, a group of Apache warriors, led by Chief Cochise, hid a large amount of gold before fleeing the U.S. Army.

After a fierce battle, the Apache warriors were cornered near Apache Leap, a steep cliff near Globe, Arizona. Rather than surrender, the warriors chose to leap to their deaths from the cliff, taking their treasure with them.

The treasure is thought to be hidden somewhere near the base of Apache Leap, in the rugged terrain surrounding the area.

How much the treasure would be worth today

The Apache Leap Gold could be worth around $2 million.

About Keith Jackson - Geologist

Keith Jackson is an avid rockhound who is constantly exploring new sites to expand his collection. He is an active Geologist with a wealth of experience and information from across the country that he loves to share with the Rock Chasing crew.

Leave a Comment