I Went Backpacking to Find $2 Million in Gold

Join me for 3 days of Backpacking, Camping and History as we search for the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine in Arizona's Superstition Mountains.

For this desert backpacking trip, I headed south to the Superstition Wilderness, within the greater Tonto National Forest - about 60 miles east of Phoenix, Arizona.  Not only was this a beautiful and scenic hike due to the stark desert surroundings and sharp, rugged peaks, but this particular region has added bonus - a rich history full of intrigue and lore right at home in your favorite spaghetti western flick.

Some of these tales are indisputable facts.  Others, are more debatable - the stuff of legends and mystery.  The most notable and famous of those stories is that of "The Dutchman Jacob Waltz who was supposed to have had a secured a secret gold mine in the area, and that of Adolph Ruth, who met a mysterious demise many years later trying to find the gold after Jacob's passing.

Whether the Lost Dutchman's Gold was an actual mine, or a hidden cache that was originally mined elsewhere, depends on which version of several accounts you choose to believe.  In fact, even the fact that he came upon it accidentally is up for debate as well.  Some iterations of the tale suggest that he was given the details of the hidden mine after saving the life of a man who belonged to a wealthy Mexican mining family.

As the legend goes, Jacob managed to live off the gold keep it's whereabouts a secret from local treasure hunters and bandits for many years.  Until, on his death bed in 1891, he confirmed the gold mine to his caretaker Julia Thomas and provided her with info on it's whereabouts.  Apparently, it wasn't quite enough info, because they never found it after years of searching.

Word spread, many more people started searching, and they continue to search until this day.  People have gone missing while searching, some have even had their skull found right on one of the trails we hiked on our loop, complete with two bullet holes and their body found separately in heavy brush 1/4 of a mile away.   That man was Adolf Ruth, who went into the Superstitions on a two week expedition in search of the gold back in 1931.  He never showed up at the end of those two weeks, but he did leave a bunch of strange clues and unanswered questions...

Blog Post for this Trip
https://www.sintax77.com/i-went-backp...

Caltopo Map and GPS Data:
https://caltopo.com/m/1A756

Trailhead Used: Peralta Trailhead
Gold Canyon, AZ 85118
N33° 23.858' W111° 20.873'

Season / Time of Year: Early Spring, Last week of March

Trails Used Day 1

Dutchman's Trail
Whiskey Spring Trail
Red Tanks Trail
Camp along La Barge Creek on Red Tanks Trail

Day 1 Total Mileage: 8 miles
Day 1 Gross Elevation Gain: 1406'
Day 1 Gross Descent 1,097'

Trails Used Day 2

Continue on Red Tanks Trail
North on Dutchman Trail
At the water crossing, leave Dutchman Trail
Bushwhack up Black Top Mesa around the area that Adolph Ruth's belongings were found.
Check out the Spanish Hieroglyphs
Black Top Mesa Trail
Dutchman Trail
Peralta Canyon Trail
Setup Camp near the creek
This is a nice spot with shelter from the wind, a nearby creek, and an awesome view of Weaver's Needle.

Day 2 Total Mileage: 9 miles
Day 2 Gross Elevation Gain: 1,449'
Day 2 Gross Descent 1,665'

Trails Used Day 3

Peralta Canyon Trail
Return to the Peralta Trailhead

Day 3 Total Mileage: 7 miles
Day 3 Gross Elevation Gain: 1,387'
Day 3 Gross Descent 1,480'

Total Mileage: 24
Total Gross Elevation Gain: 4,242'

FTC Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission for purchases made through some of my links.

Notable Backpacking Gear:

Outdoor Vitals Fortius 1p Trekking Pole Tent https://alnk.to/9T8v0AB
OV Satu Adventure Pants https://alnk.to/7M9peN5
OV Nebo Windbreaker Jacket https://alnk.to/7M9peOg
Hammock Gear Burrow 40 Top Quilt http://bit.ly/2qlZgJn
Klymit Static V Sleeping Pad https://amzn.to/4dqbK8R
Toaks 750ml Titanium Pot https://amzn.to/2GR7AJX
Titanium Long Handled Spork https://amzn.to/3ANWmAK
Nitecore NU25 Headlamp https://amzn.to/2YVsp0A
Peak Refuel Backpacking Meals https://amzn.to/3Qkp02i
Spot X Satellite Messenger https://amzn.to/3adSjBr
La Sportiva Wildcat Trail Running Shoes https://amzn.to/3hyKrMi
Katadyn BeFree Water Filter https://amzn.to/2WcjfYZ
‘Hiker’s Guide to the Superstition Wilderness‘ http://amzn.to/2uyjmTu

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to the Superstition Mountains
12:24 Finding a campsite for night one
20:37 Day 2
23:11 The legend of Jacob Waltz and the Lost Dutchman's Gold
29:55 The mysterious case of treasure hunter Adolph Ruth
37:16 Jacob Waltz's last days & confession
42:04 Discovery of Adolph Ruth's skull & personal items
52:11 Searching for the Spanish Hieroglyphs
01:03:45 Finding Adolph Ruth's final campsite
01:13:15 Day 3
01:17:15 Adolph Ruth's demise doesn't quite add up
01:19:51 How Jacob Waltz found the Peralta Gold Mine
01:23:14 Adolph Ruth's missing map