The Lost John D. Lee Gold Mine

The account

John D. Lee ran the only ferry across the Colorado for hundreds of miles, and hid in those canyons for years, a wanted man after the Mountain Meadows Massacre. He spent his hiding time prospecting, and the rumor caught fire: Lee had struck it rich. He told no one, not his closest friend, not one of his nineteen wives, and was executed in 1877 with the secret intact. A century and a half of seekers have combed the side-canyons of the Colorado. The mine has never been found.

Leads, where the trail points now

• Where the trail goes cold: The search ranges the canyons and creeks around Lee's Ferry and the Paria; not a single confirmed trace has surfaced. That is where any serious search begins.
• What you are chasing is A secret gold strike a fugitive took to his grave. Work the documented record of The Lost John D. Lee Gold Mine back to primary sources and separate what is attested from folklore before you commit time or money.
• Confirm who owns and governs Lee's Ferry, the Colorado River, Arizona and get written permission before any search; treat protected or archaeological ground as off limits.