Lost Dutchman Trail

Superstition Mountains

The Dutchman - Legend has it that a miner searched the Superstition Mountains and found a fortune in gold. He then hid the mine and never returned.

Movies and books about the Lost Dutchman Mine left me with an impression of vast areas which made it impossible for anyone to state with any degree of certainty they had searched ALL of the Superstition Mountains sufficiently to verify or deny the existence of a lost mine. In reality the area in question is quite large, but by no means of such a magnitude to preclude a detailed search. After about twenty five miles of hiking, and climbing, from all four sides of the mountain I have been able to see the bulk of the valleys and peaks. Since legend has the Dutchman carrying a sizable treasure from the mine logic would suggest reasonable access. This eliminates much of the mountain since it is very steep requiring technical climbing capability. Hardly something the old miner could have accomplished alone.

By no means am I suggesting the Lost Dutchman Mine does not exist. I am only stating with the thousands of hikers, and climbers, on the mountain on any given day who knows if it exists. Just for fun I prefer to think it does. Supporting this fact or illusion are the millions, if not billions, in gold, copper, and many other minerals taken from Arizona mines. There is no one I know of who would even suggest there is none left. If nothing else the fantasy still makes it easier to justify the pain in one's body at the end of a ten mile hike.

By the way. If you see a likely spot for the mine in any of the photos of the Superstition Mountains on my web site, let me know. I can take you there and we could all become rich.