Lost Rhoades Mine — High Uintas

Sun shading (lidar)

Adjust simulated sun direction on the lidar hillshade. Azimuth = compass bearing of the light (0° north, 90° east). Altitude = height above the horizon (low = long shadows).

Historical map overlays

USGS scanned historical topographic maps. Enable an overlay and adjust its opacity. Works in 2D and 3D.

Sun azimuth: 315°   Sun altitude: 45°   Z factor: 1   Lidar opacity: 1
center: —   mouse: —   zoom: —

Lost Rhoades Mine — High Uintas

Lost Treasure UT • Summit County County
Description
Uinta Mountains legend of Thomas Rhoades and Mormon Church leaders mining a secret bonanza of gold — tied to Spanish furnaces, 1858 Mormon coins, Book of Mormon folklore, and decades of High Uintas treasure hunting.
Historical Notes
Rhoades family lore claims Brigham Young authorized secret Church mining in the High Uintas while publicly discouraging gold lust; 1858 five-dollar coins with Rocky Mountain gold signatures fuel the legend. Outlaw Matt Warner and treasure hunter Mel Fisher are among those who pursued the mine; Dry Creek Canyon gunfights and Scout Lake diving expeditions belong to later folklore. Geologists dispute large natural gold deposits in the Uintas, yet Spanish refining furnaces and unexplained coinage keep the story alive in Utah treasure culture.
Status / Verification legend — Legendary or approximate

Take Add Data / Take Notes

Log in or create an account to save private field notes for this location. Your notes are only visible to you.

Forgot password?
or

Enter your email and we'll send you a link to reset your password.

Back to log in
or