Skip to main content

The context you need, when you need it

When news breaks, you need to understand what actually matters — and what to do about it. At Vox, our mission to help you make sense of the world has never been more vital. But we can’t do it on our own.

We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. Will you support our work and become a Vox Member today?

Join now

The hunt for Forrest Fenn’s $2 million hidden treasure

We traveled to Yellowstone National Park to find it.

Sometime between 2009 and 2010 an 80-year-old man by the name of Forrest Fenn trekked out into the Rocky Mountains and hid a bronze chest filled with more than $2 million worth of treasure. The secret to the location of the trove is contained in a six-stanza poem he wrote that paints a picture of a journey deep into the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Forrest Fenn’s treasure, as it’s come to be known, has captivated men, women, and children around the country and world, and has lured many people into the American wilderness in the hopes that they’ll find the gold.

On September 26, 2016, a fellow adventure seeker, Zachary Crockett, and I began our own hunt for the treasure. In the video above we documented our journey, outlined our own theories, and spoke with hunters who have risked their lives to find it.

See More:

More in Video

Video
Why Americans can’t escape credit card debtWhy Americans can’t escape credit card debt
Play
Video

Credit card APRs are now as high as 20 percent.

By Frank Posillico
Video
Why some couples are happier living apartWhy some couples are happier living apart
Play
Video

This growing relationship trend might change the way you think about living with your romantic partner.

By Gina Pollack
Video
The strange myth behind carrots and night visionThe strange myth behind carrots and night vision
Play
Video

How we fell for World War II propaganda.

By Nate Krieger
Video
Are team sports the secret to living longer?Are team sports the secret to living longer?
Play
Video

How a basketball league for “grannies” is reimagining aging.

By Benjamin Stephen
Video
How Georgia manufactured the Peach State mythHow Georgia manufactured the Peach State myth
Play
Video

It was never really about the fruit.

By Frank Posillico
Video
How smart design can benefit senior livingHow smart design can benefit senior living
Play
Video

And why it matters for retirement communities.

By Lindsey Sitz