Colorado's rugged landscape holds secrets from the Wild West's most notorious outlaws, including Butch Cassidy and his Wild Bunch gang. Josh Gates traced the legendary outlaw's footsteps through historic mining towns and remote hideouts, searching for treasure from daring train robberies that terrorized the region in the 1890s. This investigation reveals how Colorado's boom-era settlements and railroad lines made it the perfect hunting ground for America's most wanted criminals.
Colorado is a landlocked state in the Mountain West region of the United States, encompassing much of the Southern Rocky Mountains and noted for its dramatic landscape of mountains, forests, high plains, mesas, and canyons. The state is the eighth-largest in the U.S. by area and was admitted to the Union as the 38th state on August 1, 1876. During the Wild West era of the 1890s-1900s, Colorado's mining towns, railroad lines, and rugged terrain made it prime territory for outlaws like Butch Cassidy and his Wild Bunch gang, who targeted banks and payroll shipments across the state. Gates investigated Colorado's connection to Cassidy's legendary lost loot, tracing the outlaw's footsteps through the state's historical mining districts and hideouts where stolen money may have been cached.
Region inhabited by Paleo-Indian ancestors along the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains
Pike's Peak Gold Rush creates influx of settlers and mining towns across Colorado
Colorado admitted to the Union as the 38th state
Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch gang operate across Colorado, robbing banks and railroads
Gates investigates Butch Cassidy's lost loot across Colorado for Expedition Unknown
Colorado's role in Wild West outlaw history is well-documented by historians who have traced the movements of Butch Cassidy (Robert LeRoy Parker) and his Wild Bunch gang across the state's mining districts and railroad corridors during the 1890s and early 1900s. The gang targeted banks, mine payrolls, and trains carrying gold and currency from Colorado's booming mining operations during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush aftermath. The rugged terrain of the Rocky Mountains provided natural hideouts and escape routes, with historians identifying several locations across Colorado where Cassidy and his associates reportedly stashed stolen money between robberies.
The fate of Cassidy's accumulated loot remains genuinely debated among historians and treasure hunters. While some researchers believe Cassidy spent most of his earnings on the run, others point to historical accounts suggesting he cached money in remote locations across Colorado and neighboring states, intending to retrieve it after the heat died down. The challenge for investigators is separating documented historical facts from decades of folklore and exaggerated tales that have grown around the Butch Cassidy legend. Contemporary newspaper accounts from the 1890s-1900s confirm Cassidy's gang operated in Colorado, but specific cache locations remain unverified.
Gates' investigation for Expedition Unknown followed historical records and local traditions about Cassidy's Colorado operations, consulting with historians and exploring sites connected to documented robberies. The episode examined whether physical evidence of hidden caches might still exist in Colorado's backcountry, though the challenging terrain and passage of more than a century make definitive discovery difficult. The investigation contributed to the ongoing historical documentation of Cassidy's movements through the American West, even as the ultimate fate of his stolen loot remains an open question in Wild West history.
Colorado was admitted to the Union on August 1, 1876, earning it the nickname 'Centennial State' for joining exactly 100 years after the Declaration of Independence
The Pike's Peak Gold Rush of 1858-1862 drew thousands of prospectors to Colorado, creating the mining wealth that attracted outlaws like Butch Cassidy
Colorado is the eighth-largest U.S. state by area and encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains
The state's population was estimated at 5,957,493 as of July 2024, with Denver serving as the center of the Front Range Urban Corridor
Colorado's Wild West historical sites are scattered across the state, with many former mining towns now accessible as tourist destinations or historical parks. Visitors can explore locations connected to Butch Cassidy's era through various museums, historic districts, and preserved sites, though specific cache locations remain speculative. The state's rugged terrain requires preparation for high-altitude conditions, and some remote areas associated with outlaw hideouts may require backcountry permits or guided access.
Denver, the state capital and most populous city, serves as the primary gateway to Colorado's Wild West historical sites.
Late spring through early fall (May-September) offers the most accessible conditions for exploring Colorado's historical sites, with mountain roads typically clear and mild weather. Winter months can bring heavy snow that closes mountain passes and makes backcountry areas inaccessible.
Utah
Utah was another key Wild Bunch operating territory where Butch Cassidy reportedly hid stolen loot, making it directly connected to the same treasure hunt investigation
Nevada
Nevada's Wild West-era mining districts and outlaw hideouts form part of the same historical treasure trail across the American West
Bannack State Park
Bannack State Park in Montana preserves another authentic Wild West mining town from the same era when Cassidy and other outlaws operated across the Mountain West
Best time to visit: Late spring through early fall (May-September) offers the best weather for exploring Colorado's mountainous terrain and accessing remote historical sites.
Travel tip: Bring sturdy hiking boots and layers of clothing, as many Butch Cassidy investigation sites are located in high-altitude areas with rapidly changing weather conditions.
Historical data sourced from Wikipedia