Telluride Treasures

When they arrived in town, the family thought they were gathering to enjoy each other’s company in a stunning mountain setting – they weren’t mistaken, but they quickly learned they were also on a quest to discover the hidden stolen gold of Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch. EXP Guides explained one evening long ago Butch Cassidy and his gang robbed the San Miguel Valley Bank in Telluride, and in their haste to leave town the outlaws left a trail of clues leading to where they buried the gold.

The kids spent the first morning in the town of Telluride, embarking on a scavenger hunt through the historic streets searching for clues leading them to the original location of the bank that was robbed. That afternoon, the whole family set off on an excursion to the magical Alta Lakes Observatory for a chef-prepared dinner. On the way, they made a stop at the tiny but scenic ghost town of Alta, learning the history of this eerie, abandoned townsite. After dinner, the family enjoyed s’mores around the campfire while reflecting on the day’s adventures before transferring back to town in the golden light of the setting sun.

Telluride is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise, and the family spent the next day whitewater rafting down class II and III rapids of the San Miguel River. Splashy, fast and fun, the river was enjoyed by those who were new to rafting as well as veterans. They returned to Element 52 that evening to find a chef-prepared dinner welcoming them home.

The following day the family set off on a 4×4 tour with the goal of finding one of the clues left behind by Butch Cassidy, rumored to be located in the ghost town of Tomboy. The scenic route took them exploring through the backcountry of the San Juan Mountains, visiting stunningly beautiful Bridal Veil Falls and Mystic Falls. During their adventure, the family located the final clue! Piecing together everything they’d learned over the last few days, the location of the buried treasure was revealed, and at dinner that night downtown on the rooftop of The National, with a backdrop of the color-changing peaks at sunset, the family discussed their strategy for unearthing the bounty the next day.

Following a hearty breakfast, with their map in tow and all the clues revealed, the family was escorted by EXP Guides a short distance from Element 52 to a historic ranch. Established in 1882 on Wilson Mesa below the iconic 14,023-foot Wilson Peak, the ranch was inextricably linked to the mining industry through its agricultural production. Rumor has it the original homesteaders were friendly with Butch Cassidy and may have offered him refuge during his time in the area.

Although they already knew the treasure was hidden somewhere on the ranch’s property, the family needed to work the land through a series of challenges such as panning for gold, axe throwing, archery, fire making, and crafting in order to earn the funds to pay the ranch owner for the exact coordinates of the treasure. Their efforts were successful, and the kids paced out the steps to arrive at the exact location where they instructed their parents and grandparents to dig. Excitement filled the mountain air as Butch Cassidy’s buried gold was unearthed at long last! A chuckwagon dinner celebration followed before the family returned to Element 52 for dessert and time to unwind and reminisce on their successful discovery of Telluride’s treasures.