Southern Utah, a land of towering plateaus and dramatic, multi-hued cliffs, holds many whispered legends and captivating tales. Among these, the story of the White Cliffs Gold Ledge stands out as one of the most intriguing, a testament to the untamed spirit of the American West and the enduring allure of hidden riches. This legend centers on a fabled cavern, said to be lined with gold-encrusted quartz, deep within the remote and rugged White Cliffs region.
The saga of the Lost Gold Ledge begins in 1870 with an old prospector named George Brankerhoff. He shared an incredible account with John Lorenzo Hubbell, a figure who would later become famous for his Hubbell Trading Post empire. Brankerhoff described a secret cavern nestled within Utah’s White Cliffs, where magnificent white quartz stalactites were literally caked with gleaming gold. It remains a mystery why Brankerhoff, having such knowledge, chose to impart this incredible secret to a young man rather than pursuing the fortune himself.
John Lorenzo Hubbell’s Early Search for the Gold Ledge
At the time Brankerhoff unveiled his secret, John Lorenzo Hubbell was merely a young sutler’s clerk at Fort Wingate, New Mexico. Though he never saw the old prospector again, the vivid description of the gold-laced cavern etched itself into his memory, sparking a lifelong quest. Three years later, a then 20-year-old Hubbell, fueled by adventure and the prospect of immense wealth, embarked on a solo expedition to Utah. He meticulously followed Brankerhoff’s directions, traveling first to Kanab, then to Johnson Creek, before turning eastward towards the formidable White Cliffs.
Hubbell scoured the base of the cliffs, diligently searching for a distinct V-shaped cleft, approximately three miles from Deer Springs Wash. Brankerhoff had warned that this opening would appear to be sealed by fallen sandstone, yet a narrow passage would allow entry. Beyond this crevice, a small stream of spring water would disappear into the rocks, leading to a wider, deeper cavern adorned with icicle-like quartz stringers, heavily laden with gold. Despite being a seasoned desert traveler, Hubbell’s weeks of relentless searching yielded no success. The V-shaped opening remained hidden.
Frustrated but not deterred, Hubbell traveled north to Panguitch, Utah, hoping to glean more information from the local residents. He took a job in a general store, but his Mexican heritage made him an outsider, and his friendly overtures towards a local girl, who was also admired by a Christian bishop, led to trouble. Hubbell found himself entangled in a gunfight and was later ambushed by a dozen local men. Though wounded, he bravely defended himself, killing two of his attackers before stealing a horse and fleeing to Lee’s Ferry, Arizona. This harrowing experience left him with no local insights into the elusive gold ledge.
The Re-Emergence of the Legend and Warren Peters’ Discovery
After recovering, Hubbell returned to his birthplace in Parajito, New Mexico, and soon began building his vast Indian Trading Post empire. Yet, the tale of the Lost Gold Ledge continued to haunt him. For decades, he “grubstaked” numerous prospectors, providing them with supplies and funding in exchange for a share of any discoveries, but none ever returned with news of the fabled cavern.
John Lorenzo Hubbell started his first trading post in 1878, eventually creating an empire of 30 such trading posts in Arizona, New Mexico, and California.
Then, in 1891, a pivotal figure entered the narrative: Warren Peters. A 61-year-old, highly experienced prospector, Peters had just sold two lucrative silver claims in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains before heading into New Mexico. He stopped in Gallup, intending to prospect in the gold camps of the Mogollon Mountains, where he encountered John Lorenzo Hubbell. Seizing the opportunity, Hubbell once again recounted the tale of the White Cliffs Gold Ledge. Peters was so captivated that he traveled with Hubbell to his home in Ganado, Arizona. There, Hubbell provided Peters with every detail, even drawing a map of the White Cliffs region, and Peters agreed to undertake the search. In May 1891, Peters set out, armed with Hubbell’s meticulously remembered directions.
One can only imagine Peters’ elation when he finally spied the unmistakable location. Navigating the narrow passage, he entered the cavern and beheld the shimmering, icicle-like formations. Without hesitation, he knocked down several 20-inch-long stalactites, which shattered, scattering chunks of pure gold across the cavern floor. Peters diligently filled several pouches with the precious metal, loaded them onto two burros, and set off for the nearest railhead in Marysvale, 80 miles to the north. From there, he traveled to Salt Lake City to sell his gold. After a month-long wait for the gold to be shipped to Denver and the payment to arrive, he was thrilled with the sum. Confident in his discovery, Peters planned a second trip back to the White Cliffs in August 1891.
The Elusive Return and a Dangerous Confrontation
Peters resupplied and returned to Utah, certain he could easily locate the cleft again. However, upon reaching Deer Springs Wash, he realized he had overshot his mark. Perplexed, he backtracked and began his search anew. Day after day, he scoured the cliffs, moving back and forth in vain. The distinctive V-shaped opening, which had been so clear on his first visit, now seemed to have vanished. Frustrated, he continued his search until the onset of winter forced him to return to Hubbell in Arizona.
Throughout the winter, Peters and Hubbell theorized about why the ledge had been so easy to find initially and then impossible to locate a second time. They planned to return to Utah in the spring. However, when spring arrived, Hubbell decided not to go himself, instead entrusting the expedition to Peters, his friend Henry “Wild Hank” Sharp, and two Navajo men named Little Chanter and Black Horse. As the four prepared to depart on April 5, 1892, Hubbell issued a grave warning about dangerous men known to inhabit that remote portion of southern Utah. Nevertheless, the four armed prospectors, with 20 pack mules and ample supplies, embarked on their perilous journey.
White Cliffs, Utah by James St. John/Flickr
Upon arriving at the White Cliffs, they noticed cattle grazing on the range but paid little mind, setting up camp near a spring at the base of the cliffs. The next day, they split into two pairs to search for the opening. Peters and Sharp were the first to return to camp, where they found six ominous figures. Warily, they approached, observing that their belongings had been rummaged through. When Peters inquired, the leader of the group, a cowboy, declared the area rife with cattle thieves and claimed the range for his cattle. Peters asserted they were prospectors, disinterested in cattle, and that the land was public domain, but the cowboy adamantly insisted they leave.
After a final, menacing warning to vacate, the cowboys rode off. The prospectors remained in camp for the evening. The next day, they decided to stay together and carry their weapons while continuing their search. However, upon inspecting their pistols and rifles, they discovered every single weapon had been tampered with, rendered useless. Deciding to pack up, they planned to relocate their camp some four miles east to Deer Springs Wash. Moving cautiously over the next four days, they continued their search for the Lost Gold Ledge along the way before finally establishing a second camp near Deer Springs Wash.
Miners prospecting by Frederic Remington, 1880.
For several more days, they meticulously combed the White Cliffs, all while remaining vigilant about the menacing cowboys. One evening, after a day of searching, the Navajo discovered unknown tracks around their camp – a clear sign that someone had been observing them. They resolved to spend just one more day searching before departing. That night, they strategically divided their camp, moving pack animals and most supplies to the east side of the wash, leaving only food and utensils at their original site. After supper, the four moved to the east side to bed down. As Peters and Sharp discussed their predicament, they suddenly spotted 15 riders approaching from the west. Halting at the abandoned camp, one of the riders shouted that they were county officers and the prospectors were under arrest.
The four prospectors quickly took cover, and Peters defiantly called out, “What are the charges?” The cowboy leader accused them of cattle rustling, but Peters retorted that they were nothing more than a mob and that the prospectors would shoot if they advanced. After a tense minute, bullets began to rain down in Peters’ direction, and the prospectors returned fire. Hidden by their cover, they managed to push back the cowboys, but in the exchange, Peters sustained a bullet wound in the leg.
The Abandoned Quest and Lingering Mystery
Available at Legends’ General Store.
Sharp and the two Navajo immediately began packing. After bandaging Peters’ wound, they fled, heading back towards Arizona. Fearing pursuit, they traveled as swiftly as possible through the night, not stopping to make camp until they were well into Arizona territory. After allowing Peters time to recover from his injury, they made their way back to Hubbell. John Lorenzo Hubbell, confronted with the very real danger of death, quickly decided that the potential gold was not worth further human lives. Peters returned to his home in Kansas, while Sharp and the Navajo men went their separate ways. Hubbell, true to his word, never again attempted to send prospectors into southern Utah in search of the elusive gold.
In the aftermath, rumors circulated that a local cowboy – perhaps the very same one who had initially threatened the prospectors – had deliberately blown shut the entrance to the crevice. His alleged motive was to prevent a continuous influx of prospectors onto what he considered “his range,” effectively burying the secret of the White Cliffs Gold Ledge once more. The legend persists that this lost ledge of gold remains hidden somewhere within the majestic White Cliffs of Utah. However, these lands are now protected as part of the National Park System, where treasure hunting is strictly prohibited, ensuring that the White Cliffs Gold Ledge may forever remain a captivating, unsolved mystery of the American frontier.
