$25,000 Treasure Hunt on Utah's Trails

$25,000 Treasure Hunt on Utah Trails
— 2025 Updates —

2025 Utah Treasure Hunt Poem

Begin your search where fabled words resound
Before the standing stairs and kings were crowned
Trace the steps of the lionhearted teams
Only outshone by a jewel‘s unyielding gleam
If you get lost just follow the arrow
As you play peek-a-boo with the pharaoh
Store all these new memories inside the bank
But stay far from the edge when you walk the plank
Whistle with Pricess Peach this simple tune
While you listen to dark side of the moon
The treasure is near now check if you’re alone
And discover the chest between two stones

The 6th Annual Utah Treasure Hunt

The 2025 Utah Treasure Hunt Treasure Has Been Found!

Twenty-seven days after the 2025 Utah Treasure Hunt poem was released, the chest was finally discovered on August 3.

Hunter and Corinne, a married couple from Utah County, cracked the 2025 Utah Treasure Hunt and claimed the $25,000 prize. They’ll be using it to help with their upcoming move out of state. Huge congrats to them—and to everyone who hit the trails and followed the clues this year!

Watch the full IG Live here

The solve? A Beatles-themed riddle with roots in Abbey Road, the Quarrymen, and the Temple Quarry Trail at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon. Full poem breakdown coming soon.

Make sure you’re following these channels to get notified the moment the next hunt begins:

Email Newsletter – Sign up at utahtreasurehunts.com (bottom of page)
Instagram Stories – follow @onthejohn and @the.cline.fam for real-time announcements and updates

And don’t forget to sign up for the Trails Utah newsletter—we’ll be posting the full 2025 poem solve once John & Dave release it.

The 2025 Utah Treasure Hunt Hints

First Official Hint (Typo Alert)

John shared on Instagram that there’s a typo in the poem: “Pricess” should actually be Princess. Make sure to update your copy as you decipher.

In addition, “jewels” should be jewel’s.

Email 1 Hints (July 11, 2025)

Hint 1

Treasure Map Boundaries (image to the right on desktop, below on mobile)

Hint 2

On the 6th line when you play peek-a-boo with the pharaoh, the word pharaoh is referring to a natural landmark you will see on the trail.

Hint 3

When we hid the chest this year, John measured the distance from the trail to the chest as 29 paces. Approximately 30-50 feet off the trail.

Email 2 Hints (July 18, 2025)

Hint 4

Music is a central theme. Pay attention as “there’s more beneath the surface than meets the eye at first glance“

Hint 5

There are no secret double meanings on line 5. There’s an arrow on the trail to follow.

Hint 6

Your hike shouldn’t take more than an hour, from where you parked your car, to find the chest.

Email 3 Hints (July 26, 2025)

Hint 7

The standing stairs do not refer to a stadium or amphitheater; they refer to stairs.

Hint 8

In the original poem, there were two extra lines that we removed for the sake of brevity and the fact that we didn’t love them. They were,
“When you are wearied and tired trekkers,
sit down for a game of Chinese Checkers.“

Hint 9

The “plank” in the poem refers to some kind of wooden boards you will cross at some point on the trail.

Email 4 Hints (August 2, 2025)

Hint 10

The chest is not in water.

Hint 11

A lot has been said about the word “before” in line 2. Whether before is referring to physically before or chronologically before. It could be argued that it is both, but chronologically is the more important one.

Hint 12

The chest isn’t hidden off the main trail. It’s hidden off a branch of the main trail.

*Reminder: These hints come straight from the Utah Treasure Hunt’s weekly newsletter. For the fastest updates, make sure you’re subscribed!

Cache Me Outside On-Air Clue

On July 29th, John and Dave joined the Cache Me Outside podcast and dropped the following on-air clue:

There is no history involved in this poem—EXCEPT in the line, “Trace the steps of the lionhearted teams”

John also provided some general tips, here they are:

The treasure is in a very safe place. If you’re in danger, you’re not on track.
Make sure you take more water than you think you need. You could be out there longer than expected.
Be aware of rattlesnakes, cougars, and other wildlife (click links for safety tips)
The sections of the Bonneville Shoreline trail affected by the new law doesn’t hamper your ability to reach the chest.
They will never hide the chest on private property or in a state or national park
The chest is not inside a cabin, shed or any kind of structure
You will never have to purchase anything to solve the hints in the poem
They will never hide the chest at a ski resort

reddit sub r/utahtreasurehunt

The Utah Treasure Hunt sub on Reddit is buzzing with ideas. Here are a few theories you’ll find on there:

Do you know what u/KyHuntsTreasure is missing with their solve?

“Thinking back I remember a very distinct stone structure that resembled the outline of a Pharaoh’s headdress, yeah know, the one that drops down on both sides of the face. This was at the end of a pipeline that ran up the trail, corresponding to some of the theories that Princess Peach might have something to do with Mario Pipes. My only issue is that they said the Pharaoh was a natural landmark, meaning not man made I suppose.

Anyway, I’m heading there right now just to check in case it could be something, I’ll send pictures of the thing after I’m all finished up.”

Have you gone as far down the rabbit hole as u/SaladSpinner98?

“In Super Mario 3, there are 3 Warp Whistles. Princess Peach tells Mario about two of them:
After completing World 4, Peach tells Mario that the thief who stole the whistle is hiding “east of the sand dunes”. This whistle is found by breaking a rock on eastern edge of the World 2 map, revealing a hidden path with a Hammer Bro marching along it. Defeat the Hammer Bro to receive the whistle.
………
The warp whistle, melody, and whirlwind also appear in Legend of Zelda NES games (and if you have played Ocarina of Time you will be VERY familiar with this tune, as it’s the main theme.)
The melody is:
D5 – E5 – D6 – Db6* – C6 – B6″

- Read their Warp Whistle Deep Dive here

John & Dave went ahead and squashed a bunch of theories on Reddit with last week’s hints.

Like this one from u/Legitimate_Thorn being sure that “There is no theme”.
and this one from u/mikesellsutah “I don’t see how this could line up with any sort of theme going on in the poem, but I’ll throw it out there. In the TV series Lost, The Arrow is a DHARMA bunker. Maybe the Granite Mountain Records Vault or some other bunker-like structure is the arrow. Another fun detail for you guys who see the hints in everything. The symbol for The Arrow has an arrow pointing between two “stones”.”

“This was a hiking trail I went on earlier this year. I took this picture because it looked like a Pharaoh to me. It’s a trail that you must cross a wooden bridge and there are wooden planks/logs you also have to cross along the way. Lots of boulders and rocks in this area to hide a chest without digging. Smells like Peaches or Peach ring candy when I hiked here too and lots of other reasons why I think this may be the spot where the chest is hidden. I have no plans to do this hunt because I am out of state working but if someone wants to leave me a tip for the location to the trail, message me! There is water along this trail and also whistling sounds throughout the trail that is manmade and natural (birds). The manmade one reminds me of smash bros, Mario.” — u/kylethemanager

u/theilkhan created a helpful graphic showing the treasure locations from the past 5 years. View the map to the right on desktop, below on mobile.
“All I ask is a finders fee of $ 5,000 😁 2025 Utah Treasure hunt solve: The hints and the poem were genius drawing a big pyramid across the valley using emigration canyon ( pioneers traveled), RSL stadium ( the lion heart team/ mascot) and and the great salt lake ( The jewel) connect the lines to make the logo to Pink Floyd , dark side of the moon…” Read u/Agreeable-Ad6466′s full theory here
u/pastalot supposedly lives out of town and provided his full solve, maps and all. Check it out. He’d like to split the winnings if you do find the loot 😉
“First two lines point to Amicalola Falls! It makes perfect sense! Who wants to meet me there?” — u/SmellyGoatHiker

___________________

The hunt for the Pharaoh

Have you found any good Pharoah’s out there? If so, DM them to us on IG at @trailsutah

Other resources

Cache Me Outside Podcast Recap:

Key Theories from Episode 4 (July 27, 2025)

Episode 4 — “Exclusive Hints from John and Dave (POEM ’25)”

____________________________________

The Cache Me Outside team received over 200 questions from their listeners. They couldn’t get to all of them, but they got through a fair chunk of them.

Below is an overview of the info they were able to squeeze out of John and Dave. Definitely check out the episode if you want the full conversation!

Poem Q&A

Throwaway Lines & Misunderstandings

The only throwaway line was the extra one dropped in a clue email—added just to rhyme (“weary trekkers” with “checkers”), but it wasn’t featured in the original poem.
Almost every line in the poem is meant to matter. They intentionally label any actual key clues as such, to reduce over‑analysis.

Writing Process & Structure

The first two lines took over a month to write; the rest of the poem came together in about two hours.
The lines ending with a rhyme to “June” were the most misunderstood (moon / tune).

Similarity to Previous Poems

This year’s poem aligns most closely with their second or third hunts (particularly the one on Ben Lomond). They’ve maintained a consistent formula each year, with few drastic shifts.

Capitalization of “Dark Side of the Moon”

Their third pair of eyes recommended using lowercase for “dark side of the moon”. They wrote it in a way that the Reddit community would dislike it the least.

Additional Pervasive Themes Beyond Music?

They said music was “A main theme” in the clue, but not the only. They were asked for additional themes, and mentioned they may announce that as a clue at the end of the episode, but never did.

Favorite Line of the Poem

Their standout line is: “Before the standing stairs and Kings were crowned.”

Helpful Background Knowledge

When it came to choosing a helpful class (history, music theory, ciphers, etc.), John quipped it’s better to skip class and just listen to music. “Don’t go to the class, go to the concert instead”

Hidden Clue Details & “Lionhearted Teams”

In regards to the the question “Can you tell us if there are more than two Lionhearted Teams”. They replied with, “No comment”, but ended up giving an on-air clue to this question (scroll down to find that clue).
When asked, “If you solve the Riddle correctly, will you know exactly where to get off the trail?” they responded, “No comment”—saying that “his is the one clue that is preventing the treasure from being found.” They’ll announce that clue in a forthcoming Friday email.

Critical Words to the Solve

When asked “Of the listed keywords (fabled, standing, unyielding, lionhearted, Pharaoh, whistle), which is most key to solving the poem”. Dave replies, “Not because of the word, but because of the location of where the word is, within the first 1 or two lines, if you get that right, you should have a good idea where to start.”
- Between those two words, it’s tomato potato (same-same).
- John says it’s Kings (even with the word not being on the list)
Is before chronological, or before as in “in front of” —their reply…”no comment.” (though they mentioned they may not be smart enough to answer this one, or it could be both 😉 )
“Are there more than two songs, musicians ,or bands referrenced in this poem?”— their reply, “that’s a good clue”…they then proceeded to distract without answering the question.
“What Super Mario games have you played all the way to the end?” — answers for this one were varied and seemingly unimportant.

Stones & “Literal Rocks”

There are 2 literal stones literal.

Timeline for Discovery

John stopped predicting an exact find date, mostly because people were DMing him mostly correct solves, then abandoning those solves and getting off course.
Dave’s bet, he thinks the treasure might be found shortly after next weeks clue (Aug. 8th ish).

Two Truths & A Lie: Clue Strategy

Organizers offered this game based on the poem:

You can actually see portion of the chest without moving or touching anything.
The treasure is on the east side of I‑15.
(Lie) The treasure is on the west side.

_______________________

The ON-AIR CLUE:

Dave: There is no history involved in this poem, EXCEPT for in this line “Trace the steps of the lionhearted teams“
- History as in you would learn in school or book knowledge, not as in Pink Floyd is a historic band.
- Technically Pink Floyd is historic, but they’re talking about history before that time.

_______________________

When asked by the show hosts “Is one of us difinitively going to lose our bet (bets listed below)”. The hosts replied that one host is definitely in danger of losing the bet, and that one is definitively NOT going to lose their bet. Here are the bets:

- - Real Salt Lake has nothing to do with it
  - Won’t be found before August 15th
  - A lyric from Dark Side of the Moon has nothing to do with the solve.

Final takeaways: despite the mystery, they’re rooting for everybody to find the treasure safely, cherish the community friendships, and encourage healthy balance around the hunt!

Key Theories from Episode 3 (July 22, 2025)

Episode 3 — “Hint Me Baby One More Time!”

____________________________________

Hosts confirm they’re purely fans—not affiliated with John & Dave—and even tease a lighthearted conspiracy that the podcast is dragging out the hunt for drama 😂.

A fresh clue was dropped: “A central theme of this year’s poem is music… yet there’s more beneath the surface than meets the eye.” Music is one theme—not the only one.
- Musical structure theories (minute 12): The team dives into the rhythm and pacing of the poem, wondering if its cadence, syllable count, or structure matches classic musical patterns. They also wonder if certain lines align with beats or progressions from famous songs, opening the door to even more decoding beyond just lyrics or artist names.
Line 5: “If you get lost just follow the arrow” — The arrow is confirmed to be literal: it’s a trail marker, not a metaphor. This pairs interestingly with the following line, “peek-a-boo with the pharaoh.” Since we know the arrow is literal and visible on the trail, the hosts wonder about the creative process: did John & Dave notice a landmark resembling a pharaoh, then look for a rhyme (arrow), or did they find an arrow, and seek a rhyming feature to fit the verse?
Trail length hint: The treasure is located on a trail less than an hour from the trailhead—making it the shortest Utah Treasure Hunt hike.
New segment: Caden’s Crazy Connections & Coincidences — spotlighting peculiar links between the poem, music, and Utah trivia.
- Musician-themed connections (minute 22:35): Caden noticed that Carole King, Neil Diamond, and Bob Dylan all played concerts in Utah during the bicentennial year of 1976. While this might be a coincidence, it sparked connections between classic musicians, Utah history, and some of the poem’s themes.
- Princess Peach ties (minute 23:20): The initials “PP” (from Princess Peach) could point to Plant & Page (Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant and Jimmy Page). The band famously recorded Stairway to Heaven—potentially relevant given the poem’s references to steps, kings, and crowns. They also note that the “Led Zeppelin” band name originated from a member of The Who—Keith Moon.
- Dark Side of the Moon: The Pink Floyd track “Money” is in 7/4 time, which the hosts speculate could relate to music timing or the trail announcement (e.g., 7/4 = July 4, when the poem dropped).
Solve Segment: The episode wraps with an in-depth solve idea from Christian (starting at minute 35:03 and continuing to 48:10). He walks through a possible interpretation of the clues and how they might line up on a physical trail. The video version of the podcast includes screenshots and visual walkthroughs to support his solve.
Important PSA: The “Pharaoh’s Glen” rumor is false. It’s private property and not part of the Utah Treasure Hunt. Don’t trespass.
Next Week’s Episode: The Cache Me Outside team will be joined by John and Dave. While no clues will be revealed and they won’t share anything about specific solves or hikes, it’s a rare chance to hear directly from the organizers. The podcast team promises to release the episode as quickly as possible once it’s recorded.

Key Theories from Episode 2 (July 13, 2025)

Episode 2 — “Bowser? | Hardly Know Her”

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Line 6: “As you play peek-a-boo with the pharaoh”

The “pharaoh” refers to a natural landmark you will see from the trail, which, importantly, indicates that by this point in the poem, you are already out on the trail—not at home doing research.
Theories range from pyramid-shaped mountains that appear and disappear as you hike, to formations resembling an Egyptian headdress (see Reddit image above). Past trail hints (e.g., Weathertop, Bear of Stone) suggest this could be a literal formation seen from certain angles. It’s something John & Dave like to do.

Line 7: “Store all these new memories inside the bank”

Possibly refers to an embankment, riverbank, or trail along a stream—though some feel that may be too obvious.
Alternative takes include symbolic “memory banks” like the Facebook data center in Eagle Mountain, or Salt Lake’s Memory Grove. There’s also a chance this is a throwaway line.

Line 8: “But stay far from the edge when you walk the plank”

Could reference a narrow trail segment or makeshift bridges, especially where trails cross small streams.
Some noted that Park City has trails that follow old railroad lines—suggesting “plank” might allude to walking old wooden rail beds or narrow paths.

Line 9: “Whistle with Princess Peach this simple tune”

Multiple Mario references emerged, especially around the early Nintendo game where Princess Toadstool tells players where to find a whistle that transports them between levels—possibly hinting at navigation or hidden trail transitions.
Some noted the odd choice of the word “whistle” instead of “sing” or “hum.”
Something to do with Peach’s song that Bowser sings with Jack Black—cue you in to Bowser? Maybe some switchbacks look like Bowser’s back.
It’s also unlikely anything has “Peach” in its name, as line 9 comes after line 6 (when we now know we’re already on the trail).

Line 10: “While you listen to dark side of the moon”

Some questioned the lack of capitalization and the omission of “the,” which might suggest this is not referencing the Pink Floyd album directly.
Others brought up the “Dark Side of Oz” theory, where the album is synced with The Wizard of Oz, or speculated that the album’s 43-minute length might hint at how long to hike. The song “Money” begins at minute 13—possibly another timing clue.
Also noted the interesting connection word “while,” which may imply simultaneous actions or pairings between clues.

One thing Cache Me Outside continually mentioned was the potential importance to a strong theme. They suggest starting there with your research, and offered up a few of their own, including:

Utah Olympic (Christian solve at minute 35:30)
Soccer theme (RSL) at 41:25

Key Theories from Episode 1 (July 7, 2025)

Episode 1 — “Chasing Booty on the Dark Side of the Moon”

Three friends from the Cache Me Outside podcast sat down to unpack the first six lines of the 2025 Utah Treasure Hunt poem—just 24 hours after its release. Here’s a recap of their early theories, which draw on past hunts, pop culture references, and Utah landmarks.

Here’s a quick overview of episode 1:

Start discussing the poem at minute 10:30
Review Dave’s 2024 solve video at minute 12:45
Reflect on past treasure locations—this is year five, and patterns could matter
Theories on the 2025 poem begin at minute 24:40

Key Theories from the Episode:

Line 1: “Begin your search where fabled words resound”

Could reference Fable (video game) or Fablehaven (Utah-based book series)—stories or legends. This also led to a mention of the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, a well-known Utah event centered on oral storytelling and fables.
Separately, the word “resound” sparked theories about sound or echoes—possibly hinting at places named “Echo” or naturally echoing locations like amphitheaters.
Another idea: iconic phrases or monuments tied to famous words, such as This Is The Place.

Line 2: “Before the standing stairs and kings were crowned”

Could describe steep, ladder-like trails—such as Jacob’s Ladder.
Some suggest “kings” could refer to Real Salt Lake (MLS champions) or the Real Monarchs, both of whom play at America First Field (formerly Rio Tinto Stadium). The nearby Kennecott Copper Mine—owned by Rio Tinto—is known for its bright reflective surface or “gleam.”
Others feel this line still points to something figurative, not a literal trail location.

Line 3: “Trace the steps of the lionhearted teams”

The use of “teams” (plural) stands out. Theories include sports teams like Real Salt Lake, or possibly something tied to past Olympics hosted in Utah. No clear medieval or literary references emerged.

Line 4: “Only outshone by a jewels unyielding gleam”

The missing apostrophe in “jewels” may be deliberate.
Theories link this line to the Kennecott Copper Mine or other locations with gleaming mineral reflections. Brought up Egyptian sun symbolism as well.

Line 5: “If you get lost just follow the arrow”

Maybe a literal hint: Utah has surviving concrete arrows used in early aviation.
Could also refer to a visible signpost or natural feature shaped like an arrow.

Final Thoughts
Cache Me Outside is a podcast by treasure hunters, for treasure hunters. While the hints they explore may or may not point you directly to the chest, each discussion helps sharpen the kind of thinking John and Dave use when crafting their poems—bringing you one step closer to cracking the code.

Have your own theories? We’d love to hear them and possibly feature them here. Send us a DM on Instagram @trailsutah.

Ready to get sucked into the treasure hunting fun?

Here are a few pages you may be interested in:

-> Si hablas español y buscas una descripción general rápida, mira este video (¡todo en español!) que resume el lanzamiento de la búsqueda del tesoro de Utah de 2025.

How the Utah Treasure hunt works

A poem is sent out by the organizers, Dave & John. These poems are tough. So tough that the $25,000 worth of treasure was hidden for months in 2023.
You will want to follow Dave & John on social media as they will post the occasional hint on their IG stories
Every Friday they email a weekly hint. This hint typically answers the question they are hearing frequently over the air waves. Sign up for the email list here.
A Few Things to Remember:
- They will never hide the chest in a state or national park
- The chest is not inside a cabin, shed or any kind of structure
- You will never have to purchase anything to solve the hints in the poem
- They will never hide the chest at a ski resort
- They’ve been reminding everyone since the beginning, but the most dangerous part of this hunt is the heat. So stay hydrated and plan accordingly.
- A quick reminder that if you are at the location of the chest, you just need a swipe of the hand to see the chest. No shovels or digging is necessary.

Support the Utah Treasure Hunt

Did you know that John and Dave fund the $25,000 prize themselves each year? It’s truly their passion project.

While they’ve partnered with sponsors before, the $25,000 prize still comes straight from their pockets—putting both their passion (and wallets) to the test. Want to help them (and your business) out? Consider becoming a sponsor.

Sponsorships offer a unique way to join the fun—like the video hint reveals from Element United and First Class Fireplace, which reached 70,000+ highly engaged followers who rewatch every frame for hidden hints.

If your company wants to get involved, send John or Dave a Direct Message on Instagram.

While we’re not part of the Utah Treasure Hunt, Trails Utah shares the mission of making trails more accessible and getting people outside—and this treasure hunt does exactly that, so we want to see it continue.

What does Trails Utah do?
We advocate for, plan, fund, and build trails across Utah, connecting people to the state’s landscapes. See our projects, donate, or become a member to support our work via the links below.

$25,000 Treasure Hunt on Utah Trails
— 2025 Updates —

2025 Utah Treasure Hunt Poem

The 6th Annual Utah Treasure Hunt

The 2025 Utah Treasure Hunt Hints

First Official Hint (Typo Alert)

Cache Me Outside On-Air Clue

reddit sub r/utahtreasurehunt