AMERICANA TREASURE HUNT – An Americana treasure hunt experience held by TreasureFix. Purchasing a Solve Key gives you access to the full materials for their Big Hunt worth $100,000. (*TreasureFix holds ongoing smaller armchair treasure hunts for cash prizes.)

BEYOND THE MAP’S EDGE – A treasure hunt created by treasure hunter Justin Posey, who appears in Gold & Greed: The Hunt for Fenn’s Treasure, which hides clues within the documentary itself. On his website you can also find a poem to solve and a treasure map showing possible locations somewhere in the American West. Many treasure seekers believe the hiding spot may be near Wisdom, Montana or Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. The prize is a 60-pound treasure chest filled with gold, precious gemstones, metals, historical artifacts, a Bitcoin wallet, Forrest Fenn’s iconic dragon bracelet studded with emeralds, diamonds, and rubies, and even a meteorite, plus other unique and valuable items. The treasure is estimated to be worth over $1 million. Posey says that all you need is the poem to find the treasure, although you can also buy his helpful book here to guide you.

CIPHER – A treasure hunt created by Charlie Porter, inspired by his jazz album Cipher. Across eight original compositions, Porter and his ensemble hide nine coded clues within the music using ciphers and musical notation. Each clue helps solvers piece together a puzzle that ultimately leads to a secret location somewhere in the continental United States. The first person to decode the clues, find the hidden object, and present their step-by-step solution will win a $10,000 prize. While purchasing the CD or sheet music may help with decoding, no purchase is required to participate.

DRAGON’S HOARD HUNTS – A series of online armchair treasure hunts created by Dragon’s Hoard Entertainment, designed for people who enjoy solving clever riddles and puzzles from home. Many of the hunts are open exclusively to legal Canadian residents, although entry rules can vary by contest, so participants should always check each hunt’s official rules. Some hunts are free to enter with cash prizes, while others involve a small entry fee (typically $10–$50) and offer growing jackpots like “Snowball’s Chance,” where the prize pool increases as more players join. The puzzles span a variety of themes—history, science, pop culture, and more—and are structured so that persistent problem‑solving rather than speed determines the winner.

H. CHARLES BEIL HUNTS – Treasure hunts created by H. Charles Beil blend interactive storytelling with real-world treasure hunting. Beil—an author, historical archaeologist, and founder of Treasure Illustrated LLC—hides physical caches across the United States and places clues inside his books, turning readers into modern-day treasure hunters. His projects include more than a dozen hidden treasures with values ranging from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands, with several already discovered. He has also announced a future multi-cache hunt spanning three states with a total value exceeding $1 million, making it one of his largest book-based treasure hunts currently planned, and he continues working on new books and future hunts across the country. Participants can follow updates, hints, and community discussions in the main forum on H. Charles Beil Books, The Treasure Man Group on Facebook, and learn more about him on his YouTube channel. Some hunt books can be downloaded for free through the Treasure Illustrated Forum, while many of the other clue-filled treasure hunt books in his series are available only on his Amazon shop here.

LADY LIBERTY’S TREASURE HUNT – A treasure hunt created by Michael Cloherty O’Connell and featured in his book Lady Liberty’s Treasure Hunt (get the book here). The book blends personal memoir, American history, and an interactive treasure hunt that sends readers searching across the Northeastern New England region of the United States, including New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Hidden clues within the story guide participants to real-world treasure caches placed near historic landmarks. The hunt contains multiple treasures valued at over $100,000 in total. At least one cache has already been discovered, but many others are still believed to be hidden, leaving plenty of treasure waiting to be found.

N-ZONE QUEST – An online puzzle and treasure-hunt platform where players solve cryptic challenges and riddles to compete for real prizes, including gold and valuable artifacts. The site hosts ongoing monthly contests awarding about 1 gram of gold, along with larger long-running hunts tied to games and story worlds. These include the video game Chickenhare and the Treasure of Spiking‑Beard, which features a real-world treasure hunt worth around $200,000, and the adventure board game Guardians of Legends, which is connected to a hidden artwork treasure valued at over €200,000. Players join by solving puzzles, submitting answers, and competing with others worldwide. (get Chickenhare game for $30 here.) | Download Chickenhare Game Map, Poem, & Clues For Free

THE GOLDEN APPLE TALE – A treasure hunt created by Cam Kaskgn and featured in the 1982 book The Golden Apple Tale. The book contains hidden clues, puzzles, wordplay, and illustrations that work together to reveal the location of a jeweled golden apple necklace crafted from 18-karat gold and precious stones. Solvers must decode clues hidden throughout the story and artwork to determine the treasure’s location somewhere in the United States, with many researchers believing it may be near Grand Rapids, Michigan. The original book is now out of print, but a free black-and-white PDF copy is available online for those who want to study the puzzle (get the free copy here). Although many clues have been analyzed and discussed by the treasure-hunting community, the final solution has never been officially confirmed.

THE GOLDEN APPLE TALE: 40th ANNIVERSARY TRIBUTE – A treasure hunt inspired by the classic puzzle book The Golden Apple Tale and created to celebrate the hunt’s 40th anniversary. The Golden Apple Tale: 40th Anniversary Tribute continues the story with new riddles, illustrations, and puzzles that lead to a newly hidden golden apple prize. The tribute hunt takes place in the same familiar world as the original puzzle and may even shed new light on the still-unsolved mystery of the original hunt. A working knowledge of the first book may help solvers decode the clues. The tribute hunt book is currently available to purchase, and both hardcover and paperback editions contain the same puzzles and content. (get the book here)

THE GOLDEN TREASURE OF THE ENTENTE CORDIALE – An international puzzle treasure hunt launched in 2021 by French treasure hunt creator Michel Becker. Inspired by the historic 1904 alliance between Britain and France, the hunt challenges participants to solve nine riddles hidden within the book, using coded illustrations and missing text in accompanying poems. Solving the riddles leads treasure hunters to two hidden geode crystals – one buried in the United Kingdom and the other in France. When the two pieces are united, they open a special cabinet containing the grand prize: a 19th-century 18K gold casket originally gifted by Edward VII to mark the signing of the Entente Cordiale with French president Émile Loubet on April 8, 1904. The casket, created by the historic Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company, contains historical documents celebrating Anglo-French friendship and is estimated to be worth around €750,000 (about $800,000 USD). To fully participate, players typically need the official treasure hunt book (get your copy here), as well as the Treasure Map and Adventurer’s Notebook available for purchase through the hunt’s website to help determine the geode locations. The book also includes a historical overview of the Entente Cordiale written by bestselling historian Stephen Clarke. The hunt encourages collaboration between French and English treasure hunters. Becker is also known for creating the legendary hunt On the Trail of the Golden Owl, which was finally solved in 2024 after more than three decades.

THE GREAT CANADIAN TREASURE HUNT – A nationwide hunt across Canada, organized by The Northern Miner, featuring more than CAD $1.3 million in gold prizes. The grand prize—a chest containing 217 one-ounce gold coins worth about $1 million—remains hidden somewhere in the country. Alongside the main prize, 12 regional bonus hunts worth roughly $25,000–$40,000 each are being released over time, with several already discovered in locations such as Dawson City, Southern British Columbia, Newfoundland, and Cobalt. Players solve a central poem and follow additional clues released through mining media outlets to locate hidden treasure boxes containing verification codes. The hunt began in August 2025 and runs through December 31, 2026, unless the remaining treasures are found first.

THE HARE ON THE MOON – A treasure hunt created by artist and author Joanna May and featured in her illustrated puzzle book The Hare on the Moon. Inspired by classic armchair treasure hunts like Masquerade, the book takes readers on a mystical journey guided by a hare and the Man in the Moon. Hidden clues in the story and illustrations form a coded sentence that leads to a sacred location. The first person to correctly determine the location and submit the solution will win an original gold-leaf painting titled Three Hares on a Golden Moon, valued at over £10,000 (~$12,500 USD). The puzzle remains unsolved, and while special signed editions of the book exist, anyone can attempt the hunt by studying the clues and decoding the mystery. Some of the clues are listed on her website.

THE HATTER’S HAT WONDERLAND TREASURE HUNT – A real-world treasure hunt created by David Jacobsen and featured in his book The Hatter’s Hat – Lost Tales of Wonderland (get your copy here). Hidden somewhere in the USA, the hunt leads readers to a golden key with a secret message written on a $100 bill. Finding the key and message is all that’s required to claim the treasure, which includes rubies, sapphires, over 140 diamonds, silver, gold, rare collectible coins dating back to the 3rd century, and a 24-karat gold-plated “Alice in Wonderland” charm bracelet. All the clues are contained in Jacobsen’s book, which tells the story of Mary Ann, the Rabbit’s housemaid, and the formation of Wonderland. The treasure is estimated to be worth $10,000–$20,000 USD, and the first person to locate the key and message can claim the prize. This hunt combines literary adventure with a real-world quest, encouraging readers to explore, solve puzzles, and engage with the story.

THE HOPE CHEST – A multi-state treasure hunt created by Cris Dotson featured in his memoir-style puzzle book The Hope Chest. Hidden across Alabama, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee, the hunt challenges readers to find a series of four tags, each revealed through poems and clues in the book, leading to a final buried treasure capsule containing $50,000 cash. The book, co-authored with his wife Julie, combines storytelling, wordplay, and illustrations with a beautifully crafted map to guide searchers. The first tag has already been found, and searchers continue to track subsequent tags using the clues provided. This hunt encourages readers to engage with both the story and the real-world locations, making it an adventure of discovery, exploration, and fun.

THE ORACLE: LOST IN TIME – A treasure hunt created by Pete Wilder and featured in his illustrated puzzle book The Oracle: Lost in Time (get your copy here). Hidden somewhere in the United Kingdom, the book contains poems and visual clues that lead to a hidden token, which can be used to claim the cash prize starting at £5,000 (around $6,000 USD) and increasing with book sales. The poems and updated clues have been made available for free on the official website, helping solvers work toward finding the token. Unlike many hunts that require travel, The Oracle can be solved from anywhere — if you determine the correct location from the clues, you can submit your solution online to the author to claim the prize. The token has remained unfound since the hunt began in 2004, making it an enduring armchair treasure challenge.

THERE’S TREASURE INSIDE – A hunt for five treasure boxes across the U.S. created by Jon Collins-Black found by following clues in his book There’s Treasure Inside (get your copy here). Join the hunt for the Pokémon Box, the Appalachian Footpath Box, the Past & Future Box, the Forrest Fenn Box, and the largest Lion’s Share Box containing gold, gems, bitcoin, rare historical items, and other valuables worth $millions. You can find a few extra clues in his children’s book Our Unbreakable Thread: A Family’s Love Through Generations, available here. An extraordinary literary and monumental puzzle-solving adventure that has led seekers to explore Lake Tahoe, California, Ohio, Vermont, Arkansas, Colorado, North Carolina, Alabama, Nevada, and other states. | High-Resolution There’s Treasure Inside Appalachian Map | Word Search Manipulator | Read “Ready Player One” Free | CLUES: JCB Seeker’s Summit Message

THE SECRET – A classic real‑world treasure hunt created by Byron Preiss and featured in his puzzle book The Secret: A Treasure Hunt (get your copy here). Published in 1982, the book contains twelve paintings paired with twelve poetic verses that must be correctly matched and interpreted to uncover the secret locations of 12 ceramic casques buried across North America. Each buried casque contained a key redeemable for a precious jewel that Preiss kept in a safe deposit box in New York. Since the hunt began, three of the twelve casques have been found — in Grant Park, Chicago (1984), Cleveland, Ohio (2004), and Boston, Massachusetts (2019) — but nine remain undiscovered. The poems and artwork have been studied for decades, and the verses and high‑resolution images are available online for free, helping enthusiasts continue to work on solving the remaining puzzles. Though the original jewels are relatively modest in monetary value by today’s standards, The Secret has become one of the most enduring treasure hunts in history, and many puzzle solvers still pursue the remaining casques.

THE SECRET: 40th ANNIVERSARY HUNT – A commemorative treasure hunt created by the late Arthur Scheijde and George Ward to honor the artists and creators behind The Secret: A Treasure Hunt, the classic 1982 puzzle book by Byron Preiss. Like the original, the anniversary hunt uses a verse and painting to hide clues to the location of a buried casque somewhere in North America, and high‑resolution versions of the image and verse are shared online for free to help solvers. Arthur Scheijde designed the puzzle and custom casque as an homage to the original creators but passed away shortly after its release. George Ward selected a safe public hiding location — not near hazards like highways, train tracks, cemeteries, caves, etc. The treasure inside the anniversary casque consists of gemstones and relics valued at around $1,700, and the only way to claim it is to dig up the buried casque once you’ve solved the clues. Though linked to The Secret, the anniversary hunt is a distinct challenge that draws on the same spirit of puzzle‑solving and armchair sleuthing.

THE SECRET: A TRIBUTE HUNT FOR THE 13TH CASQUE – A commemorative treasure hunt inspired by The Secret: A Treasure Hunt, created by Byron Preiss in 1982. Nearly 40 years later, Kit Palencar and John Michaels designed a tribute to the original hunt by burying an original tribute casque and composing a new verse and matching illustration to conceal its location. Like the classic Preiss hunt, this quest uses a verse paired with a painting to hide clues leading to a buried treasure — the 13th casque — somewhere in North America. The casque contains a treasure valued at over $2,000 in precious metals and gems, and solving the riddle and matching the image to the verse is the key to finding it. The tribute hunt is supported by an online community (including a Facebook group) where solvers share insights on the verse and imagery, and the tribute hunt’s clues and artwork are available to study freely. Designed to honor the spirit and creativity of the original puzzles, The Secret: A Tribute Hunt offers both longtime treasure hunters and newcomers a fresh challenge connected to the legacy of Preiss’s enduring mystery.

THE SOURCE CODE – A puzzle‑adventure treasure hunt by Samantha Dammer featured in the book The Source Code: A Treasure Hunt (get your copy here). The story follows Shay Bostrom on a journey across the continental United States solving ciphers, riddles, and hidden messages woven into the narrative. Along the way, readers encounter history, philosophy, literature, science, and pop culture as they work through the book’s encoded clues. Embedded in the tale is a real‑world treasure challenge: the first person to decode the clues, locate a specific hidden site, and retrieve the proxy item placed there will earn fabulous prizes (details of the exact prize value have not been widely published). The hunt is designed as a fun and engaging mystery, blending fiction and cryptic puzzles that point to a real location somewhere in the U.S. As of now, The Source Code treasure hunt has not been officially solved, and the hidden item remains unclaimed. Solvers are encouraged to study the book carefully and follow the trail of clues to uncover the secret destination.

TREZOR.QUEST – A free, long‑term crypto treasure hunt created by Chad Bird. The hunt challenges participants to solve a riddle/poem and online clues posted on the website to locate a Trezor hardware wallet hidden inside a hollow rock (a geode) somewhere in the continental United States between the 30th and 35th parallels — originally listed as Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, or New Mexico (Arkansas has since been excluded). Inside the rock is a Trezor wallet holding approximately 15,000 crypto coins (various major cryptocurrencies, with no meme coins), currently worth thousands of dollars and growing with the market. The hunt is designed so anyone can start for free online — you don’t need to buy anything to participate — and all levels of clues, poems, archived riddles, and side quests with additional smaller gifts are available on the website. Over the course of 15 years (running through 2040), Chad plans to release five keys that will help eventually decrypt the exact location if the main riddles remain unsolved, but the poem and other public clues alone could lead you to the treasure. You must physically retrieve the wallet from its hiding spot (not just solve it online) to claim the crypto.

XAVIER MARX AND THE MISSING MASTERPIECES – A real‑world treasure hunt hidden inside the children’s puzzle book Xavier Marx and the Missing Masterpieces (get your copy here). Written by Hilary Genga and Sean Cronin, the story contains embedded clues and puzzles that lead to a proxy item hidden somewhere in the continental United States. Solvers who find that item can claim the $10,000 cash prize — which has since grown to about $13,400 as of the latest updates. All necessary clues are contained in the book, and bonus clues have been released over time by celebrities such as Jesse Eisenberg, Wil Wheaton, Jason Alexander, Clancy Brown, and Daymond John to help participants. The hunt supports the International Child Art Foundation and is designed to be engaging for both families and serious puzzle solvers.

NEWTON FALLS TREASURE HUNT – A real-world community treasure hunt launched in March 2026 in Newton Falls, Ohio by local business owner Tom Colosimo, owner of Fieldview Acres Mercantile. The hunt was created to promote tourism, highlight the town’s history, and encourage visitors to explore the historic downtown and its small businesses. Participants must solve a series of riddles and clues released on social media. A total of 10 clues are planned, with new clues released approximately every two weeks, requiring research, observation, and problem-solving rather than random searching. Instead of hiding the prize itself, organizers hid a key somewhere in a publicly accessible location within Newton Falls. The person who finds the key must return it to the organizer to claim the treasure. The prize consists of cash, gold, silver, jewelry, and rare coins valued at nearly $30,000, with the total continuing to grow as local sponsors and donors contribute to the treasure chest. The hunt is free to participate in and is designed so that participants do not need to dig, trespass, climb, or enter unsafe areas to solve the clues or locate the key. Once the key is found and verified, the finder receives the prize and the hunt officially concludes. With thousands of participants already working through the clues and growing national interest, Newton Falls has quickly become an unexpected destination for treasure hunters traveling to the small Ohio town in search of the hidden prize. | CLUE 1 | CLUE 2 | CLUE 3 |

SEEK TEXAS TREASURE HUNT – A puzzle and adventure book created by KC Wright, designed to inspire a love of Texas history and exploration. This real-world puzzle challenges treasure hunters to learn about Texas while testing intellect and skill. Participants use clues found in the book Seek Texas (get the Kindle version here) to locate a hidden 3-inch metal medallion enclosed in a weather-resistant box, placed in a safe, publicly accessible location somewhere in Texas. The first person to find the medallion and correctly follow the redemption instructions will win a prize package that includes ten American Eagle one-ounce gold coins, a cashier’s check tied to the book’s registered savings account, and a piece of gold from Forrest Fenn’s Treasure Chest valued at around $3,000. The total prize grows as more participants register their books on the official website. To participate, you must purchase and register a copy of the book, then use the included clues to determine the location of the treasure. The hunt runs until the treasure is found or June 1, 2028, whichever comes first. A portion of each book sale also supports the historic Remember the Alamo Foundation.

SOUTHERN TRAPPER TREASURE HUNT – A treasure hunt created by Capt. Bligh, the Southern Trapper Treasure Hunt is a real-world adventure along a U.S. coast. Participants must solve clues provided through a free online video and an accompanying poem to locate a buried chest containing two silver-inlaid pistols valued at approximately $20,000. The hunt highlights exploration, problem-solving, and storytelling, celebrating “the thrill of the chase” rather than just the prize. Participants are encouraged to follow all laws and safety guidelines. The hunt remains active, drawing treasure seekers from across the country to this unique coastal adventure.

TEASER: A TEXAS ADVENTURE & TREASURE HUNT – A children’s adventure and puzzle book created by Rob Hancock that combines a whimsical story with hidden clues leading to a real‑world treasure challenge in Texas (get your copy here). In the illustrated tale, characters Sis and Punkin, along with their dog and the mischievous Teaser, journey through Texas encountering riddles and treasure map “X” symbols that guide readers to discoveries. The book encourages treasure hunters to follow clues embedded in the illustrations and story across the state, using their problem‑solving and observational skills. While the narrative reveals illustrated money bags and map markers, the treasure hunt’s exact real‑world prize and location are intended to be uncovered by solving those embedded puzzles. Teaser blends adventure, exploration, and storytelling for readers of all ages and invites fortune seekers to unravel hidden clues to discover one or more treasure caches throughout Texas.

THE X HUNT – A real-world treasure hunt series created by the X Hunt family that blends outdoor adventure, travel, and puzzle-solving for families and explorers. Through cinematic video episodes, participants follow clues, maps, and riddles that lead through scenic locations, small towns, trails, caves, and historic sites in search of a hidden “X.” Hunts occur periodically rather than constantly, with the next hunt listed as “To Be Announced,” and fans can also participate online by submitting GPS coordinate guesses while watching the episodes. Past hunts have hidden real treasure chests filled with $500+ in cash, vintage coins, survival gear, cameras, and adventure equipment, rewarding the first person to solve the clues and reach the location. Designed for families, teens, and puzzle lovers, The X Hunt turns exploration and storytelling into a real-world treasure-hunting adventure where the journey is part of the prize.

TREASURE GAME$ – A mobile-based, real-world treasure hunting platform where players solve clues to locate hidden prizes across the United States. Its flagship game, “Wish Lamp$,” challenges participants to decode puzzles that reveal the location of a hidden “lamp”; the first person to find it can choose between a cash reward or a symbolic “three wishes” prize option offered by the game. Players can join hunts at any time through the mobile app, which periodically unlocks regions as new hunts launch. The platform also offers a free trial before paid participation, and a portion of profits is pledged toward projects aimed at improving communities.

VEGAS DIE 2.0 – A real‑world puzzle adventure and treasure hunt tied to the 15th Anniversary Edition of the book Vegas Die, revised in 2025 by author S.P. Grogan. Participants must purchase and read the anniversary edition to access clues embedded in the story that lead to the location of a hidden Spanish coin somewhere in the Vegas Valley, Las Vegas area (get your copy here). Clues unfold as readers work through the narrative and auxiliary puzzle elements. The main prize is the Spanish coin, which has a collectible and historical value and can also be claimed as part of a cash prize of $2,500. The treasure is hidden in a publicly accessible outdoor location within the defined search area, which includes parts of the west side of Lake Mead, the Las Vegas Speedway area, Primm, Red Rocks, and Mt. Charleston. The hunt is open to all “Questors” who register and participate under the official rules. Clues are designed to be solved through intellect and observation, not random searching, and no clues are located near buildings or private property. The treasure remains active and unsolved, and the hunt continues until someone correctly identifies the hidden location and is verified as the winner.

VEIL – Hosts real-world treasure hunts where players solve clues and physically search for hidden prizes. Participants follow geography- and history-based puzzles, while a shrinking search area and trail-camera images confirm the treasure is still in place. Hunts can last from hours to months, and the first person to locate and touch the treasure wins the reward, which is typically claimed through a proxy marker. While players can follow the hunt for free, optional premium clues may be offered. Past hunts have commonly taken place in the Northeastern United States, particularly around New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, with new hunts launched periodically in different regions.