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Kokoweef Caves
Kokoweef: The Underground River of Gold That Never Was
Deep in the eastern Mojave Desert, a story has persisted for over a century—a story of caves, crystals, and a subterranean river lined with gold. It began in the 1920s when Earl Dorr, a miner and adventurer, claimed he discovered an extensive cavern system in the Kokoweef Mountains. He swore he had descended thousands of feet into the earth and witnessed a mighty underground river, its shores lined with black sand rich in placer gold.
Dorr’s sworn affidavit, signed in 1934, reads like a fever dream of adventure, geology, and sudden wealth. He described grand chambers adorned with massive stalactites, a river that behaved like the tides, and tales of sluice boxes yielding tens of thousands of dollars in gold—at 1930s prices.
He wasn’t alone in his beliefs. Dorr cited the Peysert brothers—fellow explorers and miners—who supposedly mined the sands, sent gold to the U.S. Mint, and tragically lost a brother in the attempt. However, no official record has ever confirmed the gold, the river, or the caverns as described.
Dorr later sealed the entrance, either to protect the secret or out of frustration with opportunistic investors. Since then, many have searched, and some have died trying. Yet the river remains unfound.
In the 1970s, real treasures were recovered from the caves—not gold, but fossil remains of Ice Age animals like dire wolves, camels, and horses, collected by the San Bernardino County Museum.
The Kokoweef tale endures because it scratches that eternal itch for mystery, hidden riches, and the idea that there’s still something incredible left to discover underfoot. Whether a hoax, hallucination, or hidden truth, it remains a shining example of Mojave Desert lore.
Letter from Hilary White
Cave of the Golden Sands
