Justin Posey locations mentioned in Beyond the Maps Edge

Here is a list of locations mentioned in the book. Yes, to be thorough it DOES include locations mentioned from FENNS hunt. I am not giving details about the locations as to not give too much away, So if you haven’t already, Support Justin and BUY THE BOOK. A lot of these locations have very interesting tidbits associated with them in the story.

THIS MAY NOT BE COMPLETE AND COULD HAVE ERRORS. I HAVE VERIFIED THE LOCATIONS BELOW ARE MENTIONED. AS SUCH CONSIDER IT A WORK IN PROGRESS. DOUBLE CHECK ANYTHING YOU FIND INTERESTING. AT THIS POINT VERIFIED ONLY MEANS THAT THE LOCATION WAS MENTIONED IN THAT CHAPTER IN SOME FASHION.

TO VIEW THESE LOCATIONS ON GOOGLE MAPS CHECK HERE

Justin Posey Treasure Hunt Google Earth Locations

Prologue (West Yellowstone – August 2018)

West Yellowstone, Montana VERIFIED – Serves as the gateway setting for the opening scene. The narrator and his brother set out before dawn from West Yellowstone toward the park, using it as their staging area.
Yellowstone National Park VERIFIED – The chapter unfolds in and around Yellowstone.
Iron Springs VERIFIED – In passing, Speaking to Brandon
Nine Mile Hole VERIFIED– The specific search location in the prologue. The narrator is “grid searching Nine Mile Hole. Again.”

Introduction

Victorio Peak, New Mexico VERIFIED – Introduced as the narrator’s childhood dream destination: “a billion dollars of hidden gold in a New Mexico mountain called Victorio Peak.”This legendary peak (located on White Sands military land) sparked his lifelong treasure obsession.

Mom’s House

Tucson, Arizona (outskirts) VERIFIED – The primary setting for this chapter. The narrator’s childhood home is at the end of a dirt road outside Tucson
Saguaro National Park East, Arizona VERIFIED – The iconic saguaro cactus park (designated a National Monument at the time) bordering their home
Dillon, Montana VERIFIED – Referenced via a family photograph caption: the narrator’s mother (a former rodeo champion) is pictured in Dillon. Montana also comes up in describing her youth
Rocky Mountain arenas (Montana) VERIFIED – Alluded to when recounting Mom’s rodeo exploits (“racing bareback through those Rocky Mountain arenas”).
The Beaverhead VERIFIED – Referenced via a family photograph caption: the narrator’s mother Fishing in a river noted to be the river she loved the most.

Dad’s House

Southern New Mexico VERIFIED – Highlighted as the landscape that shaped the narrator’s father (“rugged landscapes of southern New Mexico”). It implies the father’s upbringing/character forged in the American Southwest.
Tucson, Arizona VERIFIED – The father’s “untropical Tucson backyard” is mentioned in a humorous anecdote. Despite Dad’s larger-than-life New Mexican background
American Southwest VERIFIED – Referenced broadly in describing Dad’s hardened hands, which “had wrestled every piece of machinery in the American Southwest”.
(No fictional locales. All locations correspond to real places or regions in the Western U.S.)

The Fitzwaters

Dillon, Montana VERIFIED – The hometown of the maternal grandparents (the Fitzwaters). The narrative describes Dillon’s small-town nature (“wasn’t exactly a metropolis”) and surrounding scenery
Blacktail Deer Creek, Montana VERIFIED – A local creek near Dillon, mentioned poetically (“Blacktail Deer Creek whispered stories through the willows”).
Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Montana VERIFIED– Specifically mentions Beaverhead Vally. Alluded to via the mention of “Beaverhead-Deerlodge”,
Montana and Wyoming backcountry VERIFIED – The narrator recalls “years…hiking and fishing the Montana and Wyoming creeks, lakes, and rivers” with Grandpa.
Tucson VERIFIED – Grandpa Fitzwater would spend post retirement winters in Tucson.
Snake River VERIFIED – Escaped Tire
Bannack, Montana VERIFIED – while not directly connected, written about how Sherriff Henry Plummer lawman/criminal double life unraveled there. Suggests there is lore of Millions in precious metals hidden nearby.
Coolidge, Montana VERIFIED – Gold boom town. Justin and his brother explored here for Countless hours.
Crystal Park VERIFIED – Regularly finding crystals in the area.
Jefferson’s winding banks VERIFIED – A river in Montana or Wyoming? mentions Big Hole’s crystal waters

Poseys on the Road

Texas Canyon, Arizona VERIFIED – A dramatic rock-lined canyon on I-10 in southern Arizona. The family’s road trips feature sights like Texas Canyon as entertainment between Tucson and New Mexico.
Dragoon VERIFIED –
San Simon, Arizona VERIFIED – A small desert town near the AZ/NM border. Mentioned along with other pit-stop towns
Lordsburg, New Mexico VERIFIED – A New Mexican town on I-10, also part of the road-trip trivia game. The father quizzes the kids about such towns. Importance: Mentioned-only (one of several briefly noted stops).
Deming, New Mexico VERIFIED – Another desert town the family regularly passed. Deming gets a special mention: the father asks “What’s Deming’s claim to fame?”, to which the boys answer the local slogan (“Good water and fast ducks”).
Alamogordo, New Mexico VERIFIED – The destination of many of these road trips (“to visit the grandparents in Alamogordo”).
Sacramento Mountains, New Mexico VERIFIED – The mountain range looming en route.

Posey Land

Alamagordo VERIFIED –
Cloudcroft, New Mexico VERIFIED – A mountain village in the Sacramentos. The chapter recounts family property and history in this area (e.g. a Sacramento Mountains Historical Museum is noted).
James Canyon, New Mexico VERIFIED – Mentioned as part of the local geography (“from Cloudcroft, down James Canyon”). It’s a canyon road descending from Cloudcroft.
Sixteen Springs Canyon, New Mexico VERIFIED – Also cited in the family’s mountain holdings (“Sixteen Springs”). Sixteen Springs is a valley north of Cloudcroft where the family apparently had a cottage (“Posey Cottage”).
Bonito Lake, New Mexico VERIFIED – A mountain lake in Lincoln National Forest (near Cloudcroft/Ruidoso) referenced alongside Sixteen Springs.
Sacramento Mountains, New Mexico VERIFIED – The general mountain setting for “Posey Land.” It’s explicitly named in reminiscing about the area.
Sacramento Mountains Historical Museum VERIFIED –
Texas VERIFIED – Mentioned in passing
California VERIFIED – Mentioned in Passing
Mayhill VERIFIED – Mentioned in passing
Lodge at Cloudcroft VERIFIED – Stayed there often

The Postal Pilgrimage

(No major Western geographic setting) – This chapter centers on a misadventure

The Conquistador Conquest

Oro Valley VERIFIED – Mentioned that his mom lived there and how the name inspired adventure.
Oregon Coast VERIFIED – caption of photo that Justin calls his most treasured memories

The Bait Bonanza

Heron Lake, New Mexico VERIFIED – A real mountain reservoir in northern New Mexico, and the chapter’s focal setting. The family organizes a fishing trip “caravan” with grandparents leading the way to Heron Lake.
Sangre de Cristo Mountains, New Mexico VERIFIED – The mountain range visible in the area, described as “watching it all” over the lake

The Gracie Grail

Dillon, Montana VERIFIED – The small Montana town reappears as the setting for “Gracie”
North Montana Street (Dillon) VERIFIED – Mentioned humorously as the main drag in Dillon.
Dragoon Mountains VERIFIED – mentioned as being in a drawing.

The Concrete Kiss

Tanque Verde area (Tucson, Arizona) VERIFIED – The Tanque Verde region of east Tucson is referenced (“Tanque Verde”).
*(Real location – Tanque Verde is a well-known district on Tucson’s east side. No fictional place is included.)

The Treasure Tempest

Victorio Peak, New Mexico VERIFIED – Central to this chapter’s narrative of swirling treasure mania. It recounts history and drama around Victorio Peak (the infamous hidden gold site).
Hembrillo Basin, New Mexico VERIFIED – The remote desert basin surrounding Victorio Peak.
White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico VERIFIED – The U.S. Army range encompassing Victorio Peak. The chapter notes the Army’s involvement
Alamagordo, New Mexico VERIFIED –
Sacramento Mountains VERIFIED –

The Peak Pursuit

Las Cruces, New Mexico VERIFIED – The chapter includes a “late-night conversation” with the grandparents
Victorio Peak, New Mexico VERIFIED – Still the ultimate target of the “pursuit.”

The Digging Debacle

White Sands Missile Range boundary, New Mexico VERIFIED – The scene of the infamous debacle. The narrator and his brother actually sneak out at night on bicycles toward the fence of White Sands Missile Range to get near Victorio Peak.
Victorio Peak, New Mexico VERIFIED – Looming in the distance as the objective of their midnight adventure.
Death Valley VERIFIED – used as metaphor

The Tour Trap

White Sands National Park, New Mexico VERIFIED – A newly designated national park (formerly monument) adjacent to the missile range.
White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico VERIFIED – Still in the backdrop of the story. The presence of military police and the boys’ near-incursion likely carry over
Victorio Peak, New Mexico VERIFIED – Mentioned as part of the ongoing treasure saga.
Animas, New Mexico VERIFIED –

The Paternal Ploy

Alamogordo, New Mexico VERIFIED – Appears via the Alamogordo Daily News being referenced. After the boys’ misadventure,

Rearview Riches

Alamogordo, New Mexico VERIFIED – A key scene occurs here post-adventure: the narrator mentions an incident at the local Walmart.
White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico VERIFIED – Recalled as the place they just left. In the “rearview,” the restricted range – and the boys’ thwarted dreams inside it
Victorio Peak, New Mexico VERIFIED – Likewise in the rearview (figuratively). The peak is the “riches” that got away,
Sacramento Mountains, New Mexico VERIFIED –
*(All real Western locations.)

The Bandit Banquet

Tanque Verde Elementary School (Tucson, Arizona) VERIFIED –
Tanque Verde, Arizona VERIFIED – By extension, the community in which the school resides (Tucson’s Tanque Verde area)
Tucson VERIFIED –

Reluctant Roommates

Mount Lemmon, Arizona VERIFIED – A sky-island mountain in the Sonoran Desert north of Tucson. The chapter’s key memory is set on Mount Lemmon
Sonoran Desert, Arizona VERIFIED – The desert biome encompassing Tucson and Mount Lemmon’s base.
Tucson VERIFIED –
Colorado VERIFIED – only mentioned to compare the the area of Arizona to Colorado

The Lost Liberators

Agua Caliente Park, Arizona VERIFIED – A historic spring-fed oasis park in Tucson’s northeast (near Tanque Verde). The text explicitly names “Agua Caliente Park”.
Emily Gray Junior High School, Arizona VERIFIED – The middle school in Tucson that the narrator attended (mentioned by name).
The Oregon Trail VERIFIED – Referenced the computer game, but worth mentioning because of the the historical trail).
Tucson VERIFIED –
Tanque Verde Elementary School VERIFIED – Now named Emily Gray Junior High School

The Tender Tornado

(No distinct Western locale) – This chapter deals with the personalities of the narrator’s two grandmothers
*(No explicit place names to list.)

The Weepul Winners

Emily Gray Junior High School, Arizona VERIFIED – The junior high in Tucson is again the scene, as this chapter describes a school contest involving “Weepuls” (craft pom-pom toys). The name appears in the text along with the school.

The Minority Mix-up

Sabino High School, Arizona VERIFIED – The high school in northeast Tucson that the narrator attends, mentioned by name. The chapter revolves around a mix-up or misunderstanding at school (regarding the narrator’s ethnicity).

The Midnight Menace

Tucson VERIFIED –
Maricopa VERIFIED –

The Aft Assault

Grasshopper Valley, Montana VERIFIED – A valley in southwestern Montana (Beaverhead County) mentioned in the chapter. The story describes a fishing trip in this region
Grasshopper Creek, Montana VERIFIED – The creek running through Grasshopper Valley (famous as a gold discovery site in Montana history). It’s cited in the text.
Big Hole Valley, Montana VERIFIED – A neighboring broad valley in southwest Montana, also referenced. It situates the story geographically (Big Hole Valley is adjacent to Grasshopper Valley, known for ranching and history). Importance: Secondary (part of the regional setting mentioned in passing).
Pioneer Mountains, Montana VERIFIED – The mountain range overlooking Grasshopper and Big Hole valleys, named in the text. It provides the scenic backdrop for the tale. Importance: Secondary (contextual landscape).
Southwest Montana VERIFIED – Referenced as a general region (“Southwest Montana”) tying together all these locales. Importance: Mentioned-only (broad regional descriptor).
Bannack VERIFIED –
Polaris VERIFIED –

The Hatchback Hostage

(No distinct Western locale)
*(No individual place in the Western U.S. is highlighted aside from the generic reference.)

The Friendly Follies

University of Arizona VERIFIED –

The Beano Betrayal

(No specific Western locale) – This chapter is about an embarrassing incident (involving Beano, an anti-gas product)
*(No distinct Western location appears.)

Trailside Troubles

Comet Mountain, Montana VERIFIED – A mountain mentioned as casting its shadow since before the narrator was born.
Sawtooth Lake, Montana VERIFIED – A specific alpine lake cited in the chapter. The story involves a hike (perhaps an ill-fated one) to Sawtooth Lake.
Tucson VERIFIED –
Helena VERIFIED –
Dillon VERIFIED –

The Stormy Stakeout

(No specific named locale) – This chapter narrates a suspenseful “stakeout” during a storm

The Rod Race

Clark Canyon Reservoir, Montana VERIFIED – An important fishing spot southwest of Dillon, MT.
Red Rock River, Montana VERIFIED – The river that flows into Clark Canyon Reservoir
Rockies VERIFIED –
Idaho VERIFIED –
Montana VERIFIED –
Wyoming VERIFIED –
Southwest Montana VERIFIED –
Alcatraz VERIFIED –

The Living Legend

Montana VERIFIED – The chapter details Grandpa Wayne’s WWII heroics and subsequent recognition. Senator Conrad Burns (a U.S. Senator from Montana) is mentioned in connection with honoring Grandpa
Arizona VERIFIED –
Tucson VERIFIED –
Rincon mountain range VERIFIED –
Helena, Montana VERIFIED –

The Cable Conundrum

Puget Sound, Washington VERIFIED– The narrator’s life takes him to the Pacific Northwest at this point. “Puget Sound” is explicitly named, indicating he worked or lived in the Seattle area
Tucson VERIFIED –
Arizona VERIFIED –
Washington State VERIFIED –

The Obsession’s Oath

Rockies VERIFIED –

Grandma’s Hands

New Mexico VERIFIED – The chapter reflects on Grandma Posey
Alamagordo, New Mexico VERIFIED –
Tucson VERIFIED –
Patagonia VERIFIED –

The Bronze Beast

Novelty Hill?? VERIFIED – not sure what this is
Western Washington VERIFIED –

The Home Depot Hound

(No specific Western locale) – This is a light anecdote about Tucker the dog causing mischief in a Home Depot store.

The Curious Confluence

Yellowstone National Park (Northern range), Wyoming VERIFIED –
Boiling River VERIFIED –
Gardiner VERIFIED –
Devil’s Slide VERIFIED –
Hebgen Lake, Montana VERIFIED – Mentioned as one of the places he had scouted (“Hebgen Lake, and a handful of spots in Y…”). Hebgen Lake lies just outside Yellowstone in Montana.
Collected Works Bookstore VERIFIED –
Northern New Mexico VERIFIED –
New Mexico VERIFIED –
Santa Fe VERIFIED –
Gallatin River VERIFIED –
The Grand Tetons VERIFIED –
Taos Pueblo VERIFIED –
Ojo Caliente VERIFIED –

The Sleep Study

Tucsons outskirts VERIFIED –

The Derailed Duo

Bellevue VERIFIED –
California VERIFIED –

The Snout Scout

Upper Rio Grande, New Mexico VERIFIED – The great river of New Mexico is explicitly mentioned. The context suggests the narrator at one point tested Tucker
Rocky Mountains VERIFIED – Cited as the broad region of the treasure hunt (“somewhere in the Rocky Mountains north of Santa Fe”).
Colorado VERIFIED –
Texas VERIFIED –
*(Real locations; the Rio Grande and Rocky Mountains are genuine Western geography.)

The Jinxed Joint

Glacier National Park, Montana VERIFIED – The chapter title and content point to an ordeal during a hike in Glacier. The text explicitly names “Glacier National Park”.
Piegan Pass, Montana VERIFIED – A specific high mountain pass in Glacier Park, mentioned by name.
*(Real locations – Glacier Park and Piegan Pass are genuine. No fictional locales.)

The Grizzly Gathering

Blackfoot River, Montana VERIFIED – A river in western Montana cited in the chapter. The story involves a “gathering” of grizzlies or people in grizzly country. The Blackfoot River/Valley (made famous by A River Runs Through It) is where the narrator ventures,
Blackfoot Valley, Montana VERIFIED – Mentioned alongside the river, reinforcing the setting
North Fork of the Blackfoot, Montana VERIFIED – The text references “North Fork”, likely meaning the North Fork of the Blackfoot River, which leads into the Bob Marshall Wilderness.
Bob Marshall Wilderness, Montana VERIFIED – The vast wilderness area adjacent to Glacier Park, implied by mention of the North Fork
Ovando VERIFIED – where?
Notable: He talks about how this tributary flows slower than its southern cousin

The Treasure Trail

Iron Springs (Yellowstone), Wyoming VERIFIED –
Baker’s Hole Campground VERIFIED –
West Yellowstone VERIFIED – Specifically mentioned at top of chapter
Silver Gate VERIFIED –
Sawtooth Mountain VERIFIED –
Secret Valley VERIFIED –
Secret Valley creek VERIFIED –
Madison Crossing VERIFIED –
Madison River, Gibbon River, Firehole River (Yellowstone) VERIFIED – These rivers are mentioned as part of the journey to Iron Springs at dawn. The brothers travel along the Madison, then Gibbon and Firehole, retracing familiar steps. They are also part of the litany of search sites the narrator recounts.
Firehole Canyon, Wyoming VERIFIED – Listed as #1. Firehole Canyon among the narrator’s catalog of search spots. Firehole Canyon (in Yellowstone) was one of the first places he tried
Nine Mile Hole, Wyoming VERIFIED – Listed as #2. Nine Mile Hole.
Harlequin Lake, Wyoming VERIFIED – Listed as #3. Harlequin Lake, a small lake near the Madison roadside in Yellowstone.
“Highway Hole” (Yellowstone) VERIFIED – #4. Highway Hole appears to be the nickname of a search spot alongside a park road.
Iron Pipe (Yellowstone) VERIFIED – #5. Iron Pipe – another informal named spot the narrator tried.
Barns Hole, Montana/Wyoming VERIFIED – #6. Barns Hole – a well-known fishing hole on the Madison River (just inside Yellowstone, near the west boundary).
Nez Perce Creek, Wyoming VERIFIED – #7. Nez Perce Creek – a creek in Yellowstone’s Lower Geyser Basin that he also searched.
Sentinel Creek, Wyoming VERIFIED – #8. Sentinel Creek – another creek in Yellowstone (feeds the Firehole) that made his list of investigated spots.
(Iron Springs is #9 and already listed above as primary.) VERIFIED
Sinks Canyon, Wyoming – #10. Sinks Canyon VERIFIED – a location outside Yellowstone in Wyoming’s Wind River Mountains (the Popo Agie River “sinks” near Lander, WY).
Stevenson Island, Wyoming VERIFIED – #11. Stevenson Island – an island in Yellowstone Lake. Another location the narrator had considered

The Probability Paradox

Madison River, Yellowstone VERIFIED – Referenced as “The Madison” when the brothers speak about their searches. It symbolizes all the days spent along that river chasing the treasure.
Nine Mile Hole, Wyoming VERIFIED – Brought up again as a centerpiece of their efforts (many “X’s on the map” were at Nine Mile Hole

The Redington Requiem

Sonoran Desert, Arizona VERIFIED – This chapter returns to the Southwest. The text explicitly mentions the “Sonoran Desert”.
Redington Mountains VERIFIED –

The Treasure (Epilogue)

(No new location) – In the closing section, the narrator doesn’t reveal a new setting. Instead, he summarizes the treasure’s fate and the fact that he hid a new trove “in a spot that’s dear to my heart

The Dubious Decision (Postscript)

(Not applicable – outside U.S.) – This chapter actually shifts to an event involving the Canadian border (Waterton Lakes in Alberta, with Akamina Parkway and Cameron Lake). Those are outside the scope of “American West,” so they are not included in our list. The chapter does not feature American West locations.

The Mountain Memory (Postscript)

(No location given) – A reflective piece with no specific Western place named. It’s an introspective closure with metaphorical language.

The Legal Lowdown (Postscript)

(No location given) – A discussion of legalities, not tied to a new locale. (It likely implicitly concerns Wyoming law since Fenn’s treasure was found in Wyoming, but the text doesn’t name Wyoming directly in the excerpt.)

Beyond the Map’s Edge
Can you find what lives in time,
Flowing through each measured rhyme?
Wisdom waits in shadowed sight—
For those who read these words just right.

As hope surges, clear and bright,
Walk near waters’ silent flight.
Round the bend, past the Hole,
I wait for you to cast your pole.

In ursa east his realm awaits;
His bride stands guard at ancient gates.
Her foot of three at twenty degree,
Return her face to find the place.

Double arcs on granite bold,
Where secrets of the past still hold.
Beyond the reach of time’s swift race,
Wonder guards this sacred space.

Truth rests not in clever minds,
Not in tangled, twisted finds.
Like a river’s steady flow—
What you seek, you already know.