Locations Unknown
Welcome to Locations Unknown, a podcast that dives into the mysteries of America's wilderness. Join hosts Mike & Joe as they explore the stories of those who have vanished without a trace in some of the country's most remote and treacherous landscapes. In each episode, we uncover the details of these disappearances, examine the investigations that followed, and discuss theories about what might have happened. From national parks to remote deserts, our journey takes you to the heart of the unknown, shedding light on the eerie and unexplainable. Tune in and discover that, sometimes, the wilderness holds more than just beauty—it...
Episodes
Crime Off the Grid Meets Locations Unknown
We’ve got a special episode for you this week! Joe and I recently joined the podcast Crime Off the Grid to dive into three fascinating cases alongside two former law enforcement park rangers. Since we’re out of the office, we’re excited to …
Mount Washington Cold Cases
Towering at 6,288 feet in the White Mountains, Mount Washington—home to world-record 231 mph winds and brutal weather—draws millions with its historic Auto Road, rare alpine plants, and extreme spring skiing. While most enjoy its trails and…
Austin King - Yellowstone National Park - Wyoming
September 17th, 2024 a young adventurer embarked on a solo seven-day trek through rugged, isolated terrain fraught with grizzlies, sudden storms, and treacherous cliffs. Amid fog, sleet, and howling winds, he reached the summit of Eagle Pea…
From the Vault - Daniel Robinson - Sonoran Desert - Arizona
We're away this week putting the finishing touches on our new studio, but we'll be back with a brand-new episode on August 8th! Until then, please enjoy a classic from the vault: "Daniel Robinson - Sonoran Desert - Arizona." We've remastere…
From the Vault - Grand Canyon Cold Cases
We're out of the office this week putting the finishing touches on the new studio! We'll be back with all-new shows the first week of August. Until then, enjoy a classic from the vault: "Grand Canyon Cold Cases." It's the episode that kicke…
From the Vault - Glacier National Park Cold Cases
While we're away getting our new studio up and running, please enjoy one of our favorite episodes on Glacier National Park Cold Cases, complete with newly edited audio to make your listening experience even better. Side note, this was the …
Robert Schock - North Cascades National Park - Washington
July 31 2024, a 39-year-old ultrarunner vanished in the rugged North Cascades National Park during a 20-mile trail run. Minimally equipped, he became disoriented on wildfire-altered trails, surviving 30 days on berries and river water. Desp…
Aubrey Sacco - Langtang National Park - Nepal
April 2010, a young American backpacker set out alone on a trek through Nepal’s scenic Langtang Valley. She was last seen confidently hiking along a popular trail but then vanished without a trace. Despite exhaustive searches, not a single …
Joseph Wood Jr - Mount Rainier National Park - Washington
In July 1999, a 34-year-old book editor from New York set out for a day hike near Comet Falls in Mount Rainier National Park. Despite clear skies, he left the main trail and entered rugged, snow-covered terrain. When he never returned, an e…
Jacob Gray - Olympic National Park - Washington
April 6th, 2017, a lone cyclist sets out into Washington’s Olympic wilderness, towing a trailer packed with camping gear and determination. Days later, park rangers found the bike and gear abandoned on a remote road, but no sign of the trav…
King Arthur: In Search of the Lost King
It’s the 6th century, Britain’s a chaotic mess—Roman rule’s gone, Saxons are invading, and a warrior king fights his last battle. Then, poof—he’s gone, whisked away to a mysterious place called Avalon, never to be seen again. Did this King…
Park Rangers Unplugged: Tasers, Trails, and True Crime
Join us this week for a great conversation with Tara and Nancy, retired Yellowstone National Park law enforcement Rangers and hosts of Crime Off the Grid. They share unforgettable experiences from their careers, from intense encounters invo…
Checking in w/ Danielle & Cassie from National Park After Dark
On April 23rd, 2025, we hosted a nearly five-hour livestream to celebrate our current studio, which we'll be leaving later this spring due to upcoming building renovations. During the event, we interviewed Danielle and Cassie from National …
Larry Conn - Kings Canyon National Park - California
In October 2012, an experienced hiker vanished amid an early-season snowstorm near California's remote Taboose Pass. Despite extensive search efforts hindered by brutal terrain, freezing temperatures, and blinding whiteouts, rescuers found …
Bryce Gillies - Grand Canyon National Park - Arizona
July 18 2009, a seasoned backpacker set off alone into the rugged wilderness of Arizona’s Grand Canyon National Park. Facing scorching heat, limited water, and treacherous terrain, he soon found himself trapped in a remote canyon far from h…
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Cold Cases
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park draws millions each year, captivated by its stunning beauty and volcanic wonders. But beneath its dramatic landscapes lie stories of visitors who've gone missing without a trace. This week, we explore cold cas…
Thelma Polly Melton - Great Smoky Mountains National Park
On September 25, 1981, a 58-year-old woman mysteriously vanished while hiking a familiar Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains. Moments after walking ahead of her friends, she disappeared without a trace. Strange behaviors leading up to that d…
Lost in Yosemite - The Disappearance of Joel Thomazin
In September 2021, an experienced outdoorsman, vanished mysteriously during a solo hike in Yosemite's rugged Hetch Hetchy wilderness. Last seen above O’Shaughnessy Dam, he intended to fish at remote Lake Eleanor. Despite massive searches, n…
Lost Hunter: Ronald Gray's disappearance in Idaho's Bitterroot Wilderness
On September 19, 2008, Ronald Scott Gray, a seasoned 62-year-old retired Marine and Massachusetts State Police captain, vanished during an elk hunt in Idaho’s rugged Selway-Bitterroot wilderness. Despite extensive survival training, he disa…
Into Thin Air: The Vanishing of Wesley Wamsganz in the Adirondacks
November 20th, 2010—As darkness fell on Lake Placid New York, a 22-year-old hiker set off into the High Peaks Wilderness after his shift at The Downtown Diner. Several hiking parties spotted him in his green Carhartt jacket before vanishing…
Mystery in the Valley: Kyle Brittain’s Disappearance on Hawaii’s Big Island
On August 30, 2019, an experienced hiker set out along the steep, treacherous Z Trail on Hawaii's Big Island. When he failed to return, massive search efforts were stymied by thick jungles, towering cliffs, and sudden downpours—and no clues…
Gone in Alaska Part 3: The Mysterious Disappearance of Thomas Seibold
Survivalist and skilled outdoorsman Thomas Seibold left a homestead cabin in October 2012, bound for the vast expanse of Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve for what was supposed to be a brief adventure. Instead, he was never see…
Special Release: Fan Voicemail reactions - Part 9
Hey friends! Since Joe & I are off this week and next week, we thought it would be fun to release our latest members only voicemail episode. If you like this kind of content and want to support the show, you can become a Patreon member fo…
Vanished: The Mystery of Percy Fawcett & The Lost City of Z
Deep in the uncharted reaches of the Brazilian rainforest lies one of exploration’s most enduring riddles. In 1925, a daring British explorer ventured there with two companions in search of a lost city that might reshape history. Then, on t…
Lost in the Grand Canyon: The Mystery of Glen & Bessie Hyde
A young, adventurous couple embarks on a bold mission in 1928: to conquer the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon and claim two record-breaking feats. The newlyweds pilot a handmade wooden scow down the rushing waters, navigating rugged…
Legends from the Wild: Stone Hunts, Shadows Stalk, and Vines Devour
Join us this week as we explore the chilling legends lurking in America’s wilderness and beyond. We’ll travel to the misty trails of a famed national park where a cunning, stone-skinned predator once terrorized the locals. Then, we head nor…
Denali’s Magic Bus: The Epic Quest and Tragic End of Christopher McCandless
In the early 1990's, a young man's quest for freedom leads him to abandon society, hitchhike across America, and live in the Alaskan wilderness. His journey, inspired by literary ideals, ends tragically in an abandoned bus shrouded in myste…
A Canyon of Secrets: The Jim Carter Disappearance
On May 23, 1950, a skilled mountaineer vanished near Ape Canyon in Washington’s Gifford Pinchot National Forest. That morning, he split from his ski party to photograph them from a different vantage point—but never returned. Despite intense…
Lost in the Northwoods: The Vanishing of Andrew Bliss
On June 20, 2003, a young man abandoned his car on a remote Wisconsin forest road and vanished without a trace. In the days before, he’d quit his job, withdrawn thousands in cash, and displayed strange, erratic behavior. Despite extensive s…
Gone in Alaska Part 2: A Tale of Three Richards missing in the Alaskan Wilderness
A year has passed since Richard Lyman Griffis stepped off a bus in the Yukon and vanished into the vast wilderness of Wrangell–St. Elias National Park. But he wasn’t the only man named Richard to go missing in Alaska’s unforgiving backcount…
Haunted Peaks: The Unsolved Vanishings of Australia’s Victorian Alps
Australia’s high country glows with raw beauty and deep mystery, overshadowed by a long history of unsolved disappearances. Even the most seasoned explorers—hardened hikers and skilled hunters—have vanished here without a trace, leaving beh…
Who Runs This Park Interviews Joe & Mike
In this special episode of Locations Unknown, Maddie from Who Runs This Park interviews us on a wide range of topics. Our conversation covered a behind the scenes look at everything that goes into Locations Unknown, the cases that stay wit…
Missing on Mt. of the Holy Cross in Colorado: The Mysterious Disappearance of Michelle Vanek
A fitness enthusiast and mother of four, Michelle Vanek, 35, set out to conquer Colorado’s Mount of the Holy Cross in 2005. Straying onto the grueling Halo Ridge Route, Michelle faced fatigue, high-altitude sickness, and frigid temperatures…
Special Release - Fan Voicemail reactions - Part 8
Enjoy this special release from our members only content. In this episode, we react to all the voicemails we've received since February 2024. This is a sample of the content we provide if you subscribe on Patreon, YouTube, Apple, or Sprea…
Ghosts of the Arctic - The Haunting Mystery of Franklin's Lost Expedition
In 1845, Sir John Franklin led 129 men on HMS Erebus and HMS Terror into the Arctic, vanishing without a trace and sparking one of history’s most haunting mysteries. This Halloween, we explore the eerie legacy of the Franklin Expedition: gh…
Gone in Alaska: The Mysterious Disappearance of François Guenot in Katmai National Park
Join us this week for the first of a Special Mini Series, 'Gone In Alaska'.June 19, 2014, on a desolate stretch of island beach in Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska, a battered red and white kayak, a map, journals, full bags of ri…
Veteran Park Ranger Vanishes in Chiricahua National Monument
On a quiet afternoon in January 1980, veteran park ranger Paul Fugate set out on a routine patrol in Arizona's Chiricahua National Monument, promising to return shortly. He was never seen again. Despite extensive searches, not a single tr…
26-Year-Old Leo Wagner Disappears Near Glacier National Park
April 27th, 2021, In the shadow of Glacier National Park, on the rugged shores of Lower St. Mary Lake, a 26-year-old vanished under mysterious circumstances. What began as a typical spring evening quickly spiraled into one of Montana’s most…
Hunter Tom Leonard Disappears in Canada’s Remote Spatsizi Plateau
On September 11, 2005, experienced outdoorsman and hunter, Tom Leonard, embarked on what was supposed to be the adventure of a lifetime. Armed with a rare, limited-entry permit to hunt sheep in the remote and rugged Spatsizi Plateau Wildern…
The Mount Asahidake SOS Incident - Japan
July 24th, 1989: The police in Hokkaido, Japan dispatched a helicopter to the Daisetsuzan National Park to search for two lost hikers that had been reported missing. The searchers rescued the two hikers but what brought them to their locati…