Tonto Creek and the Pittsburgh Tonto Mine

Directions: From the Mesa take Highway 87 to Highway 188. Stay on Highway 188 for 3.3 miles and your going to turn left on Forest Road 649 for .5 miles where you will turn right on Forest Road 184. This road is rough and would require a high clearance 4WD. I parked here and hiked because I wanted a good hike for the dogs and I'm not that confident in my off roading skills. The coordinates for the mine (34°00'01.3"N 111°17'43.5"W)

Dog Friendly: Yes, I went in August and Tonto Creek was flowing and there were large swimming areas. This would be an ideal hike for late fall, winter and early spring. We left early and it was hot on the trip back (95 degrees when we got back to the truck). There are two significant uphills so make sure you're packing enough water for the climb out of Tonto Creek. Know yourself and your dogs, heat kills. Also there are cows, so if your dogs like to chase them, probably want to keep them leashed.

The hike to Tonto Creek wasn't the most exciting terrain but the creek itself and the canyon it flows

Howlie and Ronin standing guard at a prospect

through was great. There were several large pools deep enough for the dogs to have to swim. I kept my boots dry until we came to a point where I had to wade through waist deep water to keep going to the mine. In August the water was great, I'd imagine it would be a little chilly in December.

Adit partially filled with sand

The Pittsburgh Tonto Mine was a gold mine established in 1942. It wasn't right on the creek but up on the steep side of the canyon; however, it was easy to spot because there was a cable running from other side of the creek to the mine. I don't know for sure if it was part of the original mine as way to get the ore to the other side of Tonto Creek. I climbed up to an adit that was partially full of sand. The surrounding rock was highly mineralized and colorful. I did not make it up to the other workings. The canyon walls were steep but did not require climbing gear. I was going to keep going but Ronin didn't like being left and came up with me. I knew getting down was going to be hard enough without a 110 pound ridgeback scrambling around with me. I am definitely coming back when it cools off, without the dogs.

Exploring Copper Butte On a Mountain Bike

Heed This Warning!!

Directions: Copper Butte is located off of Battle Axe Road which is 12 miles South of US 60 on Highway 177. You're going to stay on Battle Axe until you reach a locked gate. Becareful, at about 1.9 miles you'll come to a fork, stay to the right for Copper Butte. The other road takes you to the White Canyon Wilderness, which is pretty cool as well.

Dog Friendly: Nah, wouldn't take my dogs here. No water unless it rains and the pits fill up.

Copper Butte is the location for the Copper Butte Mine (clever name), which is a copper mine, duh. They also mined silica and small amounts of gold and silver. The area was discovered in the early 1900s and was mine until the 1970s by various companies. At one point there was a 400 foot inclined shaft and a 114 foot vertical shaft that led to a 700 foot tunnel. There were also several pits of various sizes. When I went this weekend I found what may have been an inclined shaft with debris pushed up against the opening. I climbed to the top of the debris and could see into the opening. I couldn't tell how deep it was and based on the condition of the opening of the mine I wouldn't go into the mine. If you go don't be fooled by what looks like some interesting adits from a distance both are extremely shallow.

Both of these looked enticing from afar but we're shallow.

The surrounding area is amazing. I had wanted to explore Copper Butte since I went to explore some small canyon's near Battle Axe Butte. The views from Hwy 177 are great and they're even better from Copper Butte. It's rugged and beautiful place but it's the desert. It was cool for August when I arrived but it was still hot as hell. I never would have brought the dogs. I was little worried about myself and I'm pretty used to the heat. There was definitely more to explore but saw most of the main mine workings. I don't know if I'll come back to Copper Butte, if I do it will be in December. I am going to come back to explore the White Canyon Wilderness.

Battle Axe Butte viewed from Copper Butte

I brought my bike because I knew about the locked gate. I've used my bike for exploration before because I lift it over fences. Plus for Reymert and Bellevue it was great because there was a lot of climbing and even though there were times when I had to push it uphill, it more than made up for on the way down. Copper Butte was a practical MTB ride but not a great ride by any means.

No Sleep til...Brooklyn Basin

Directions: I'm not going to give exact directions. Brooklyn Basin Mine and Ghost Town are several miles off of Bloody Basin Road in the Aqua Fria National Monument. This drive does require a 4wd and it was the first time that I would have been stuck without one. I was able to drive to within 1 mile of the mine but didn't trust the road at that point. I probably could have made it further but the road was severely eroded in places. This area was affected by the Goodwin Fire and the roads will be affected.

Brooklyn Basin was established as a town in 1907. There was a main building that served as boarding house for the miners that worked at the mine as well as several smaller buildings and residences. The walls for the boarding house is still there, as well as a chimney from a house. The chimney was made from rocks from the mine, you can see copper in some of quartz in the rocks. The house was reportedly made from wood and when it was purchased after the mine was abandoned, it was torn down and the lumber used in another nearby town. There are more rusty cans than I've seen at any other site, they're everywhere, in the town and near the mine. I think part of it might be the fire clearing all the brush.

The Brooklyn Basin Mine was a copper, gold and silver mine. There was some belief that it was going to be one of the most productive copper mines in the world, this didn't pan out and the mine was eventually closed. I found two shafts but neither of the them were very deep. I read that the main shaft was 400 feet and the tailings pile makes that seem likely. It's possible that it collapsed or was capped and back filled at some point, although it's still 50 feet deep or so.

In addition to the mine and town, there are remnants of an Native American Pueblo. Pueblos were built from rock and mortar but the only thing left at this point are piles of rock. There are ruins in the area that can be accessed from Bloody Basin Road.

Four Peaks (Brown's Trail)

Directions: Take Highway 87 to Four Peaks Rd which is about 4.5 miles from Bush Highway. Keep on this road until you reach you reach Pigeon Springs Rd on your right. You will stay on this until the road ends at the trail head.

Dog Friendly: So-so but know your dog and know the weather. I didn't take mine because even though it was in the upper 70s, I knew this would be a tough hike for me and didn't want to pack that much water. These are popular trails and I'd keep them leashed. Besides other trail users, this is a rugged wilderness with predators that would love an easy snack.

The Peaks shrouded in clouds

This isn't really the type trail I'd normally include in by blog but it's an Arizona Icon. I have so may shots of the Goldfields or Superstitions with this mountain looming in the background. I've been up there a couple of times but only had one really short hike. It's an awesome place with plenty or trails and the views are stellar. On Brown's Trail you get alternating views of the Valley and Roosevelt Lake to the Sierra Anchas. It's all single trek through a variety of vegetation. The area suffered a wild fire a few years ago but there are still some of the original pines in some areas. At the end of the trail it becomes more difficult and you have to scramble over some rocks if you want to keep going.

If this trail doesn't interest you or don't really like hiking it's worth the drive. A two wheel drive with decent clearance can make it up from highway 87. If you want an easier road but a longer drive, take Highway 188 to El Oso Rd on the East side of Four Peaks.

The view looking toward the Valley

Richmond Basin, Another Arizona Ghost Town

Directions: From Mesa we traveled US 60 into Globe to turn North on Highway 188.  From there you're going to turn on Wheatfields Rd after about 4.5 miles. After another 1.8 miles turn right on North Hicks Rd. Travel about 2.4 miles and make a left hand turn onto FR 219. This traverses private property but the owner is allowing access at this time. There's some sign in scrapes of paper at the gate. After approximately 1.8 miles make a right onto Richmond Basin Rd which is FR220. You'll hit the ruins and mine after about 6.5 miles.

Dog Friendly: Normally I would never suggest taking dogs around mines but this area was fairly safe. I would still keep them leashed. There maybe water in the winter and spring but there was no water in July.

Richmond Basin was a small town established in 1890 to support the silver mine. I've seen information that the mine and town we're active until as late as 1930, there are many shafts in the area and based on tailings this was an extensively mined area. That said, this is an area where history has been almost completely sanitized for the sake of public safety.

Thank Goodness all the shafts had cages on them!

I worked for the Arizona State Mine Inspector as college intern in an abandoned mine safety program. I understand the danger that mines pose to the public but it's still sad to see the structures and mine workings that are a century old completely eliminated or barred off with doors, caps, foam, etc. Richmond Basin was made safe by placing futuristic space "cages" over the top of the mine opening. I've never seen anything like it. All the head frames are gone and really all that's left is the pile of debris from one of the old house, some rock walls and foundations.

Looking down in one of the shafts

Overall this trip was a major disappointment. Richmond Basin is almost an invisible ghost town but the landscape made the trip worthwhile, kind of.  There were some stellar views of Roosevelt Lake, Four Peaks and Globe-Miami. The FR 220 was in really good shape and a high clearance vehicle could probably make it. FR 219 is in wash and depending on the weather a 2wd could have trouble in deep sand or gravel. FR 220 is very narrow and really exposed in places, so if you have a fear of heights...don't look over the edge.

Magma Mine Building

I've been on Highway 60 through Queen Creek Canyon more times than I can count since I was kid. It's always been a fascinating place with the steep rock walls, hoodoos and remnants of the one of the most productive mining areas in the country. One thing in particular always caught my eye, high on top of a ridge right before the Queen Creek Tunnel. It was just an old metal building with what looked like an old head frame next to it. Still, for years I wondered what that building held and what the view was like from up there. The climb looked steep but no more steep than what I usually hike. I think part of it was I knew I'd hike up there and it would be an empty warehouse filled with graffiti and junk.

Yesterday, I got out of work early and decided it was day to get up that ridge. The hike up was easier than I expected, there was an old, weathered road that led to the top. The building itself was bigger than looked from below and it was not disappointing. Far from empty, it was filled with machinery from the mining boom that ran from the late 1800s to 1890. This building housed motors for either the aerial tram or the hoist house for Magma Mine. The machinery was excellent condition and the smell of grease permeated air. The structure that looked like a head frame was part of the tram or hoist system. It was impressive.

The road kept going to the west side of the ridge to another old building that may have been a transformer house and excellent views of the rest of the Magma Mine workings, such as the cooling tower and smelter. This property is now part of the Resolution Copper Mine.

Note: I did not give exact directions for this hike because there are dangers to being around mines and abandoned buildings. I also know this blog is for hikes that are dog friendly (this one is not) or mountain biking but I also have interest in Arizona mining history and the Superior/Oak Flat Area. I admire the hard work and ingenuity of the early miners. I still hate to think about losing Oak Flat to another copper mine.

Reymert Ghost Town

Processing Kilns at Reymart

Directions: I'm not going to provide the directions I used to get to Reymert. Try the route in Google Maps, which will have you take the US 60 to N. Mineral Mountain Rd and then to N. Reymert Rd.

Dog Friendly: Not in the summer. There's a lot cactus and off road vehicles that use these roads.

Reymert is another mining town in the Superior area. All that's left is a few foundations and a couple of processing kilns. I road my mountain bike and as usual bit off more than I should have. I left in the late afternoon to avoid the heat and ended up making a brutal climb in the dark. The country is rugged and steep. Reymert Rd is located in a wash. Since I came in from the East, I'm not sure how the road is coming in from Mineral Mountain Rd from the west. I don't think there are many people who have ridden a bike to this ghost town.

It was still a good adventure and always interesting to see some Arizona history. Reymert was founded in 1890 to support the Reymert Silver Mine.