Sycamore Spring Ruins, AZ

Overview: The Miami-Globe area is an example of the importance of mining in Arizona. By 1910, Arizona was leading the country in copper production, nearly 65 percent. Nearly 25 percent of wage earners in Arizona were involved in the copper industry.


History: The five C's of Arizona refers to the resources that led to Arizona becoming a state in 1912. Those resources are, Cattle, Citrus, Climate, Copper, and Cotton. Around 1910 dramatic changes were taking place in refining. The Inspiration mine in Miami was developing a process to use acid to leach the copper out of the ore, and to use open pit mining. This process is evident and still in use today. In expanding operations little consideration was given to historic ruins, whether Indian or Pioneer, or to sacred places such as burial grounds.

Hike: Tucked away, behind mountains of mining tailings are rock walls on a large scale, indicating many separate structures. After driving 6.2 miles on FR 287B you have passed ongoing operations at the Phelps Dodge mining operation. Pull over to the shoulder and look down in the creek and above on the north side of the road. You will be able to see the rock walls from this location. Binoculars would help getting an overview before heading down. You can enter or exit from this location but I suggest not to park here. This is an active mining area with heavy equipment using this narrow road. Now that you have your bearings, drive another one third mile to the next turn off to your left and park. Like all other roads in this area, it is unmarked.

Take the rocky wash immediately on your left on an interesting bushwhack back to the ruins. The rocky wash drains down to a more vegitation chocked wash that usually has water running in it from Sycamore Spring. Take this wash to the left and head upstream about one third of a mile. Soon you will see the rock walls ahead of you. On your left up a hill is a large rock cairn, this is your exit back to the road and down the road to your vehicle. The best access to the ruins is to get up the embankment prior to the walls. Look up on the right and watch for a path going up the embankment behind you and up to a large old alligator juniper at the top. Your first ruins are at this location. Now you can easily find paths to at least a dozen walled structures in various states of condition. As you examine the large circular ruin with 5 foot walls you may notice a mining core sample steel shaft in the middle. Further observation shows to get the machinery in, they simply knocked the walls down and pushed the rocks to the side. Don't stop here, continue on and up the hillside and discover the other ruins hidden in and around the plentiful Manzanita that are getting a stronghold on the area. Long pants are suggested. Although this is a short hike, the bushwhack makes it slow going and if there is any Inspector Clouseau in you, you will want to spend some time investigating the possibilities of this settlement.

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2008-04-08 AZLOT69