Camp Bird Mine, AZ

Camp Bird Mine was an underground Au-Ag-Pb ( gold silver lead ) mine in Yavapai County, between Wagoner and Minnehaha ... and that's all I can find out. Even mindat.org does not have more info than the mineral listing. The mine 'complex' consists of an old cabin, a metal tank / dry well / collapsed windmill, a possible grave, and at least four adits (only two marked on the topo).


The most recent graffiti in the cabin dates back to 1990. It looks like the most recent occupants were bees, and even they have abandoned it.Two of the adits are collapsed and non-penetrable. A second might possibly be entered, but there are about seven feet of overburden in front of the entrance, and it did not look safe to drop over the side even for a peek up the tunnel. The final adit can be easily and safely entered but only goes back about 10 feet before the remainder is collapsed. (I thought at first it was a cave, but timbers inside suggested otherwise.)

The hills are covered with stabby things, especially catclaw, but can mostly be negotiated by following old footpaths/animal trails. After checking out the adits, you can either double back to the trailhead, or side slope to Ridges Spring (which has an obvious trail out the back/east side), then down to Wagoner Rd., or cut across a relatively open saddle to Paxton Place, making a loop / fuller day.

The only shade on the hike is by Camp Bird Well and Adit #3 (the one you can safely enter). Otherwise, it is completely exposed. On a hot day, the sun will be brutal. SPF recommended.

2015-07-17 kingsnake