ATV 25

I noticed a large area covered with mines W-S-W of Payson AZ. I never hear anyone talk about these mines. Funny how sometimes the best places are the obvious ones that no one ever goes to. Some of the best places I have found are the ones no one talks about. If everyone knows about it ,it’s sometimes not worth going to.

As soon as I started going down the road I spotted this sweet trail going up to what looked like Snowstorm Mountain. The road was steep but not dangerous steep. I am alone on this ride

It was one mountain top over from Snowstorm Mountain but a great view anyway.

From high on the mountainside I could see the trail I wanted to proceed to the mines. It was actually lucky I made the side trip or I may have ended up hunting for an access road that I could have easily missed. The trail was steep but not dangerously steep even for a person with little riding experience.

I know it’s not a good idea to ride alone but sometimes a guy just needs to be out and smell the air
,,, by himself.

I located the 1st mine on my list “Silver King Mine”. Some remnants remain of the past operation, OK it’s a little pile of wood. I’m not sure if this was open pit type mining or if there was a shaft that has been filled in? blow up? cleaned up?

This next area may have been a mining claim? “Peacho Mine” It is located in a really nice low lying area. There is some wash / creek areas that seem to come together here. I guess a person could dig or pan gold ?

It really doesn’t make a difference what I find. I am riding and enjoying it,,, a lot !

The next mine I was hopping to find was the “Golden Wonder Mine” again I see to visible mine or a road/ path to get to it. Most likely this was a mining claim. The “Maggie Mine” was the next on the list, obviously an open pit type operation. This had one of those heaps of dirt that ATVs just roll over. This one was especially built like a tank trap with a deep ditch on the other side. If you rolled over it you would nose into the pit on the back side. Guess they don’t want anyone in here. LOL

The “Callahan Mine” shaft was visible and looked like someone filled in the entrance except for a tiny slot. The slot looked big enough to slip through,, but not me. Judging by the tailings this was a fairly large excavation. No sign of any buildings or foundations were easily identified.

Sorry I’m not sure where this is. I think it is the “Single Standard Mine”. So many of the MINES (?) in this area appear to be mining claims. A few with remnants may have been cleaned up and made safe due to it’s proximity to Payson. If you are looking for mine shafts and mill structures this isn’t the place. (These may be good places for metal detecting) But anyway I had a nice day and answered the question “What’s over there ? “ ,,,,, Nothing,,, but I wasn't home sitting on the couch !

How is this for a staging area? At the park in Payson, didn’t even get my truck dirty,,,,, SWEET !