Entry No. 44 — the Phoenix file — filed under: abandoned mine

Sunflower Mine

Discovered in 1911 by E.H. Bowman while searching for gold, the Sunflower Mine became a major mercury producer in the Mazatzal Mountains, operating until 1982. The site once featured a large processing facility that roasted cinnabar ore in rotary kilns to extract liquid mercury. Today, while a 2012 wildfire and subsequent Forest Service cleanups destroyed or removed most wooden structures, visitors can still see remnants of heavy metal machinery and sealed mine shafts along the rugged trail.

The move: Take a rugged 4x4 off-road drive or hike along Forest Road 25A to reach the canyon, where you can safely photograph the remaining heavy metal mining equipment and enjoy the scenic mountain views.

📍 Before you go The surrounding trail is a public Forest Service road, but the mine shafts themselves have been sealed for safety, and entering any remaining structures is highly dangerous due to decay and potential toxic contamination.

• 📍 Sunflower Mine
• 💸 Free
• ⚡ Low-key
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: Sunflower Mine, Arizona 85263, USA

Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: azoffroad.net · funtreks.com · trailsoffroad.com

last checked: 2026-07-20