Exploring Arizona Abandoned Mines: Big Eye Mine

Exploring Arizona Abandoned Mines: Big Eye Mine

The Big Eye Mine and its cabin remain a very popular hiking and jeeping destination in the far reaches of the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge and its Castle Dome Mountains in Yuma County, Arizona. This particular video of my documentation and exploration of Arizona’s Big Eye Mine was originally filmed and posted in August of 2012. I am re-posting the same video again after making some minor edits for continuity and running time. This video highlights the well-maintained cabin, the many various artifacts in it, and provides some history behind the mine. I also explore and document the main Big Eye Mine tunnel as well as an upper level higher on the mountain. Enjoy this fascinating glimpse back into our mining history!

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50 Comments

  1. angela diaz on February 27, 2022 at 9:42 am

    Cool I take a artifact for a souvenir from there

  2. Michael Allen on February 27, 2022 at 9:44 am

    I used to go here when i was a kid in the early eighties. An elderly couple use to stay here and take care of the place for Pauline. I can remember being in the mine. Believe it or not the place looks exactly the same.

  3. Tthe survivalist on February 27, 2022 at 9:44 am

    you can find an image of author Rogers and a bit of history

  4. My Mystical Nature on February 27, 2022 at 9:48 am

    hey. new subscriber here. I wonder where to start…Is there an order I could follow? Do you have a playlist with all your videos that can be watch in order??? So older to newer, and not the opposite like most people do? THanks

  5. BoatyMcBoatFace • 45 years ago on February 27, 2022 at 9:50 am

    I used to live in Yuma, the desert trails were always cool to walk around, the areas rich in mines.

  6. dbache on February 27, 2022 at 9:51 am

    Beautiful scenery🌵🌄. That extensive stope must have been a quality ore/gold seam. I haven’t seen this video. I will have to check out your other earlier vids👍.

  7. ThePsychonaut on February 27, 2022 at 9:51 am

    Wow! did not expect the inside of tbose cabins to be so well preserved! It looks like it was painted last week, almost like time traveling.

  8. Fox Racing on February 27, 2022 at 9:53 am

    i live in yuma,az and have been to big eye mine hundreds of times… Good review… There is a mine in Salome, Az you should check out….Would be great to see your review on it

  9. Benjamin Stafford on February 27, 2022 at 9:54 am

    Thank you for posting! we were here several months ago and could not find the entrance! partly due to time constraints as we had to get rental car back to PHX by later in the day so we were in a bit of a rush…now we know and we will certainly be back someday soon. Curious if you’ve done any exploration in the Madera Canyon area?

  10. RJDCR on February 27, 2022 at 9:59 am

    thanx Frank…..very kool vid…….History

  11. Mike 1958 on February 27, 2022 at 9:59 am

    What would happen if you were in a gold mine that was supposedly mined out. In the process of exploring you find a fresh vein of gold. Who’s property does it fall to, you, or the former owners or the BLM ? I find it hard to believe that the West has been completely mined out when you have mines like the Bingham Canyon Mine in Utah that have been in existence for over hundred plus year and no signs of ending. I understand there are place in the U.S. where silver and gold are still being mined. Granted some of these mines are digging hundreds of tons of ore just to get one, two or three bars of 24k gold bullion. Just curious?

  12. Niklas on February 27, 2022 at 10:03 am

    Now while in quarantine im binge watching your videos its so good 😀

  13. chill3n456 on February 27, 2022 at 10:03 am

    Wtf. That abandoned cabin is in better condition than my apartment. How much for rent?

  14. NickyViola on February 27, 2022 at 10:05 am

    Don’t get down to Yuma County often. When you say it is a "very popular destination" does that mean there will be like a couple dozen hikers there if I go on a weekend, or what?

    Good video.

  15. Lisaa on February 27, 2022 at 10:06 am

    Cabin is nice would be a great place and area to live.

  16. Stephen Rader on February 27, 2022 at 10:09 am

    I’m surprised that the cabin didn’t look that bad

  17. AAGR on February 27, 2022 at 10:10 am

    #hantavirus

  18. Steve Wright on February 27, 2022 at 10:10 am

    I know this old video.that old cabin in good shape.

  19. Vegas Cycling Freak on February 27, 2022 at 10:11 am

    How would they get water in these remote and very arid areas?

  20. Amos Maclin on February 27, 2022 at 10:12 am

    Cool

  21. Beryl M. Wright on February 27, 2022 at 10:14 am

    Amazing video

  22. lee sherman on February 27, 2022 at 10:17 am

    Model A Ford parts in the early section of vid.

  23. xXMC84Xx on February 27, 2022 at 10:18 am

    Hi I was wondering where you guys get the coordinates for some of these mines in Arizona or do you just know people who know where they are??

  24. Amona Maria on February 27, 2022 at 10:19 am

    Superstitious mountains of dead Giants from Noah’s flood.

  25. Anthony W Stanton on February 27, 2022 at 10:20 am

    An excellent video sir! I am pleased to see the vandals haven’t destroyed another piece of history!

  26. grandprismatic on February 27, 2022 at 10:21 am

    On a re watching binge Frank…. thanks for the videos as per usual. Remember the *Right Hand Rule*
    cmcrescue.com
    ~B

  27. 🏴‍☠️Sarah Gold on February 27, 2022 at 10:21 am

    Clean building. Silly, but love the desert 🌵 look. Here’s the silly part… love looking at the river rocks. End up with pockets full and can hardly walk. Low and a bit sketchy looking. Safety First. Ty

  28. FAT LOLO on February 27, 2022 at 10:22 am

    I was the one that placed the mailbox @ the cabin around 2012 , I walked in the mine with my Coleman lantern 228F

  29. David Lane on February 27, 2022 at 10:23 am

    I was wondering do you get a sense about how dangerous a mine may be based on how the entry way looks?

  30. Mowing, Trimming, & Edging on February 27, 2022 at 10:24 am

    I love those orange chairs 🪑👍👍

  31. Russ The merciless on February 27, 2022 at 10:25 am

    I have to appreciate the respect you and your group take in not disturbing or the collecting of artifacts that so many do when exploring abandoned places. I also invite you to come to British Columbia Canada to explore the rich mining history that excists here.On a side note check out Forgotten British Columbia’s website and FB page (shameless plug)

  32. Jackspedicey 69 on February 27, 2022 at 10:25 am

    anybody from outlast2

  33. Kokopilau77 on February 27, 2022 at 10:27 am

    You should check out the Lutz tunnel in the Huachucas. Not too big, but was fun to explore in the 90s.

  34. Az Ironlungz on February 27, 2022 at 10:27 am

    Have you been to the Monte Cristo mine in Arizona ? Says there’s a 1500ft incline shaft and 3 miles of drift tunnels I hope to check it out soon !

  35. Harry Hyde on February 27, 2022 at 10:27 am

    I’m surprised that of all the videos I have watched of people exploring mines, I have yet to see any rattle snakes just inside the entrance to escape the heat. Have the videos been edited to exclude that?

  36. A Ww on February 27, 2022 at 10:28 am

    Nice video.

  37. anza boy on February 27, 2022 at 10:29 am

    What’s the directions to get there I live in Yuma and want to see this

  38. Feesh on February 27, 2022 at 10:29 am

    2 beds? An entire workforce slept in 2 beds?

  39. joet1994ify on February 27, 2022 at 10:29 am

    Are there minerals

  40. Zut Man on February 27, 2022 at 10:29 am

    How long of a hike is it ?

  41. TheGrinddcore on February 27, 2022 at 10:30 am

    Beautiful final shot of the sunset and Cactus.

  42. GoldProspecter on February 27, 2022 at 10:33 am

    Nive video! Here is a video I made outside of Yuma Arizona in an abandoned gold mine:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qfhFs1Wgfg

  43. Uncle Ruckus on February 27, 2022 at 10:33 am

    What about the ones near oatmen I heard there creepy shit there

  44. Andy & Amys Arizona Adventures on February 27, 2022 at 10:35 am

    That’s cool,we will be going into the Gladiator Mine by Crown King Arizona coming up this Saturday.

  45. bdbeatle1 on February 27, 2022 at 10:36 am

    Great, great video!!

  46. S.J.'s DIY Adventures on February 27, 2022 at 10:36 am

    It looks like someone is still taking care of that cabin.

  47. a targeted individual on February 27, 2022 at 10:38 am

    It’s funny I found this channel I used to do this back in the early 80s with a guy named Russ brought back a lot of memories

  48. Jumex 82 on February 27, 2022 at 10:40 am

    We’re planning on going here in the fall. We have friends in Roll Az which is just south of the mine. I read on line you can pretty much drive up to the cabin if you have 4×4, but you mention that the road has been closed?!? How far of a hike is it from the end of the nearest Rd. to the cabin? Thank you!

  49. Lee Hilton on February 27, 2022 at 10:40 am

    Do ya think any of these old mines would be worth tryin to reopen?

  50. JD on February 27, 2022 at 10:41 am

    Considering the number of relic hunters and just plain vandals, the cabin is well preserved.

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