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. Steve Wright on October 28, 2020 at 2:21 pm

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

  2. joet1994ify on October 28, 2020 at 2:21 pm

    Are there minerals

  3. chill3n456 on October 28, 2020 at 2:22 pm

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

  4. Spartanskiy's Channel on October 28, 2020 at 2:22 pm

    2 beds? An entire workforce slept in 2 beds?

  5. Stephen Rader on October 28, 2020 at 2:23 pm

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

  6. Harry Hyde on October 28, 2020 at 2:23 pm

    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?

  7. David Lane on October 28, 2020 at 2:29 pm

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

  8. Jeffrey Olson on October 28, 2020 at 2:29 pm

    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

  9. Beryl M. Wright on October 28, 2020 at 2:29 pm

    Amazing video

  10. Niklas on October 28, 2020 at 2:33 pm

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

  11. TekReviews on October 28, 2020 at 2:34 pm

    Good place to bring your metal detector maybe some gold nuggets laying around for the taking. It’s not uncommon in some places in Oregon to find them just on the surface of the ground.

  12. AAGR on October 28, 2020 at 2:35 pm

    #hantavirus

  13. FAT LOLO on October 28, 2020 at 2:35 pm

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

  14. Az Ironlungz on October 28, 2020 at 2:37 pm

    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 !

  15. Cm Sisk on October 28, 2020 at 2:37 pm

    my the late owner Pest in peace,

  16. Victor PONCE on October 28, 2020 at 2:38 pm

    Yessir u guys are tops! I like those scenes of the cabin. Those orange chairs 😎 cool. I can imagine how hard those miners lives musta been. Lotta rock came out of those mines, no tractors K. Pick n shovel n sweat, K. Heh, heh alrite fellas y’all take care now. 🤠😀🐁🔦

  17. Vegas Cycling Freak on October 28, 2020 at 2:39 pm

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

  18. Lee Hilton on October 28, 2020 at 2:40 pm

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

  19. Lisaa on October 28, 2020 at 2:41 pm

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

  20. A Ww on October 28, 2020 at 2:44 pm

    Nice video.

  21. ThePsychonaut on October 28, 2020 at 2:45 pm

    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.

  22. GoldProspecter on October 28, 2020 at 2:47 pm

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

  23. BoatyMcBoatFace • 45 years ago on October 28, 2020 at 2:48 pm

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

  24. Tthe survivalist on October 28, 2020 at 2:51 pm

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

  25. xXMC84Xx on October 28, 2020 at 2:51 pm

    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??

  26. Russ sales on October 28, 2020 at 2:52 pm

    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)

  27. S.J.'s DIY Adventures on October 28, 2020 at 2:55 pm

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

  28. NickyViola on October 28, 2020 at 2:58 pm

    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.

  29. Mike 1958 on October 28, 2020 at 2:59 pm

    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?

  30. Jumex 82 on October 28, 2020 at 3:01 pm

    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!

  31. Uncle Ruckus on October 28, 2020 at 3:03 pm

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

  32. bdbeatle1 on October 28, 2020 at 3:04 pm

    Great, great video!!

  33. a&a AZ on October 28, 2020 at 3:04 pm

    Cool I take a artifact for a souvenir from there

  34. Anthony W Stanton on October 28, 2020 at 3:04 pm

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

  35. Kokopilau77 on October 28, 2020 at 3:05 pm

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

  36. grandprismatic on October 28, 2020 at 3:06 pm

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

  37. Benjamin Stafford on October 28, 2020 at 3:06 pm

    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?

  38. JD on October 28, 2020 at 3:07 pm

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

  39. Jackspedicey 69 on October 28, 2020 at 3:09 pm

    anybody from outlast2

  40. Amona Maria on October 28, 2020 at 3:11 pm

    Superstitious mountains of dead Giants from Noah’s flood.

  41. Amos Maclin on October 28, 2020 at 3:11 pm

    Cool

  42. Fox Racing on October 28, 2020 at 3:11 pm

    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

  43. Artilius Relax on October 28, 2020 at 3:13 pm

    Finaly found your channel again,  for weeks i could only find those UK kids doing some abandoned places stuf…. and that music on the back ground wugh…..

    but finaly i found you 😀

  44. lee sherman on October 28, 2020 at 3:13 pm

    Model A Ford parts in the early section of vid.

  45. Chris Thornley on October 28, 2020 at 3:14 pm

    Beautiful desert scenery Frank. I love the stark, desolate beauty of the mountain and desert landscapes.

  46. anza boy on October 28, 2020 at 3:14 pm

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

  47. Andy & Amys Arizona Adventures on October 28, 2020 at 3:14 pm

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

  48. 🏴‍☠️Sarah Gold on October 28, 2020 at 3:17 pm

    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

  49. RJDCR on October 28, 2020 at 3:17 pm

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

  50. J. D. on October 28, 2020 at 3:18 pm

    That last shot of the sun setting and the cactus was awesome. Worthy of a postcard.

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