Gold Mines and Ghost Towns near Wickenburg – Searching Arizona Abandoned Places

Gold Mines and Ghost Towns near Wickenburg – Searching Arizona Abandoned Places

If you’re looking for an off-road adventure to some abandoned places in Arizona, you’ve come to the right place. On this episode I venture into the back country near Wickenburg to see some of the old gold mines and ghost towns. What I discovered is that a few of these abandoned places, such as Vulture Mine, are in the midst of a renaissance. Vulture City, which is right next to Vulture Mine has been completely restored and is now a wonderful tourist attraction, educating visitors on how gold was once mined. The next door mine is fully operational once again. With gold prices so high, people are back on these old claims trying their luck at prospecting and trying to get what the ol’ timers left behind.

In addition to these Arizona gold mines and ghost towns, I also went on a wonderful hike in the Hassayampa River Wilderness area. I ventured down a rugged road toward Box Canyon Hideout, only to find that I was above it with no way to reach to canyon floor. I camped out three days exploring this region, come along as I show you want I discovered.

I’d like to thank Raptor Series for loaning me their amazing rig and for sponsoring this video.

#searchingarizona #RaptorSeries #arizonaghosttowns

27 Comments

  1. Howard Blount on February 12, 2023 at 1:15 pm

    Totally excellent! You do such beautiful video work, reminding me why I don’t want to work that hard. LOL! That said, your efforts are much appreciated, and I enjoyed exploring abandoned Arizona with you. Definitely a few locations to add to my bucket list.

  2. Mihaela Popa on February 12, 2023 at 1:17 pm

    I was never much into ghost towns but your video raised my interest! And my god I love your rig!! Looks perfect for this kind of roadtrips!

  3. I BRAKE FOR BEDROCK on February 12, 2023 at 1:19 pm

    I think you came across a couple drunk bears …..

  4. Katie Dangelo on February 12, 2023 at 1:19 pm

    The hassyampa was named hassyampa because in native language it means upside down river. The hassyampa runs year round, but most the time it’s underground. On the old bridge which is now a foot bridge there was a sign that said no fishing from bridge…. over a dry river most the year… I always found it commical.

    I have been in and out of Wickenburg for the last 25+ years. I now own land 2 miles east if vulture city! I love the beauty of the desert that surrounds me….

  5. Brent Gordon on February 12, 2023 at 1:23 pm

    I love the vid my favorite channel is Mike’s road trip anyway how are you doing with COVID-19 wearing mask 😷 check achol check love the camp fire use to remind me of the olden days when I was a kid

  6. Robert Lyman on February 12, 2023 at 1:24 pm

    These mine videos have inspired me to get a drone and license. Good for mountain surveillance for adits

  7. Gold Hunter Exploration - Sheikh Kamarul Azmi on February 12, 2023 at 1:30 pm

    Nice

  8. Off-Roading Arizona on February 12, 2023 at 1:31 pm

    Coleman makes a cheap iron fold up fire ring that works great. Easy to set up! Good video.

  9. BN Products-USA™ on February 12, 2023 at 1:35 pm

    What a cool video and amazing truck! Wickenburg sure does have some interesting things to explore.

  10. GoldHat on February 12, 2023 at 1:44 pm

    Did you get a chance to visit the town of Constellation? How where the roads getting to it? Thanks

  11. Character_Zer0 on February 12, 2023 at 1:47 pm

    At 12:08, sir those are goats

  12. ItsGreyfield on February 12, 2023 at 1:48 pm

    I’m planning my trip in 2022, my second tour around the US. Miss the US way too much. Love these vids 😀

  13. david breen on February 12, 2023 at 1:48 pm

    neat video. constellation rd. looked like it would be ok for an adventure motorcycle. unless that is what they call sugar sand. i would love to metal detect some of those places.

  14. ArizonaGoldNuggets on February 12, 2023 at 1:48 pm

    Good informative video! Here is a video I made, finding gold around the San Domingo Wash area near Morristown Arizona https://youtu.be/FDv9GKuEoIo

  15. Vendetta Prospecting on February 12, 2023 at 1:50 pm

    ive see that truck a few times lol!

  16. Jeff 1911 on February 12, 2023 at 1:58 pm

    that cave is called "Mistake Mine" at 14:30 time

  17. Gary Stout on February 12, 2023 at 1:58 pm

    The Monte Cristo Lode Mine #1 is Owned not Abandoned. You’re not Allowed below the Surface. Just because you don’t see anything doesn’t mean it’s abandoned. Please be Respectful. It’s been worked since 2012.

  18. Rw Dupuy on February 12, 2023 at 1:58 pm

    I came to see the vistas NOT the FACE of the dude … gotta go…. ain’t gonna come back….

  19. Travels with Lucky on February 12, 2023 at 2:06 pm

    Great video…. here is a view of desert land outside of Wickenburg. https://youtu.be/pWiGZpGISVc

  20. Gary Crandall on February 12, 2023 at 2:07 pm

    I really enjoyed your video, Mike; my wife and I are originally from Arizona and own a very small parcel just outside of wickiup. We now live in beautiful NW Montana in the middle of the Rocky Mountains. We hope too someday return and go camping on our little parcel in wickiup. We’ll have to do this in the middle of winter as we have three beautiful female Labs who will for sure get snake bit if we do it any other time of year. No poisonous snakes where we live in Montana.
    Blessings.

  21. *💚Princess OPD💚of Astro,Utah on February 12, 2023 at 2:07 pm

    Thanks

  22. USMC Mustang on February 12, 2023 at 2:07 pm

    Good grief .. Charlie Brown … 😒

  23. Travis B on February 12, 2023 at 2:09 pm

    Cool the guy from the hangover mines gold too

  24. One Eye on February 12, 2023 at 2:09 pm

    i believe what you smelled was bat piss. if you were to venture into those shafts make sure to bring head protection theyll get in your hair tennis or badmitton rackets are great defense to have also lol

  25. YourMarketingCoach on February 12, 2023 at 2:09 pm

    Great video! Really makes me want to go off and explore. Oh my gosh, and that ruck is amazing!

  26. Ross Hubbard on February 12, 2023 at 2:10 pm

    Fascinating video, Mike. I also traveled that route several years ago on the Constellation Road with photography in mind, and even ran into a couple of fellows at the Monte Cristo Lode Mine #1 who turned out to be security for the property. By the time our conversations had turned from what I was doing to where I was headed, I ended up getting a small tour of a couple of buildings from them, which was greatly appreciated. One thing I’d wish you would have pointed out was how very dangerous entering old mines can be from the standpoint of ‘bad air’ (low oxygen levels), which can cause almost instantaneous problems. I’ll give you credit, at least, for not going in any further than you did since you were by yourself. Nicely done video!

  27. Dan Balser on February 12, 2023 at 2:11 pm

    Attended High School in Wickenburg 1981-84. Sure is a great place to live and lots of cool things to Explorer. Now I live out of state enjoy the video take care.

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