Entry No. 46 — the Phoenix file — filed under: ruins
Ajax Mine
Established in 1915 in the Mineral Mountain Mining District, the Ajax Mine was a short-lived operation that produced lead, copper, silver, and gold. Today, a remarkably well-preserved concrete and brick milling structure still stands across the wash, alongside concrete foundations and a nearby 30-foot-deep vertical shaft. The remote site is now a popular destination for off-roaders exploring the rugged Sonoran Desert.
The story
In 1915, prospectors in the Mineral Mountain Mining District started digging into the Sonoran Desert dirt expecting a jackpot of lead, copper, silver, and gold. What they built was a bust. The ore ran thin almost immediately, but the concrete and brick foundations they dragged into this rugged patch of terrain near Florence stubbornly refused to disappear.
Across a dry wash, the primary milling structure still stands against the saguaros—a stark, multi-tiered brick-and-concrete ruin that looks almost absurd sitting in the middle of uninhabited desert. Nearby, concrete machinery pads rest in the brush alongside an unprotected 30-foot vertical shaft dropping straight down into the dark. It is a quintessential Arizona ghost site: a huge expenditure of sweat, mortar, and heavy hauling that was completely abandoned almost as soon as the mortar dried.
Because the site is buried deep within the Middle Gila Canyons off-road network on public BLM and State Trust land, there are no gift shops, paved turnouts, or safety railings. The mill ruins just sit out in the elements, slowly disintegrating while off-roaders pick their way past on the adjacent trail.
What it's like
Getting here requires serious equipment—a high-clearance 4x4, ATV, or UTV that can handle rough rocky ledges, loose wash sand, and narrow desert trail obstacles. Once you haul yourself into the wash near the ruins, park on solid ground and take your photos from across the dry creek bed. The brickwork on the mill is actively crumbling, and that open 30-foot drop nearby has no fence around it. Bring double the water you think you need, confirm land permits before driving out, and stay out of the footprint of the structures.
The move: Take a rugged off-road drive in a high-clearance 4x4 vehicle to the site, then safely photograph the impressive brick milling ruins from across the wash.
📍 Before you go The ruins are located on public BLM and State Trust land and can be legally viewed from the adjacent trail, but the deteriorating structures and open mine shaft are highly hazardous and must not be entered.
- 📍 Ajax Mine
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Ajax Mine, Arizona, USA
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.
Pair it with
- Belmont Mine — Follow up one ghost mine with another by taking the trail network over to the 1899 Belmont Mine, another historic copper and silver ruin in the area.
- Queen Valley Overlook Ruins — Trade 20th-century industrial brickwork for ancient stone masonry by driving north to these prehistoric hilltop ruins overlooking Queen Creek.
- Dacite Cliffs Mine — Continue your ghost-mine exploration by heading toward the Superstition Wilderness to check out an abandoned gold and copper adit set beneath towering volcanic cliffs.
Good to know
What vehicle is needed to get to Ajax Mine?
You need a high-clearance 4x4 vehicle, ATV, or side-by-side. Standard street cars and low-clearance crossovers will get stuck or damaged on the rough OHV trails leading to the site.
Can you go inside or climb the brick ruins?
No. The brick and concrete milling structures are fragile and deteriorating, and there is an open 30-foot vertical shaft nearby. View and photograph the site strictly from a safe distance across the wash.
Do I need a permit to visit?
The ruins sit on public BLM and State Trust land. Access routes cross land that may require an Arizona State Trust Land recreational permit, so check access rules and obtain the necessary permit before heading out.
What did the Ajax Mine produce?
Established in 1915, the short-lived operation extracted small amounts of lead, copper, silver, and gold.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: boldcanyonoutdoors.com · azoffroad.net · funtreks.com
last checked: 2026-07-20