Entry No. 47 — the Phoenix file — filed under: abandoned mine
Dacite Cliffs Mine
Tucked away at the base of the towering Dacite Cliffs in the Superstition Wilderness, this historic abandoned mine adit was once prospected for gold and copper. Today, the horizontal shaft is sealed with a bat gate to protect the local wildlife and prevent dangerous underground exploration. Hikers can still follow the Lost Goldmine Trail to view the gated entrance and admire the dramatic volcanic rock formations above.
The story
Prospectors pushed into the base of the Superstition Wilderness looking for gold and copper, chewing a horizontal tunnel—an adit—straight into the foot of a sheer volcanic wall. They didn't hit the mother lode, but they left behind a deep hole in a massive slab of grey-pink dacite rock that still sits along the trail today.
Instead of bulldozing the site or letting hikers wander into a collapse hazard, officials installed a heavy steel bat gate over the portal. The iron bars keep humans out of the dark underground shaft while giving local bat species open passage to roost inside. On rare wet days, Carney Springs Waterfall drops as a thin ribbon fall down the sheer cliff face directly above the mine's gated entrance.
What it's like
You'll reach the shaft off the Lost Goldmine Trail, surrounded by giant saguaros and towering volcanic walls. You won't be crawling inside—the steel grate is locked down tight—but standing at the mouth lets you peer into the pitch-black shaft and catch a draft of cool subterranean air push through the bars. Bring plenty of water and keep an eye out for loose trail rock on the approach.
The move: Hike the scenic Lost Goldmine Trail together to the base of the dramatic Dacite Cliffs, where you can safely view the gated mine entrance and enjoy a quiet desert picnic surrounded by saguaro cacti.
📍 Before you go The mine is an abandoned adit that has been permanently sealed with a bat gate to protect several local bat species and prevent hikers from entering the hazardous underground shaft.
- 📍 Dacite Cliffs Mine
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Dacite Cliffs Mine, Arizona 85118, USA
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.
Pair it with
- Superstition Mountain Lost Dutchman Museum (with Elvis Presley Memorial Chapel) — Get the historical context on Superstition gold rush legends just down the highway from the actual prospect shaft.
- Queen Valley Overlook Ruins — Combine a look at historic 20th-century prospecting with a short trek to prehistoric stone ruins perched above Queen Creek.
- Ajax Mine — If one gated prospect hole isn't enough, continue south to explore the surface remains of another historic mining operation.
Good to know
Can you go inside the Dacite Cliffs Mine shaft?
No. The horizontal shaft is permanently blocked by a heavy steel bat gate to protect roosting bat populations and prevent dangerous subterranean exploring.
What were miners searching for here?
Historic prospecting at the site targeted gold and copper deposits embedded within the region's volcanic rock.
How do you hike to the mine site?
Follow the Lost Goldmine Trail in the Superstition Wilderness, which runs along the base of the Dacite Cliffs and passes directly by the gated portal.
Is there a waterfall near the mine?
Yes. After heavy rains, Carney Springs Waterfall streams down the sheer cliff face directly above the mine shaft.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: wildpathsaz.com · hikearizona.com · alltrails.com
last checked: 2026-07-20