Entry No. 54 — the Phoenix file — filed under: abandoned-mine
Tonopah-Belmont Mine
Tucked into the rugged Belmont Mountains, the Tonopah-Belmont Mine was once the largest producer in the Osborn Mining District, booming between 1926 and 1930 to yield millions of pounds of lead and copper. Today, the desert site is scattered with massive concrete mill foundations, tailings, and the ruins of a small rock office. While the surface ruins are accessible via a scenic off-road trail, the underground workings are highly unstable and strictly off-limits.
The story
Borrowing its name from Nevada’s famous mining district, the Tonopah-Belmont Mine was carved into the rugged Belmont Mountains around 1920. Between 1926 and 1930, it served as the heavy hitter of the Osborn Mining District, tearing millions of pounds of lead and copper alongside rich veins of silver out of the earth before operations ground to a final halt by the early 1940s.
What remains today isn't a staged ghost town with gift shops or preserved wooden boardwalks. You get the stark industrial skeleton: massive, stepped concrete mill foundations marching down the hillside, the disintegrating shell of a small rock office, and vast fields of gravelly tailings. It is a physical record of heavy early-century industrial effort left to bake in the Arizona sun.
Mineral collectors still trek out here to pick through the leftover dumps for specimens like wulfenite and lead ore. But the real lure is the eerie solitude of the concrete monoliths—monumental structural ruins standing alone in a vast, sun-bleached expanse of desert.
What it's like
Reaching the site requires bouncing along the off-road Belmont Mountain Trail, so bring a high-clearance vehicle or prepare for a dusty desert hike on public BLM land. Once you pull up, you'll be met with near-total silence, rough terrain, and open desert. You can explore the surface concrete foundations and examine the tailings, but keep your eyes on the ground for snakes and uneven footing. Whatever you do, don't try to go underground: the mine shafts are sealed, treacherous, and strictly off-limits for good reason.
The move: Embark on a scenic off-road drive or hike along the Belmont Mountain Trail to photograph the towering concrete ruins and search the surrounding tailings for unique mineral specimens.
📍 Before you go The surface ruins are located on public BLM land and can be legally viewed from the Belmont Mountain Trail, but the underground mine workings are sealed, highly unstable, and extremely dangerous.
- 📍 Tonopah-Belmont Mine
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Tonopah-Belmont Mine, Arizona 85390, USA
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.
Pair it with
- Old Smith Mine — Pair this lead-and-silver monster with an 1870s gold processing site for a full day of backcountry mining ruins.
- Dragon Mine — Head northeast toward Wickenburg to contrast Tonopah-Belmont's massive concrete foundations with a turn-of-the-century vanadium and gold dig.
- Oro Grande Mine — Continue your off-road desert trek to see the remnants of a 1901 gold boom in the nearby Black Rock district.
Good to know
How do you access the Tonopah-Belmont Mine ruins?
The surface ruins sit on public BLM land accessible via the off-road Belmont Mountain Trail, located roughly 20 miles southwest of Wickenburg and north of Tonopah. A high-clearance vehicle is strongly recommended.
Can you go inside the subterranean mine workings?
No. The underground workings are sealed, highly unstable, and extremely dangerous. Visitors are legally and practically required to stay on the surface.
What can mineral collectors find in the mine tailings?
Rockhounds examine the surface tailings for rare lead, copper, and silver specimens, including wulfenite.
Is there an entrance fee or specific opening hours?
There are no fees or gates on this BLM land, but you should confirm current access conditions and daylight hours before heading out into the desert.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: azoffroad.net · tucson.com · histecon.fas.harvard.edu · aztvcc.com
last checked: 2026-07-20