Boondocking, Backroads & Ghost Towns: Wrapping Up Arizona in Wickenburg
- Switching Gears RV Diary
- May 4, 2025
- 3 min read
📍 Where We Camped: Vulture Peak
We’ve been hanging out just six miles south of Wickenburg, AZ, camping off South Vulture Mine Road in the Vulture Peak area. This is Arizona State Trust Land, so make sure to grab a camping permit here like we did—$20 gives you access for 14 days of camping a year, plus unlimited day use.
The site is big-rig friendly if you take it slow, with plenty of space to spread out. We didn’t see any trash or long-term squatting like some online reviews mentioned.
Bonus: cell service is excellent thanks to a nearby tower.
🚙 Off-Roading the Sonoran Desert
Our original plan was to trailer our side-by-side to a different off-roading spot, but the new camper filled up our truck bed. So we kept it local—and honestly, that’s our favorite way to ride anyway.
We plotted a loop through BLM and Arizona Trust Land. Trails were rated 2–5 in technical difficulty, but we found that even some “easy” routes were challenging. The desert keeps you guessing! The terrain ranged from steep shelf roads to soft sandy washes, and missing turns was way too easy.
Despite a bit of haze, the Sonoran Desert scenery blew us away. Saguaros everywhere. Absolutely stunning.
❓ Where Is the Vulture Mine?
Our goal was to find the Vulture Mine, but OnX maps led us astray—again. We ended up at the Big Spar Mine, part of the Vulture Mining District. This surface mine operated between 1939 and 1953, mainly extracting fluorspar and barite. Not what we were looking for, but still a fun surprise.
🏚️ The Real Vulture Mine & Vulture City
Turns out, the real Vulture Mine and ghost town are about 9 miles from our camp. Vulture City sprang up in the 1860s after gold was discovered here—eventually becoming Arizona’s most productive gold mine. Today, it’s a privately owned, partially restored site.
🕒 Open: Thursday–Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Oct–May)💵 Admission (seniors): $12/person🔗 Visit their website
The self-guided tour begins at the Powerhouse and takes you through preserved buildings like the garage, Pump House, and blacksmith shop. We even saw a 1924 National cash register and an old gravity-fed gas pump.
One of the more somber stories was about a diphtheria outbreak in 1881 that killed 20 of the school’s 60 students. On a lighter note, don’t miss Competition Rock—testosterone central in the mining days, we’re sure.
The Assay Building is rumored to be haunted, and flashlight ghost tours are available. The site also hosts events, weddings, and even live gunfight reenactments. We were lucky enough to catch one!
✨ Did You Know?The mine officially closed in 1942 due to a WWII order to shut down non-essential gold mines. It never reopened at full capacity.
🪦 Eagle Eye Cemetery: A Quiet Tribute
Before leaving the area, we made a quick trip to Eagle Eye Cemetery in Aguila (ah-GWEH-lah), just 3.5 miles south of Hwy 60. It’s a small, peaceful cemetery recognized by Arizona’s historic preservation office.
If you’re into genealogy, history, or just want a reflective stop surrounded by desert, it’s worth the detour.
🌮 Coyote’s Den Café: A Local Gem
In Aguila, we stopped by Coyote’s Den Café, a laid-back diner just off the highway. Friendly service and a comfort food menu that blends American and Mexican dishes—think breakfast skillets, carne asada fries, enchiladas, and more.
Definitely a good refueling stop for any traveler.
🪦 Historic Cemeteries & New Discoveries
On our last day, we met up with friends Steve and Diana—fellow fans of ghost towns and historic graveyards. They showed us photos of Verde Flat Cemetery, an old burial site near Vulture City that served miners and locals during the boom years.
There aren’t many records about who’s buried there, but that just adds to the mystery. It’s officially on our “next time” list.
🌄 What’s Next?
With our Arizona series winding down, we’re prepping for the drive back to Colorado—where spring means snowstorms, apparently.
Until then, safe travels and happy exploring!
📌 Quick Links & Coordinates
🏕️ Our Campsite GPS:
33°55'04.6"N 112°47’48.9”W
🔗 Arizona State Trust Land Permits:
🏚️ Vulture City Ghost Town Info: