Goldfield

Arizona's ghost towns are sun-bleached and honest — copper, silver, and gold camps that lived fast and died the moment the ore did.

The Goldfield Mountains of Arizona are located adjacent to the Superstition Mountains, between Usery Pass and Canyon Lake (Arizona). In 1893, the southern part of the Goldfield Mountains was a large mining district.

Goldfield wears its ambition right in its name — subtlety was never the boomtown style.

Goldfield is classified as a preserved ghost town: its buildings and streetscape survive close to their original form. These are the most rewarding towns to visit — and the most fragile. Stay on marked paths, don't enter unstable structures, and leave every artifact where you found it.

One caveat before you romanticize the trip: Goldfield sits on private property. Set your expectations to a respectful roadside view unless you've secured the owner's permission — and never cross a fence or gate uninvited.

Start from public roads: do not cross fences or gates without the owner's explicit permission. County assessor maps can help you sort out boundaries in advance — many private sites are best appreciated from the roadside. The mapped point for Goldfield is roughly 33.4600, -111.6300 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.

The ground itself demands respect: open mine shafts, collapsing floors, and old wells hide in tall grass, cell service is often nonexistent, and help can be hours away. Tell someone your plans, pack more water than you think you'll need — and save the early morning or late afternoon light for your camera.

Want the full story? The Wikipedia article on "Goldfield Mountains" covers Goldfield in more depth — find the link in Sources below. County archives, historic newspaper collections, and the state historical society are the next stops after that: plat maps, census rolls, and old photographs fill in what a short visit can't. If you make the trip, consider sharing your photos and notes — firsthand reports are how the record of Goldfield gets better.