The Ultimate Guide to Traveling the Phillips Mine Road

Located in Gila County, Central Arizona, in USA, Phillips Mine Road is a short scenic drive into a seldom seen part of Arizona mining history.

Phillips Mine Road

The road is mostly unpaved (only 1 mile is paved). Starting at an abandoned campground in Seneca Lake Recreation Area off US Highway 60, this scenic trip is 14km (8.7 miles) long. It ends at a historic homestead near Phillips Mine, an old asbestos mine. The road is mostly easy.

The road is steep, topping out at 1.545m (5,068ft) above the sea level. The drive is beautiful, with great vistas, steep canyons and amazing colors that the canyons of Arizona are famous for. Arriving at the mining area you’ll be greeted by some very creepy abandoned buildings that make the campground take a second seat to a horror movie film set. After rain, sections of road can become decidedly hazardous when fast-flowing creek crossings and slippery mud can cause road closures. Stock SUV’s can mostly make but more aggressive SUV’s with high clearance can make it to the abandoned buildings.