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Links

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Other resources

Ghost Towns of Arizona by James and Barbara Sherman U. of Oklahoma Press

Arizona's best Ghost Towns by Philip Varney Northland Press

Arizona Ghost Towns and Mining Camps by Philip Varney Arizona Highways

Printable Directions    click on images to enlarge   

This trip is roughly 30 miles long from St. Route 74 and Castle Hot Springs Road. The Red Piachio topo map is the only map you will need. The 2 main areas of interest are the Independence mine area located at T8N R3W section 36 NE Quadrant, and the Andersen Mill located at T7N R3W section 10 lower middle. But there is plenty more to see.

Take 1-17 north to Carefree Highway(ST. Route 74). Take a left and follow the road for about 30 miles. About .8tenths of a mile past mile marker 2 turn right onto Castle Hot Springs Rd. Cross over the cattle guard and set your trip meter to 0.00.

2.5 miles	The road coming in from the left is where you will come out.
7.2 miles	Turn left into Tribly wash. Buildings set back on the right. N 33* 55' 47.9" W 112* 31' 49.3"
12.5 miles	You should see buildings in front of you on the hill. This is where you are going.
13.1&13.2 miles	There are 2 rights up the hill. The 2nd right by the fallen tank is proably a little easier to get up. N 33* 59' 29.6" W 112* 31' 11.7"

Follow the road up till you reach a locked gate. Take a left, almost a u-turn, go around the hill. follow the road until you reach the buildings. I sugest you you walk from here. You will come across some settling ponds. Continue on the road past the now collapsed entrance to the mine. N 33* 59' 50.4" W 112* 31' 13.8". Around the hill you will have some great views of the Bradshaws and their foot hills.
Drive back down to the wash. Turn right up the wash and reset your trip odometer to 0.00

0.2 miles	Take the road on the left out of the wash and you will come upon a processing area(?). Check out the bottom of the wash for a few interesing things.
1.0 miles	The turn on the right will take you to the roads you see on the other side of the canyon.
1.5 miles	Drop into a wash. About 40 yards or so down the wah you will pick up the road on the right. N33* 59' 05" W 112* 32' 08"
1.8 miles	Drop into the wash
2.0 miles	Take the road on the right
2.6 miles	Drop into San Domingo Wash. N 33* 58' 33.0" W 112* 33' 27.6" A quick left up the wash coming in from the left will take you to an old homesite.
2.9-3.0 miles	An old mining camp and mining area. Take the road to the left up the hill to an old homesite with a lot of stuff lying around. The road to the right is is washed out about 1/3 mile in. If you walk farther on there are a couple of mines.
4.3 miles	There are 2 rights. The 2nd right will take you to the top of Andersen Mill.You will pass a bunch of core samples along the way.
4.5 miles	You should be in front of Andersen Mill. N 33* 57' 30.4" W 112* 33' 37.6" Reading is taken from the top of the mill.

There is plenty to see and explore here. The first time I came across this place the houses now bulldozed were standing and vacant. The second time I came by there was someone living in the houses. Last Spring(02), I came by again and the houses were bulldozed with the remains scattered all over the place. In Dec 02 the area had been cleaned up and all the debris and vehicles had been hauled off. Is the Mill next?
Continue on down the wash without changing the milage. Some of the homesites mentioned in the next directions have also been cleaned up and nothing is left.

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