Events
Lake Havasu City hosts exciting, year-round events that embrace the region's sunny skies, scenic landscape and endless fun.
Iron Door Mine Trail
Iron Door Mine Trail
Overview
A drive into the mountains above the city to Bison Falls with a hike up and into an abandoned mine of solid rock where the risk of collapse is virtually nonexistent. The engine block of a wrecked WWII B-25 may be seen off a steep, optional trail nearby.
Over the years, other mines in the area have been called the "Iron Door Mine." However, the directions provided here are for the best and safest of these mines.
Details
Rating: 3.0Trailhead Location: Base of Bison Falls
GPS Coordinates: 34.544371, -114.222518
Trail Length: 5 hours
Difficulty: Strenuous, with climbing, long steep slopes
Time to Trailhead: 50 minutes
Time Commitment: 3-4 hrs
Vehicle: 4-wheel
Directions to Trailhead:
Drive your off-road vehicle
Trail Route Instructions:
Walk to the top of the waterfall using the road on either side (elev 2720 ft.). Follow the road up through the valley. OPTION: As you proceed along the road above the falls, a small side road will appear on the left about .85 miles from the base of the waterfalls. Taking this spur will take you up the mountain to a fork in the road. Go left and proceed up a narrow wash towards a large saguaro where you can view a rusted engine block of a wrecked WWII B-25. Walk about 1.5 miles from the top of the falls to the fork at the end of the road (elev 3250 ft.). Turn left in the wash, go up a small dry waterfall just past a man-made rock structure and an old open well. Be careful! The well is open at ground level and although it has been filled in over the years, it is still very deep. Do not fall in! Look for a trail leading up the right bank. This is an original trail for the mine that was constructed by prospectors for burro traffic. The trail is long (3/4 mile), uphill, and steep, and ends at the mine, which looks like a gray ledge in the mountain (elev 3890 ft.). The mine is single level carved from solid rock and is relatively safe. Bring a good flashlight; you can go in about 600 ft. past an iron gate and through a multitude of different chambers. It is a clean, unobstructed journey. The imprint of railroad tracks is still visible on the floor in many places.
