Sunday Drive - Tip Top Mine

[klaykrusher 54]

Decided last minute to go and check out Tip Top Mine. Its a nice drive and an easy enough trail. Plenty of side trails to test your metal if you want too. The Rubi did fine but I did end up using my skids on a few spots where the breakover in the trail was too great for the standard 32's and length of the unlimited to handle. Also put a small dent in the cross member when I stirred up a good size rock and hit it.

 

All in all a nice trip. I believe continuing west from the mine there is a trail back south to Lake Pleasant and Route 74. I'll do some more research as I think this would make a nice day trip through the Bradshaw's.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guardrail 1]

Nice photos! That's one I've been wanting to check out. Would want to go check out Packer too while I was there. I don't think it's doable by a normal size 4x4 anymore, but there used to be a trail that went from there up to Horsethief Basin. It's actually part of the old stage coach route from Phoenix to Prescott. I hear it's gotten very rough and overgrown now, but I'd like to check it out anyway. I'd hike it if it becomes impassable, but still want to check it out.

[Larry K. 0]

I spent the better part of two years wheeling in the area of the old the Columbia town site, Humbug Creek, Gold Hill and out the ridge to the east to Tip Top & west Table Mesa.

 

I would recommend, if you are planning on running from Tip Top out west to Lake Pleasant, you might prefer to do it from west to east. The west side can be the difficult stretch, especially the rock garden in Humbug Creek, and the climb up Gold Hill. I haven't been out there for over a year, and the roads can get badly washed out.

 

The Columbia town site is privately owned, with no trespassing, but there is a route around it & down into Humbug Creek.

 

This area is full of mining history. Goggle up "Neal Du Shane", and his book on Columbia, Az. Lots of hiking opportunities in Humbug Creek; Curly McKibbys cabin, mining ruins, grave sites along the creek and up on gold hill.

 

I have attached a few pics. The old post office site along Humbug Creek, and Spanish ruins atop Gold Hill (or so I was told.

 

I would rate the west end of the route as a solid 3+ from Humbug Creek up though the climb on Gold Hill, from there it eases up quite a bit.

 

Have a great trip!

 

 

Larry K.

[matt@expaz 2]

Great pics! I still haven't made it up there yet. It's on my bucket list to do one day.

[dzJeepChic 2,565]

It does sound like a fine day trip and I'd like to go. I've never been to Tip Top, at least I don't remember it if so.

[J.R. 1]

Dude! ....Someone has gotta be some kind of badAZZ to ride a "morter bike", and..I sure wouldn’t be the fool tellin them where they could ride.

[Larry K. 0]

Well J.R., you gotta meet some of the folks livin' up there. There's a reason why.

 

It's kinda like straight out of the the movie, "Deliverance"!

 

Larry K.

[AZBillyBoy 2]

Did you go by Gilette to get there or down to the Lake and in that way? There used to be those two ways to get to Tip Top but I heard the Lake access was fenced off. I also heard there was some hassles going down the old (standard) Mica Mule Mine/AZCO road by Gilette. Someone was mining there and playing "king of the hill" by closing the road.

[Guardrail 1]

I spent the better part of two years wheeling in the area of the old the Columbia town site, Humbug Creek, Gold Hill and out the ridge to the east to Tip Top & west Table Mesa.

 

I would recommend, if you are planning on running from Tip Top out west to Lake Pleasant, you might prefer to do it from west to east. The west side can be the difficult stretch, especially the rock garden in Humbug Creek, and the climb up Gold Hill. I haven't been out there for over a year, and the roads can get badly washed out.

 

The Columbia town site is privately owned, with no trespassing, but there is a route around it & down into Humbug Creek.

 

This area is full of mining history. Goggle up "Neal Du Shane", and his book on Columbia, Az. Lots of hiking opportunities in Humbug Creek; Curly McKibbys cabin, mining ruins, grave sites along the creek and up on gold hill.

 

I have attached a few pics. The old post office site along Humbug Creek, and Spanish ruins atop Gold Hill (or so I was told.

 

I would rate the west end of the route as a solid 3+ from Humbug Creek up though the climb on Gold Hill, from there it eases up quite a bit.

 

Have a great trip!

 

 

Larry K.

 

 

Larry, that sounds like an interesting run from west to east. Can you offer a few directions on how to do that? I'd be highly interested in checking that out.

[Ladybug 505]

Well I think that Larry and party should post up a day trip up this way! I think you'd find quite a few of us interested in going!

Please consider!!

smiles, ladybug