Beautiful area! Wow! This kinds of videos is like a personal tour. Around 4 yrs ago i owned a Taxi & Tour company. This brings memories back definitely. Thanks for this i needed this. Its like the good old days.
Thanks for the video. I live in Tombstone and the views of Sheep's Head and China Peak fill my front window as I type this comment. I love the trail to the top of China Peak. Several cool geocaches up there along the way. Great job! I'm thinking I need to get up there again real soon!
Beautiful scenery. Thank you. I'm also very impressed by how intact much of the San Juan Mine interior still is. It's a testament to the men's quality of workmanship many decades ago. However, I also feel conflicted that there was once a mine on what was/is sacred Apache Native American Indian territory.
There are a lot of mines in this area, some are in better shape than others. Often, when we are out driving in the backcountry, I envision what it must have been like to traverse those areas on horseback from both the Native American, Mexican, and European viewpoint in relation to the time-frame. Thank you for your comment!
Was just up there 2 weeks ago, itd been awhile. ive found acouple mine entrances up there, the entry you found i dont recognize tho! The entry i mainly know is directly on the left of trail and ya have to jus about crawl in. Its just as the trail gets more intense heading to china peak. Any more clues to this ent? Always stay safe 🤙
Do you think anyone has ever found the famous Cochise Treasure around the Dragoon Mountains? I think it's still buried there somewhere. I can imagine it's hard to get to if no one found it like Cochise said nobody would ever be able to find it.
Not sure when you took this video but the monsoons over the last few months really washed out and exposed a culvert pipe and eroded some other curves on the road leading up to the mountain. Plenty of places now to roll your vehicle over before you even start climbing. The road elevating alongside the mountain before you go through the pass also had a lot of the gravel washed off exposing the larger rock underneath requiring you to be mindful of clearance. There are vertical shafts in the China Peak area that if you're not paying attention when on foot will result in your death.
Thanks for the comments Chris. We have been experiencing a lot of washouts in our travels. It will take some time and maybe a little self help to get the roads back to normal. As far as vertical shafts, I agree! They are all over the place and one needs to very careful and cognizant of their surroundings in the area.
I read a book on Cochise where General Oliver O Howard and Tom Jeffords were escorted to China Meadow to negotiatenthe peace treaty with Cochise in 1872...I think it was thru the gate as his warriors could see dust clouds at ft Bowie when soldiers rode out against him....any veracity to that? Can you see old ft bowie from China peak?
The book "making peace with cochise"... describes the journey it is the 1st hand account of Lt Alton Slayden who was with General Howard while meeting cochise in 1872...taken from his diaries....i will reread it for more clues...it is an excellent read
![Dragoon Springs to Cochise Stronghold | Cochise County [Part 1]](/img/n.gif)
Beautiful area! Wow! This kinds of videos is like a personal tour. Around 4 yrs ago i owned a Taxi & Tour company. This brings memories back definitely. Thanks for this i needed this. Its like the good old days.
Great video. Headed out there this weekend.
Have fun! I'll be replacing tires on my beadlock wheels, lol!
Was Born there. Dad was stationed at the Fort there. Gold in these Mountains.
Thanks for the video. I live in Tombstone and the views of Sheep's Head and China Peak fill my front window as I type this comment. I love the trail to the top of China Peak. Several cool geocaches up there along the way. Great job! I'm thinking I need to get up there again real soon!
Thank you for the comment. The Dragoons are one of our favorites!
How many miles is this to the mine?
From China camp it's maybe a mile. If you dare to go all the way to China Peak, you go right by it.
One of our favorite Jeep/ Dirt bike treks. I never realized the mine was that big, I must have missed a turn inside.
There are 2 portals, one just above the other. The upper one is huge inside.
Very cool. Thank you for the info on this area.
You're welcome! Thanks for watching and commenting.
Awesome Video man. Thank you
Thank you for the comment and the compliment!
Beautiful scenery. Thank you. I'm also very impressed by how intact much of the San Juan Mine interior still is. It's a testament to the men's quality of workmanship many decades ago. However, I also feel conflicted that there was once a mine on what was/is sacred Apache Native American Indian territory.
There are a lot of mines in this area, some are in better shape than others. Often, when we are out driving in the backcountry, I envision what it must have been like to traverse those areas on horseback from both the Native American, Mexican, and European viewpoint in relation to the time-frame. Thank you for your comment!
Excellent video and information. I'll have to investigate how much of the trail is still passable when I make it down to the Dragoon's next year
I know you can still get to the San Juan mine, but getting passed that takes more nerves than I'm willing to use.
So good i decided to subscribe!
Thank you Richard!
Was just up there 2 weeks ago, itd been awhile. ive found acouple mine entrances up there, the entry you found i dont recognize tho! The entry i mainly know is directly on the left of trail and ya have to jus about crawl in. Its just as the trail gets more intense heading to china peak. Any more clues to this ent? Always stay safe 🤙
There is a level just up hill from the one you found. Top of the waste rock pile.
Do you think anyone has ever found the famous Cochise Treasure around the Dragoon Mountains? I think it's still buried there somewhere. I can imagine it's hard to get to if no one found it like Cochise said nobody would ever be able to find it.
I don't believe it's ever been found.
I found it! I am a nobody and Cochise was right. The problem is that I forgot where I left it, I think my car keys are with it.
Very cool, at Ft Huachuca for some training but I plan to make my way up here at some point. Thanks for the video.
We get up there fairly often. Great views!
I really enjoyed this video. Do you know how long this trail or trails are?
Thanks for the comment! This particular trail is maybe 3 or 4 miles long. Last I heard the trail had washed out and I'm not sure if it's passable now.
How many 100 plus year old nails did you collect in your tires?
Lol, none! I think those who came before me found them already.
Not sure when you took this video but the monsoons over the last few months really washed out and exposed a culvert pipe and eroded some other curves on the road leading up to the mountain. Plenty of places now to roll your vehicle over before you even start climbing. The road elevating alongside the mountain before you go through the pass also had a lot of the gravel washed off exposing the larger rock underneath requiring you to be mindful of clearance. There are vertical shafts in the China Peak area that if you're not paying attention when on foot will result in your death.
Thanks for the comments Chris. We have been experiencing a lot of washouts in our travels. It will take some time and maybe a little self help to get the roads back to normal. As far as vertical shafts, I agree! They are all over the place and one needs to very careful and cognizant of their surroundings in the area.
People lived in caves because it was to hot in the summer.
How do you get to this trailhead?
It's off Middlemarch road, left on Forest Service road 697.
@Roadrunner Adventure thanks I plan on checking it out this weekend in full-size truck!
Getting all the way to the mine may get tight for you. Be safe and have fun!
I read a book on Cochise where General Oliver O Howard and Tom Jeffords were escorted to China Meadow to negotiatenthe peace treaty with Cochise in 1872...I think it was thru the gate as his warriors could see dust clouds at ft Bowie when soldiers rode out against him....any veracity to that? Can you see old ft bowie from China peak?
Unfortunately, I cannot answer that with any amount of certainty. It does make for a great story though.
The book "making peace with cochise"... describes the journey it is the 1st hand account of Lt Alton Slayden who was with General Howard while meeting cochise in 1872...taken from his diaries....i will reread it for more clues...it is an excellent read
Thank you for the reference, I love western history.