Adventure & History in Rackensack Canyon with Gold Mine Tour

Duration

3 ½ Hours

About

Your Tour will be Exclusive to guests within your party only. Tours depart from the Carefree Sundial where you board our Custom Jeep Gladiator and head eight miles North into the Upper Sonoran Desert of Tonto National Forest. Smooth Pavement ends and off-road begins five minutes later as we slow crawl through Rackensack Canyon and then begin an ascending transition to Mountain Chaparral vegetation zone with absolutely breathtaking views up to 4500 foot elevation. The short ride to summit can be a bit dusty & bouncy but is exhilarating fun with entertaining narration and educational photo stops along trail prior to arrival at Mountain Top Studio/Gift Shop. Here you will enjoy complimentary refreshments while waiting your slot on Helicopter with free time to relax on patio with its jaw dropping vistas or try your hand at Steer Head Roping and Horseshoes.

Your "Over the Top" Adventure continues with a thrilling half hour excursion in a Robinson R44 Raven II Helicopter that embarks from our Mountain-Top Heli Pad. Each flight will accommodate up to 3 passengers with a maximum combined weight limit of 550#. This portion of the tour will include aerial exploration of multiple Hohokam Indian Ruins which date back to 1400 AD. Your expert pilot will share historical narration as he orbits around the ruins so you can photograph these difficult to access and seldom seen remote sites. You will then fly East to observe Beautiful Bartlett Lake, the Verde River and Horse Shoe Reservoir with picturesque vertical topography that surrounds it before flying by Humboldt FAA tower on your way back to Rackensack.

Upon return from Heli-Ride you will head down to the Gold Mine and are rewarded with historic tableau of 1800's artifacts excavated from the Ft. Worth Gold Mine site. This mine was part of the Historic Rackensack Mines which were instrumental in the founding of Cave Creek, Arizona. You will interact with your knowledgeable guide to learn about Old-Timers hard-rock Gold Mining methods and then with adrenalin pumping, you enter mine to experience their excitement first hand as you follow same vein of Gold that Old Rackensack chased in 1880. This exciting Old West Adventure is a true to life historical snapshot of how Arizona was really settled and one you will never forget.

More Info

This mine is part of Historic Rackensack Mines, which were instrumental in the founding of Cave Creek, Arizona. Our expert guides share their love of Arizona with a wealth of knowledge. They will narrate each phase of the tour and are always happy to answer your questions.

What to Wear / Bring

Recommend closed toe shoes and comfortable, weather appropriate clothing for 4500' Elevation Cooler Temperatures.

Amazing Photo Sites…..Bring Your Camera !