I know that there were a couple of blog posts from long about 2006-2007 covering several underground mines in this district. We're planning on an overnight trip to the area this fall, so I'd like to pick everyone's brains about which mines are accessible and which are not.
Logically, the NPS would gate those right off trails, but their limited resources and terrible research skills (ask me) ensure that most mines remain open!
Does anyone here have good locations and, if possible, coordinates for the open mines, particularly those with extensive workings?
Rush Creek Mining District
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RE: Rush Creek Mining District
I've visited Rush the Philadelphia mine is the most popular to explore. I've run into a hand full of locals exploring it while hiking to it. Go to the landing in/out canoe launch area and if you cross the Buffalo there are more mines. Beware they do have a fence up, but luckily all you have to do is follow it to either end and you can walk around. I haven't crossed the river to get to those mines. I'm just relaying what I was told. They're supposed to be BIG.
Use this handy tool. That's how I find out mines are all of those hills!
Just enter Marion County
http://www.geology.ar.gov/minerals/mining_map.htm
Use this handy tool. That's how I find out mines are all of those hills!
Just enter Marion County
http://www.geology.ar.gov/minerals/mining_map.htm
Boredom is the deadliest poison.
WILLIAM F. BUCKLEY, JR
WILLIAM F. BUCKLEY, JR
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RE: Rush Creek Mining District
That's a good resource, thanks!
It looks like the mines across the river (Red Cloud is one; the UO blog has photos of the interior but did not specifiy the mine name- the workings layout matches up with 1930s maps I found) can be accessed by driving a few miles of back roads off a county road. There are others near the townsite, and I heard rumors that non-gated entrances to the Monte Cristo exist.
The mine roads probably won't be driveable anymore, but I'd rather hike a few miles than mess with a river. I grew up on the Florida gulf coast and you can't pay me enough to get near water that's not in my shower!
It looks like the mines across the river (Red Cloud is one; the UO blog has photos of the interior but did not specifiy the mine name- the workings layout matches up with 1930s maps I found) can be accessed by driving a few miles of back roads off a county road. There are others near the townsite, and I heard rumors that non-gated entrances to the Monte Cristo exist.
The mine roads probably won't be driveable anymore, but I'd rather hike a few miles than mess with a river. I grew up on the Florida gulf coast and you can't pay me enough to get near water that's not in my shower!