The Ghost towns of the San Pedro River - Motorized

Cochise County Ghost Town Tour: Silver, Copper, and the Legends of the Old Southwest

Experience the fascinating history of Cochise County on a guided motorized tour through the legendary ghost towns of Tombstone and Bisbee. This journey reveals how major mineral discoveries shaped the destiny of southeastern Arizona, transforming remote desert settlements into some of the most famous mining towns in the American frontier.

The story begins with Ed Schieffelin’s discovery of silver at Goose Flats, which led to the rapid rise of Tombstone as Arizona’s largest and most notoriously rowdy boomtown. The tour also explores Bisbee’s transformation after Jack Dunn’s copper discovery at Apache Springs, which helped establish it as a major center of mining wealth and industry.

Along the route, participants make stops at three key locations featuring short walks and interpretive hikes through preserved historic sites. At Millville, visitors encounter ancient petroglyphs dating back to the fifteenth century, alongside notable landmarks such as the Clanton family ranch, the Battle of the Bulls site, the lovers’ lock bridge, and the cabin associated with the Brunckow murders.

Guided by knowledgeable Southwest historians, the tour provides deeper insight into the people and events that shaped the region beyond the familiar stories of the O.K. Corral. A stop at the Ed Schieffelin Monument offers a final reflection on the life of the man who founded “The Town Too Tough to Die,” bringing together history, legend, and landscape in a comprehensive exploration of Cochise County’s rugged past.