Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument · Arizona

Dripping Springs Mine Trail

1.4 mi of trail, end to end · Unearth Dripping Springs Mine: 2.8 mi round trip in the Service's write-up · about 150 ft of climbing · 1,779 ft–1,935 ft

1,799 ft 1,814 ft · 1.4 mi high 1,935 ft

Unearth Dripping Springs Mine 2.8 mi round trip · the Park Service's write-up

2-3 Hours · dogs allowed · entrance fee applies · reservation required

Start Dripping Springs Mine

The landscape around the mine features a tall saguaro forest and large purplish mountains.
Enjoy beautiful mountain scenery as you wind your way to Dripping Springs Mine. Photo: NPS Photo

Wind your way through the Puerto Blanco mountains to discover an old copper mine!

The Dripping Springs Mine Trail follows a historic mining road 1.4 miles to its end. The mine may be spotted directly west of the end of the road and is accessible after crossing a deep wash. The road is scenic is provides beautiful views of the Sonoran Desert landscape: majestic volcanic mountains of purple rhyolite and black basalt, large saguaro forests and organ pipe cacti are found along this trail as it meanders between the mountain basins.

This beautiful area of the monument is rarely visited and is a great place to enjoy having the trail to yourself out in the desert wilderness.

Distance: 2.8 mile (4.5 km) roundtrip

Difficulty : Moderate

Elevation change : 50 feet (30.5 m)

Accessibility The trail is dirt but passes through small washes requiring a bit of climbing down larger rocks. The trail ends and a steep ~15 foot wash must be crossed to get to the mine. If you are curious about accessibility for your needs please contact the park.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

All 25 trails in Organ Pipe Cactus National MonumentFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.