Difficulty: 3.5
Description: Sunflower was a cavalry water station in 1868 and was a side station to Camp Reno. Known as Camp O'Connell, there was one building by the roadside on a military road from Fort McDowell to Camp Reno and to Payson. The military left Camp Reno and Sunflower in April 1870. Apaches were surprised when they found Camp Reno empty, and they burned everything down to the ground.
The trail is FR25A, the road to the mercury mine. A high clearance vehicle is required.
The mine was abandoned when the Viper Militia destroyed a bridge over a deep chasm while experimenting with explosives. The Forest Service has now rebuilt the bridge. It is a short walk to one of the mine tunnels and on beyond to view the large amount of equipment. This is a scenic drive through wilderness and a short walk.
The Sunflower Mine produced mercury. The mercury was extracted from an ore called cinnabar. This ore was broken down into fine particles which were then burned in vertical furnaces to produce mercury gas. After passing through multiple U shaped pipes, the mercury gas cooled and liquified producing pure mercury. The mineworks building still stands and all the processing machinery can still be seen.
Distance: 13 miles
Time: 4 hours
To the trailhead: Take Arizona 87 northeast from Phoenix to mile marker 222. Turn left just before summit and truck brake check area to Sycamore Creek. Follow paved road 1.2 miles to the bottom of the hill and turn right across cattle guard on F.S. 25. Reset odometer. GPA and odometer readings may vary.
The trail:
| Odometer |
GPS |
Description |
| 0 |
N 33° 55’ 52.4”
W 111° 27’ 48.6 “ |
Start of F.S. 25 cross cattle guard and proceed north on dirt road. |
| 1.1 |
|
Swing left and cross cattle guard. Hard left down hillon F.S. 25 |
| 3.8 |
N 33° 56’ 29.0”
W 111° 28’ 55.9” |
Continue straight on F.S. 25. Trail to left is dead end for wilderness. Road gets tougher. |
| 4.8 |
|
Cross creek |
| 5.1 |
|
Cross bridge |
| 5.6 |
N 33° 57’ 27.2”
W 111° 29’ 27.6” |
Trail intersection. Walk ¼ mile up hill to the left to the mine or drive to top of hill since gate and fence are down. |
| |
|
Difficult section begins to the right as trail follows a rocky creek bed. |
| 6.5 |
N 33° 57’ 56.2”
W 111° 28’ 49.4” |
Make a hard right up steep rock step onto F.S. 3722 and follow switch backs to the ridge. |
| 7.1 |
|
Bear right at T intersection |
| 7.4 |
N 33° 58’ 04.0”
W 111° 28’ 13.1” |
Several roads crisscross at the top of the hill. Head southeast downhill on F.S. 201 |
| 7.5 |
|
Driver’s choice, right is easier. Steep descent on narrow brushy shelf road |
| |
|
At the bottom of the hill are two open mine tunnels. On other side of creek trails leads up hill and left and climbs steeply up washed out road to F.S. 201 |
| 9.5 |
N 33° 58’ 03.5”
W 111° 26’ 57.4” |
Washed out road meets F.S. 201. Turn right and follow road downhill. |
| 13.1 |
|
Return to start at cattle guard and pavement. |
References
Wells, C. (2001). Guide to Arizona Backroads and 4-Wheel Drive Trails. FunTreks Inc; Monument CO.
Sunflower. Retrieved October 8, 2007 from http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/az/sunflower.html