In the 1870s, gold was discovered in the Bradshaw
Mountains. In 1882, Charles Champie
discovered a prime location - now called the El Paro Bonito Mine (in English
that translates to the Pretty Dog Mine). The mine is perched on the side of one
of the steepest ravines in the area, surround by pristine wildness that is a
beautiful example of unspoiled Sonoran
Desert terrain.
Miners worked the El Paro Bonito mine off and on from 1882
until 1934 and the mine passed through numerous hands. Throughout the years,
the residents have left their legacy and memories in the area - now just
tumbled ruins and grave markers.
Meet a Real Prospector
Dave Burns, your Windwalker Guide, is a real prospector who
still works the El Paro Bonito and surrounding area looking for (and finding)
gold. With Dave, you will visit the mine, the homesteads and the gravesites of
the first settlers who found gold in the area. He can tell you everything you
want to know about where and how to find gold, how to get it out of the ground
and some fantastic stories of the early prospectors.
You will explore the 550-foot mine shaft and Dave will show
you what miners look for as they prospect for promising pockets of gold. After
the heat of the desert and harsh sun, the cool rush of air from the tunnel is a
welcome change.
Dig Your Own Gold
The crowning event of your Gold Mine Excursion is
prospecting for your own gold. Dave will help you dig a bucket of sand and
gravel from a promising locations in a nearby dry streambed. Then he will let
you run the bucket through his sluice. With a little luck, you'll find a few
flakes or nuggets of gold - and you get to keep whatever you find!
