Swansea Ghost Town

This location is very remote and a high clearance vehicle is needed. The drive in is a dirt road and very tough the last couple of miles. I didn’t see many spots right at the ghost town, but plenty all over before and after. I had one or two bars of service on Verizon. If you like exploring and solitude, this place is for you.

I’m a local so I’ve made this trip more times than I can recall. While I’ve never actually used 4x4, the last couple of miles are no joke. Higher clearance is a must.

Take water. TAKE WATER!

If you can find them, there are trails that will take you east, beyond Alamo lake, into Aguila. From there you could take the Aguila road all the way to the Wikenburg/Vulture mine road.

This was a cool spot to camp!

It was like you were camping in a museum. Walking around at night exploring the abandoned structures was surreal. You could almost hear the voices of the past and imagine what life was like in this town at the turn of the century. 
We went in February so we got to experience some more mild weather, I couldn’t comprehend camping here in the summer as it was still mildly warm during the days in winter. Thankfully they have covered picnic areas with tables and benches, they’re about the only shade you are going to find.

Please don’t take and artifacts you may find, its so cool to see these rusted pieces of history scattering the ground. 

Highly recommend a 4 wheel vehicle. I only have front wheel drive and definitely had a couple of nerve wracking moments during the drive in. We went a few days after a rain storm and there are several washes crossing the dirt road to the site. If you are coming from the west coast be sure to stock up on supplies in the town of Parker. BRING PLENTY OF WATER AND MAKE SURE YOU DRIVE OUT WITH A FULL TANK OF GAS. Don’t risk it. 

Really cool place to check out. Lots of dune buggies during the day. 

  Decent spot worth checking out.

-Chuck 

P.S. Don’t forget, always leave the area better than you found it!
          LEAVE NO TRACE. 

Here was a neat and remote experience. We explored the ruins of this early 19th century mining town. We were by no means alone though. Each day a dozen or so off-road vehicles and explorers visit the desert centered attraction. Nestled in amazing landscape with massive saguaro cactus towering sporadically, this campground offers spectacular views for hundreds of miles.

There are informational pedestals in front of the numerous foundations in the area. The mines are closed off with welded metal grates and i-beams supporting them for safety. The main mine, so deep that the bottom cannot be seen. After vandals in the 1970s harvested the wood roofing materials for firewood the structures deteriorated quickly in the desert environment.

Vaulted toilets are a short hike from the provided campsites. Each site has a picnic table under a tin roof shelter with a cornerstone wall and a fire ring with cooking grate attached.

The drive out there was nearly 2 hours of slow creeping through a nighttime desert. I wouldn't recommend going in at night anywhere but especially here. Swansea mine road just after an off-road racing event was all torn up! Ha! The ruts were deep and large rocks littered the uneven road. Luckily, and unbeknownst to us, the road was graded and redone while we were camping at the abandoned mining town. It took us a quarter of the time to get back out after our two-night stay.