From a gold mine hidden deep within the Superstition Mountains to a wailing widow, Arizona has its fair share of spooky hiking trails. A trail you’ve probably never heard of is the Clay Mine Trail at Cave Creek Regional Park. This creepy hike in Arizona leads straight through an abandoned mine, and the story behind it will make your hair stand on end. Join us as we explore the best creepy hike near Cave Creek, AZ.

Tucked away in Cave Creek Regional Park, the Clay Mine Trail is a three-mile, moderately difficult out-and-back hike. With an elevation gain of just under 350 feet, it's suitable for most skill levels (including kids and dogs.)
Jacek Joniec/AllTrails
Not too easy or too hard, the offers an overall pleasant experience. It meanders through the vast mountain landscape, lined on either side by unique desert vegetation.
Eduardo Cabre/AllTrails
Several lookout points provide sweeping panoramic views of the wide-open surroundings. You'll feel like you're in the middle of nowhere - despite being just 35 miles north of Phoenix.
Richard Wagner/AllTrails
There's a stable along the trail, so you'll see lots of horses during your hike. So majestic!
Eduardo Cabre/AllTrails

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At the end of the trail, however, things take a much creepier turn. There's an abandoned clay mine that has been left to decay in the elements, and the story behind it will send chills down your spine.
Wendy Counts/AllTrails
Originally, the mine was dug in hopes of finding gold - but it only contained clay. A woman named Leila P. Irish bought the land and decided to bottle the clay and sell it as a "miracle elixir" that allegedly cured all disease.
Ilana Scheinker/AllTrails
Of course, she was not being truthful - however, the solution did manage to heal one sickness: dysentery. She made a fortune (never mind the fact that much of it was obtained under false pretenses) that her descendants still enjoy to this day.
Westen W/AllTrails
The trail is not shaded, so dawn and dusk are the best times to embark on it. You just might see a hot air balloon drifting way off in the distance - a nice surprise after the heavy and dark energy of the mine.
Wendy Counts/AllTrails


Watch a quick video of the hike to the abandoned Clay Mine in Cave Creek Regional Park Arizona from Arizona Day Hikes:

It may be a short trail, but it is still filled with a fascinating history and beautiful scenic views. Have you ever hiked the Clay Mine Trail? If so, we’d love to hear all about your experience! Tell us in the comments. For another creepy hike in Arizona, check out our previous article about a haunted Arizona trail.

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Clay Mine Trail

Chris Muras | January 29, 2023

What are the creepiest hikes in Arizona?

Whether it's hiking to an abandoned mine, the remnants of a long-forgotten cemetery, or some other piece of AZ history that is barely remembered and only held onto through legend, these hikes will cause the hairs on the back of your neck to stand at attention. Here are a few of the creepiest hikes in Arizona:

  • Treasure Loop Trail, Apache Junction, AZ: The Lost Dutchman Mine in the Superstition Mountains is just about the creepiest hike in AZ, and If all of the stars align you might just discover lost gold - or be one of the hundreds who have gone missing.
  • Transept Trail, North Rim, AZ: Keep watch for the Wailing Woman on this creepy Arizona trail. Legend has it that a family in the 1920s had a tragic accident on the trail leaving the mother alone to face the death of her entire family - she jumped to her death, and is seen still searching the area for her family.
  • Lost Ranch Ruins Trail, Phoenix, AZ: The remains of an unidentified building await you on this mysterious Arizona trail. Is it a mining camp, a former speakeasy, or an abandoned government building? No one is sure what it once was, but it now is an interesting piece of Arizona history.
  • Jerome Cemetery Trail, Jerome, AZ: The remains of an abandoned graveyard can be found on this short hike in Arizona. From mining accidents to 1800s gunfights this cemetery was filled with 400 graves - only 40 gravestones remain to mark the town's long-lost inhabitants.

 

There are many more creepy trails littered throughout the state of Arizona. With its rich history of gold diggers and treasure hunters there were bound to be some mishaps that leave behind stories, legends, and most likely a ghost or two.

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Clay Mine Trail, Cave Creek, AZ 85331, USA