Note: The actual Cactus Mine located in a nearby canyon is sealed and closed down.  This tunnel in these pictures was dug to connect to the Cactus Mine as an easier way to bring ore closer to the mill.  It is the only remaining entrance into the mine.  The tunnel is called the “Newhouse Tunnel” after Samuel Newhouse who invested millions into the mine and nearby town.  I am calling this entire Trek the Cactus Mine since it’s the only way into the mine now.

Trek Planner Insiders will be able to view the GPS Coordinate and Trail Map in this Trek.

I recently bought this original Cactus Mine Stock Certificate dated January 2 of 1889!  These stocks are from the beginning of the Cactus Mine of when the Frenchmen were the owners.

The Trail and Cactus Mine History:

According to the old mining newspaper, the Salt Lake Mining Review, the Cactus Mine had a 6,200 ft main haulage tunnel and many thousands of feet of workings and tunnels.  The nearby town of Newhouse (now a ghost town) supported this mine with 1,500-2,000 people.  The copper and silver inside the mine were said to be of such high quality, concentration, and value that some visitors who were checking out the mine were left “almost dumbfounded.”  The mine has a three compartment shaft – two for hoisting and one for a miner elevator.  It appears the mine has about 6 different levels separated by about 100 ft each level.

The Cactus Mine ore body was discovered sometime in 1870 and was worked by a man by the name of Allen G. Campbell and some associates.  The associates also owned the Horn Silver Mine on the other side of the mountain.  “Later on, two French companies began operations in the gulch.  One of these, the Cactus company, owned and developed the mines, while the other put in a smelter for the treatment of the Cactus ores.  A short but successful run was made at the smelter when a disagreement arose between the two associations, the result being that the plant was closed, and it has since remained idle, while work at the mine was indefinitely suspended.”

“About ten years ago the reduction company and the Cactus company arrived at an understanding and the former then built one of the finest concentration plants to be found in this intermountain region at that time; but a brief run had hardly been made when trouble broke out again between the interested parties, and this disagreement, together with the great scarcity of water for milling operation, occasioned another close down, notwithstanding the fact that the mine workings immense bodies of fine milling ore were blocked out ready for extraction and the mill.  This disagreement led to another lawsuit which ended in the sale of the properties of the two companies  under the (illegible), the bondholderers being the purchasers.  The period of redemption ended with the bondholders in peaceful and legal possession, thus leaving them free to consummate a deal then pending, which resulted in the acquisition of this magnificent piece of mining property by the Newhouse Mines & Smelters company, of which Mr. Samuel Newhouse is the head, and under whose direction it has been so extensively developed and so splendidly equipped.”

Cactus Mine. Salt Lake Mining Review. 1905-12-15

“The Cactus Mine has opened into one of the greatest mines of the world as this time.”  By 1906 there were almost 700 miners employed at the Cactus Mine.  The mine itself had incredible wealth but the ore dumps outside the mine were said to have millions of dollars in them. (Cactus has confirmed all Newhouse said. Salt Lake Telegram.  December 24, 1096).  An addition 100-150 men flocked to the Cactus Mine in 1907 to follow the money (Mining men flock to ‘Frisco District. Inter-Mountain Republican. April 9, 1907)

The Cactus Mine had a 6,000 ft main haulage tunnel with miles of tunnels and shafts.  Apparently, a group of visitors was allowed to inspect the inside of the mine and the ore was in such high quality and quantity that the visitors were “almost dumbfounded.”  In 1906 the Cactus Mine produced 2,000,000 pounds of copper (Operation of Cactus Mine. Deseret Evening new. July 10, 1906).

A prominent copper miner from Michigan came to check out the Cactus Mine and was quoted as saying “I believe that the Cactus is the greatest copper mine in the world.  I have never before seen such immense bodies of ore as are exposed there; it seems there is no end to them.” (Cactus has confirmed all Newhouse said. Salt Lake Telegram.  December 24, 1906).  By 1907 the Cactus Mine was producing close to $300,000 a month in net profits! (Big Cactus Mine earns good money. Inter-Mountain Republican. March 8, 1907)

Due to high copper prices and a lull in the stock market, the Cactus Mine closed operations sometime 1910.  

This mine is located in a desolate and long forgotten location in the middle of nowhere near the town of Milford.  While I visited I didn’t see a single visitor or car drive by on the main road.  Make sure you have enough food, water, and fuel when visiting.

After doing some exploring at the ghost town of Newhouse, I looked around and saw remnants of a large mining operation.  I then just hiked straight up the valley to it to see what was there.

The adit is gated, but you can peer inside of the mine and see that the tunnel goes far into the mountain.  Judging by the tailings from just outside the entrance you can get an idea that this mine probably had several miles worth of tunnels. 

Mounds of dirt and mine workings can be found with some very interesting rock in them!

The tunnel is full of water and it looks like someone built a small dam at the entrance.  It isn’t deep but the water has since filled to the brim and is slowly trickling down into the desert.

You can still see some ore cart tracks and lots of other small relics including the usual old food cans, bottles, and random pieces of metal.  If you look on a map you will see that the miners built a rail track straight to the mine from the main road.  The rail has since been dismantled but you can still see the dirt grades and some of the railroad ties in the desert sand.

It looks like there is a large pile of timbers outside the mine.  I am thinking that the wood is from the original trestle that existed in this same spot.