Up Rackensack Canyon by Jeep to an 1880s Gold Mine
A dirt-road climb north of Carefree, snacks at the owners' mountaintop studio, then a guided walk into a hard-rock gold mine.
The Jeep leaves the Carefree Sundial and heads eight miles north into the Upper Sonoran Desert of Tonto National Forest. Off the pavement, it crawls through Rackensack Canyon, then climbs into chaparral country with views that reach 4,500 feet.
The road ends on 62 acres of private land inside the forest, owned by the family that runs the tour. Three hours cover the drive, a stop at their summit studio and a walk into an 1880s gold mine. One traveler put the climb this way in May 2025: "The jeep ride up the mountain (4,500 feet!) was an adventure on its own."
The booking covers the ride, bottled water on the Jeep, snacks at the summit studio and the guided mine visit. The guide's tip is extra.
Historic 1880's Gold Mine Jeep Adventure near Scottsdale PhoenixShared three-hour Jeep tour by Rackensack Canyon Tours from the Carefree Sundial, with summit snacks and the mine visit. USD 195 per person, the same rate for children.www.viator.comA Dusty, Bouncy Climb Into the Chaparral
The custom Jeep Gladiator has four seats in the cab and six on open-air benches in the back, and it runs rain or shine. The operator calls the short ride to the summit a bit dusty and bouncy. The listing adds a warning for travelers with an excessive fear of heights, who may feel anxious in the mountainous terrain.
On the way up, the guide stops for desert plants and wildlife and narrates the archaeological Indian ruins of Rackensack Canyon. Guests can step out at photo stops for short walks on uneven ground.
Into the Ft. Worth Mine
At the mine, a tableau of 1800s artifacts dug from the Ft. Worth mine site sets the scene. The guide walks through how the old-timers worked hard rock, and then the group heads inside. By the operator's account, the tunnel follows the same vein of gold that the prospector known as Old Rackensack chased in 1880, and the canyon is named for him.
Reaching the mine takes a five-minute hike over rocky ground, and the operator will drive anyone who prefers not to walk it. Inside, one traveler in May 2025 found "some really beautiful rose quartz veins."
Snacks, Roping and the Owners' Story Up Top
Before the mine, the tour stops at the owners' Mountain Top Studio and gift shop. Snacks are included, along with free time on the patio and a go at steer-head roping, cornhole and horseshoes.
The Underwood family bought the land in 1998: a long-dormant mining claim named Dallas, along with the Ft. Worth and El Paso claims. By the family's account, the very first tour on June 21, 2005 had barely begun when lightning struck near their new studio, and the fire that followed left the mountaintop in ash. A traveler in April 2026 wrote that "Charles and Ginger were the perfect host with snacks and a wonderful conversation."
What the Ride Asks of You
The operator asks every guest to have the upper-body strength to hold steady during the ride and to climb in and out of the Jeep unaided. The listing advises against the tour for pregnant travelers and for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.
Children need to be at least 2, and guests bring their own car seat for any child from 2 to 4. The listing marks the tour stroller accessible. The operator's own rules do not mention strollers, and the path to the mine is rocky. Certified service animals are permitted.
📍 Meet on the east side of the 35-foot Carefree Sundial in Carefree Town Center, near the Hampton Inn, where the white Jeep Gladiator waits. The tour ends there too. The operator asks guests to arrive 30 minutes early.
- Departures run at 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM, Monday to Saturday, and booking closes 24 hours before the start.
- Cancel at least 24 hours ahead for a full refund. Later cancellations get nothing back.
- The operator runs tours from October through May, rain or shine, and says the canyon is usually 10 to 12 degrees colder than the Phoenix airport. Dress in layers, with closed-toe shoes.
- The Jeep has no storage space, and anything you bring rides on your lap. Drones, alcohol and glass containers stay behind.
- The guide's tip is not included.
Come early for the free four-acre desert garden in Carefree Town Center, then climb aboard for the canyon.