Ajo, AZ – Darby Wells Rd
Ajo (Ah-Hoe) Arizona – or just outside of Ajo – at Darby Wells BLM, is where I have moved since Mittry Lake. The 160+ mile drive is the furthest I have moved in a single day since January 1st when I made the drive from Northern California to Borrego Springs to hang with some fellow full-timers. (See my 2015 travel map)
Ajo is a small town, mostly deserted unfortunately, though not for it’s first time. Ajo was abandoned once before (1880’s) due to Indian raids and revived in 1884 as a mining town. In 1911 it experienced it’s “boom” thanks to new methods of ore mining. The New Cornelia Copper mine operated from 1916 through 1985 employing more than 1000 people.
So why am I here you may ask? Because it is the closest town to the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument which I plan to visit. Ajo is a great base-camp to this boondocker that requires a stable Internet connection for work, while being within an hour drive of the park. Darby Wells Rd, just to the south of the mine itself, less than one mile outside of town and a picturesque location to camp. It is my hangout for this week, before starting towards Tucson over the next weekend.
I’m maybe headed that way in a couple of weeks. Looking at the satellite image, I’m thinking you’re at or near the intersection of Darby Wells and Bates Well roads? Any issues with the roads in? I’m in a 24-foot Class C.
Enjoying your blog!
Rich
I am about 3/4 of a mile off the paved hwy, on Darby Wells Road. Another 1/4 or so to the intersection. The road will give you no problems to that point. After that, you may have a hard time finding a place to turn around. I did not explore much more than another half-mile or so beyond that intersection. There are some 40′ rigs out here so you should have no problems.
There are a few good secluded boondocking sights along this first 3/4 mile, but the majority of the sights are at that intersection but not as secluded.
Thanks!
Hope to cross paths with you some time and share a beer. Or whatever.
Rich