Update to this area. In the summer of 2012, a fire consumed this entire area in the largest fire recorded in Arizona. The area is closed and asbestos and mercury abatement projects are underway including the closing of all the mineshafts. here is a link to some additional info about the Sunflower Mine many years ago: http://www.paysonroundup.com/news/2012/jun/06/another-look-some-sunflower-mining-history/

A 4 hour, 13 mile trip to the famous Sunflower Mine located on AZ Forest Road 25A. Rated difficult for the rocky, creek bed trail, the adventure takes you through some of the most primitive and rugged areas in the Tonto National Forest. The Sunflower Mine produced mercury from an ore called cinnabar that is removed from the mountain via tunnels and open cut mining methods. The ore is cooked in furnaces with coke to produce the mercury gas which condenses in cooling tubes at the end. The mine was discovered in 1911 by E. H. Bowman who was looking for gold. The mine operated from 1913 to 1965 yielding large amounts mercury, gold, silver and copper. New images inside the main adit.