Old Bisbee Tour - 2 Hours
Explore Old Bisbee, Open-Pit Mines, and Lowell Americana
Experience our most popular route with the private 2-hour Old Bisbee historic district Jeep tour. This mild sightseeing ride guides you comfortably through winding, narrow hillsides dotted with historic colorful miner cottages and elegant architecture. Along the route, your local guide highlights legendary mining sites like the Lavender Pit, shares personal stories, and takes you down Erie Street in Lowell to view vintage Americana classic cars.
$65 - Adult | $59 - Senior | $33 Youth | Under 13 - Free
Mild Travel | Private Tour | 2 Hours
Meet Travis - Owner and 4th-Generation Local Guide
Who is Travis?
"I’m a fourth-generation Bisbee native, born here in 1966. My great-grandfather 'GG' arrived in 1913 and worked the Lowell Mine, planting our family roots deep in this beloved town. After high school, college, and raising my family in Phoenix, I came home in 2015. Now I lead tours, sharing Bisbee’s rich history, hoping every visitor falls in love with my hometown as I have."
“Why I love this tour” - a personal note from Travis
"I love this tour because Bisbee visitors get a thorough understanding of the key events that made Bisbee what it is in terms of history, mining, events, and architecture. This tour explains how and why Bisbee started, how the mines built the city, and how the artist culture saved the city. It's best for folks who didn't know anything about Bisbee and want to know what Bisbee is."
Itinerary at a Glance
Your Old Bisbee Tour winds through historic Old Bisbee’s steep streets with miners’ homes, the first jail, Lyric Theater, and Pythian Castle, then explores Brewery Gulch’s red-light district, scary stairs, and the vibrant bar district with Arizona’s oldest bar.
It continues past the Copper Queen Hotel and historic sites to Quality Hill’s stunning 150-mile vistas into Mexico, then through Main Street and the shopping district to the dramatic Lavender Pit overlook.
En route to the Lavender Pit lookout, your guide will share the rich mining history of the valley, its high-concentration ore veins, the ghost cities of the past, and personal stories from their own mining family.
At the dramatic viewpoint, discover how the Lavender Pit earned its name while admiring the vivid mineral striations in the pit walls, historic headframes marking the deepest tunnels, the copper mining process, and Bisbee’s famous turquoise veins before continuing to Lowell.
On the way to Lowell, you'll pass the smelter smoke damage, take a final look at the open pits from Erie Street, then step back in time at Lowell's preserved Americana with its 1950s storefronts and classic cars by Jay Allen.
Additional highlights include the vintage Airstreams and Dots Diner at the Shady Dell, the historic Evergreen Cemetery with over 10,000 graves and the founder's headstone, the copper doors of Lowell School, and Kenneth Ober’s ‘Chairy Tree’ art on the return to Old Bisbee.
Additional Helpful Notes About the Tour
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Not Wheelchair Accessable
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Children under 13 tour for free
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The maximum capacity is four guests
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Car seats are not provided
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Not recommended for pregnant guests
What Do I Need To Bring on Tour?
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Sun Protection
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Bisbee is a little closer to the sun at around 5500 ft elevation for our tours. Hats are encouraged along with sunscreen and sunglasses.
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Layered Clothing
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Although average temperatures are generally mild, wind and different tour start and ending times could be chilly.
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Insect Repellent
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Bisbee has No-See-Ums, especially during the monsoon season. Bring along a strong insect repellent or stay covered up.
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Comfortable, Closed-Toe Shoes
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There is minimal walking of a few yards on some tours, with plenty of photo stops. Unfortunately, Harvester Ants call Bisbee home and pack a painful sting. Closed-toe shoes are a great idea.
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We go to you - you can choose your pickup location during online booking.
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Booking In Advance
Cutoff: 1 Hour
Know Before You Go
Minimum age of participants is: Any
Maximum age of participants is: Any
Pickup, Parking & Meeting Point
We Meet You Where It's Convenient
Getting to your Jeep Tour is straightforward and stress-free. We offer a central meeting location in Old Bisbee, with free guest-choice pickup available within Bisbee city limits when arranged in advance.
Our Default Meeting Location is at 10 Copper Queen Plaza
This easy-to-find downtown location is our default meeting point and works well for guests driving in who want to park and walk to the default location.
If you're staying in town or prefer that Travis pick you up, we offer free pickup at any Bisbee city-limit location. Your pickup location could be a parking lot, restaurant, shop, hotel, or Airbnb.
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Free and paid public parking is available near the meeting point
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Please arrive 10 minutes early to ensure a relaxed start
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Comfortable step-in access makes boarding easy for all guests
FAQS
Are tours private?
Yes. Every Big Jeep Tour is private for your group.
How long is the OLD BISBEE TOUR?
About 2 hours, including photo stops.
Do you go to the Lavender Pit?
Yes, we stop at the overlook on its edge and view down to the bottom of the open pits.
Where do we meet?
We provide free pickup within Bisbee city limits or you can meet us at 10 Copper Queen Plaza.
Is it suitable for limited mobility?
Yes. Our vehicles have easy step-in access. Tell us any needs when booking.
What if the weather changes?
We will cancel the tour in the event of snow or ice.
Testimonial
First time in Bisbee and having had a local tour guide like Travis to drive & show my hubby and I around this mining town, was just a wonderful experience. The tour was only for two hours but Travis went over and beyond the allotted time. He also made sure we were comfortable in the jeep he drove. He did research before becoming a tour guide. He was very knowledgeable, so very nice, answered all our questions and told stories only he can tell about the City he resides in. I think sometimes, we can tell who loves their job as a tour guide, definitely, Travis does!
Thank you Travis! You did an amazing job. We loved all the stories you told us while in this tour and we won't spoil it for your future guides. Folks, this jeep tour is highly recommended! Check it out, Travis will not disappoint you!