THINGS TO DO IN BISBEE
Big Jeep Tours is Bisbee’s story-rich, private Jeep experience led by a 4th-generation local guide. Choose from multiple routes that showcase Old Bisbee’s colorful streets, the Lavender Pit, Lowell’s vintage cars, Warren Ballpark, and panoramic Mule Mountain overlooks—plus insider stops you won’t find on big buses. Expect engaging mining history, historic architecture, and possible wildlife sightings, all from a comfortable, climate-controlled Jeep. Seniors and families love the relaxed pace, free city-limits pickup, and flexible photo stops. If you’re deciding what to do in Bisbee, a Big Jeep Tour is the easiest way to see more in less time and leave with unforgettable stories.
Discover Bisbee’s eerie side on a guided after-sunset walking tour that winds through back streets, stairways, and alleys to the town’s most storied haunts—some you’ll even step inside. Running 7 nights a week at 7:00 pm and lasting about 1 hour 45 minutes, it blends local lore, historic true crime, and spine-tingling tales from Arizona’s most haunted mining town. Reservations required; pet-friendly and best for ages 6+.
A proud Smithsonian Affiliate in the heart of Old Bisbee, this museum brings the copper camp’s past to life with interactive exhibits that trace Bisbee’s outsized role in America’s industrial growth. The signature “Digging In: Bisbee’s Mineral Heritage” experience—crafted with Smithsonian designers—walks you from a miner’s changehouse into an underground drift and “crystal cave,” telling the stories of the people who blasted and mucked more than 2,000 miles of tunnels beneath the Mule Mountains. Open daily 10am–4pm at 5 Copper Queen Plaza; family-friendly, with senior and military discounts. On Saturdays, consider the separate one-hour Downtown Walking Tour (2pm) for even more local lore.
Ride the narrow-gauge mine train with a retired miner and head deep underground to see how Bisbee’s copper boom really worked. Outfitted with a hard hat and headlamp, you’ll travel into the historic Copper Queen Mine while guides explain drilling methods, safety practices, and life below ground—a cool, constant ~47°F experience even in summer. Tours run daily at set times and depart from 478 N. Dart Rd., within walking distance of Old Bisbee. Reservations are required; arrive 30 minutes early, wear closed-toe shoes, and note that children under 6 aren’t permitted underground.
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Good to know:
• Tours typically last about an hour (plan a bit more for check-in).
• It stays about 47°F (4°C) underground—bring a light jacket.
• Official info, hours, and booking: Copper Queen Mine Tour website.
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​Make it a full Bisbee day: Pair the Queen Mine Tour with a scenic Big Jeep Tour to explore Old Bisbee, Lowell’s vintage streets, and mountaintop viewpoints after you come back to the surface.
Mel's Bisbee Bodega (Old Bisbee – Copper Queen Plaza)
A handy, centrally located convenience shop and gift stop, Mel's Bisbee Bodega is perfect for grabbing cold drinks, snacks, sunscreen, souvenirs, local jewelry—and even a fine-cigar selection—before or after your stroll around Old Bisbee. You’ll find it right in Copper Queen Plaza at 2 Main St, steps from major sights and tour departures. Typically open daily with extended daytime hours, it’s an easy “swing-by” for road-trip essentials and last-minute mementos. Friendly service and a deep mix of sundries make it a reliable pit stop for travelers exploring Brewery Gulch, the Museum, and Queen Mine area.
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Tip from Big Jeep Tours: meet your guide, then pop back in after the tour for a cold drink and a keepsake.
Looking for an active way to explore Bisbee before or after your Jeep tour? B Active Bisbee offers quick-hit golf cart history tours (30 or 60 minutes), guided e-bike rides plus e-bike rentals, and a range of guided hikes from easy viewpoint walks to the more challenging “High” Trail—each led by local experts who know the best viewpoints, art corners, and hidden lanes. They also run custom group experiences, wine country outings, and even pickleball sessions, making it easy to tailor a day to your crew. Their storefront at 86 Main Street (Old Bisbee) makes pickup simple, and weekend evenings you can use the Bisbee Runner shuttle to hop around town. Great add-on to Big Jeep Tours for travelers who want to keep exploring on foot or wheels.
Tucked along Tombstone Canyon, the Artemizia Foundation brings a jaw-dropping collection of contemporary, graffiti, and street art to Old Bisbee - think marquee names like Banksy, Ai Weiwei, Kara Walker, Swoon, Andy Warhol, Lady Pink, and more. Housed at 818 Tombstone Canyon, the museum features rotating galleries, a mural labyrinth, and a sculpture garden drawn from what it calls the largest private collection of its kind in the Southwest. It’s typically open Thursday–Sunday, 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (arrive by ~3:15 p.m.; no children under 13), with tickets sold at the gift shop. Pair a Big Jeep Tour with a self-guided hour here to round out your Bisbee day: rugged mining history by morning, cutting-edge art by afternoon.
Step into Bisbee’s creative core at the Sam•Poe Gallery, home to contemporary artists Sam Woolcott (award-winning painter of Bisbee’s spaces and light) and Poe Dismuke (inventive sculptor and maker of delightfully kinetic contraptions). You’ll find one-of-a-kind works that channel the town’s mining-era textures and desert geometry—right at 33 Subway Street. The gallery, opened by the duo in 2008, reflects their deep roots in Bisbee’s art scene (Poe even co-founded the city’s BRATS soapbox-derby arts tradition). A perfect short stop between explorations downtown, and a must for travelers who love art with a strong sense of place.
Just 20–30 minutes from Bisbee near McNeal, Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area is southeastern Arizona’s premier winter roost for tens of thousands of sandhill cranes. From roughly October through March—peaking mid-winter—you can watch massive flocks lift off at sunrise and swirl back at sunset, along with ducks, raptors, and other wetland birds. It’s free to visit, easy to access, and run by Arizona Game & Fish as habitat for cranes and waterfowl, making it a must-see nature stop to pair with a Bisbee history or scenic tour. Bring binoculars, arrive early or late for the best action, and listen for that unforgettable bugling call echoing across the wetlands.