Cerbat is a historic mining camp and former town located in the Cerbat Mountains of Mohave County, northwestern Arizona, approximately 9-15 miles northwest of present-day Kingman. Nestled in a rugged canyon west of the main Cerbat Mountain range, the site sits at an elevation of around 4,580 feet. The name “Cerbat” derives from a Native American term meaning “Big Horn mountain sheep,” reflecting the wildlife once abundant in the area.
The town’s origins trace back to the late 1860s, when prospectors discovered rich deposits of gold and silver in the Cerbat Mountains. Following initial finds, mining camps quickly emerged, with Cerbat established around key claims including the Esmeralda, Golden Gem, Vanderbilt, Idaho, Flores, Night Hawk, and Big Bethel mines. By 1870-1871, a small settlement had formed, supported by a mill, smelter, stores, saloons, a school, a post office (opened December 23, 1872), and professional services such as a doctor’s office and a lawyer’s office. Cabins housed over 100 residents at its peak, making it a modest but prosperous frontier community isolated in the harsh desert terrain.
Boom Period and Significance (1870s-1880s)
Cerbat’s early growth was fueled by the broader mining boom in Mohave County, which began with gold discoveries along the Colorado River in the 1860s. Prospectors often arrived via steamboat to Hardyville (now part of Bullhead City), then trekked inland 38 miles to the Cerbat area. The town’s remote location necessitated infrastructure improvements: in 1872, a $6,000 dirt road was constructed over the mountains to connect Cerbat to eastern settlements like Fort Rock, Camp Hualapai, Williamson Valley, and Prescott.
In 1871, Cerbat briefly achieved prominence as the third county seat of Mohave County, building the county’s first permanent court house. However, it lost this status in 1873 (some sources cite 1877) to the nearby rival mining town of Mineral Park. Despite this, Cerbat remained active, with stage lines like the California and Arizona Stage Company providing weekly service in the 1880s, linking it to Mineral Park, Chloride, Prescott, and Hardyville via toll roads.
The surrounding Wallapai Mining District (encompassing Cerbat, Chloride, Mineral Park, and Stockton Hill) produced significant gold, silver, lead, zinc, and later turquoise. Cerbat’s mines contributed substantially, with the Golden Gem alone yielding around $400,000 in precious metals between 1871 and 1907.
Life in Cerbat reflected the turbulent Old West: conflicts with local Hualapai and other Native American groups led to miner deaths, while internal violence included murders, suicides, and at least one legal hanging (carpenter Michael DeHay in 1876 for killing his wife). The town’s pioneer cemetery preserves graves reflecting these hardships, including victims of mining accidents, disease (e.g., tuberculosis), and insanity-related incidents.
Decline and Abandonment (Late 19th to Early 20th Century)
Cerbat’s prosperity waned as richer deposits were exhausted or eclipsed by nearby camps. The post office, a key indicator of viability, operated until June 15, 1912 (with a brief name change to “Campbell” from 1890-1902). By the early 20th century, residents drifted away, and the town faded into obscurity. Sporadic mining continued in the district into the 20th century, but Cerbat itself never recovered.
Current Status
Cerbat is classified as a classic Arizona ghost town—uninhabited and abandoned, with no permanent residents. The site consists primarily of scattered ruins: faint stone foundations, crumbling walls, old mine shafts, tailings piles, and remnants of buildings overgrown by desert vegetation. A semi-modern warehouse and large steel safe from later eras remain, along with an active ranch at the canyon’s base. The pioneer cemetery is one of the better-preserved features, accessible for historical visits.
Access is via dirt roads off U.S. Highway 93 north of Kingman (near Milepost 62), requiring high-clearance or four-wheel-drive vehicles for the final stretches, especially after rain. The area falls within public lands managed in part by the Bureau of Land Management, and nearby modern mining operations (e.g., at Mineral Park) have altered parts of the landscape with large open pits.
Cerbat attracts ghost town enthusiasts, hikers, and off-road explorers seeking remnants of Arizona’s mining heritage. It is not commercialized like some sites (e.g., no tours or facilities), emphasizing its raw, desolate character. The broader Cerbat Mountains remain notable for wild Cerbat mustangs (a protected feral herd of possible Spanish descent) and ongoing mineral exploration, but the town itself stands as a silent testament to the boom-and-bust cycles of the American West.
Town Summary
| Name | Cerbat |
| Location | Mohave County, Arizona |
| Latitude, Longitude | 35.303413,-114.1380277 |
| GNS | 24353 |
| Elevation | 3,872 Feet |
| Population | 100 |
| Post Office | December 23, 1872 – June 15, 1912 |
| Alternate Names | Campbell (June 25, 1890 to October 24 1902 ) |
