Bisbee is widely considered to be among the quirkiest small towns in Arizona, and it’s hiding an even more unique secret. There are hidden staircases scattered all over the streets of downtown Bisbee, and they’re just waiting to be discovered.
One of the quirkiest small towns in Arizona, Bisbee is a former mining camp tucked away in the Mule Mountains.
AllTrails/Jim Muha
Perhaps the most eccentric thing about Bisbee is the fact that the town is littered with hidden staircases.
AllTrails/Jim Muha Many of them date as far back as the 1930s - in fact, if you look closely, you can still see the stamp of the Works Progress Administration on some of the steps.
The staircases were originally steep, unpaved paths used by mules to carry supplies to homes perched on the cliffsides.
AllTrails/Jim Muha Many of these homes are now only accessible via staircase.
Nobody knows exactly how many staircases are in Bisbee - the best guess is 82, with as many as 100 steps per staircase.
AllTrails/Michael Ariz
Nine of the staircases are part of the annual Bisbee 1000, a long-running race event that challenges participants to ascend over 1,000 stairsteps as quickly as possible.
AllTrails/Jim Muha
All of the staircases for the Bisbee 1000 are numbered and include the exact number of steps each one contains. The rest of the staircases, however, are up to you to discover!
AllTrails/Jim Muha
Bisbee has grown into an artist enclave since its mining days, so you’ll see lots of murals, graffiti, and other forms of street art alongside the staircases.
AllTrails/Michael Ariz
There’s even a staircase that leads through an alleyway lined with beautiful paintings!
AllTrails/Angelique Dom
You’ll also pass historic homes and businesses, as well as other unique sights like this wall embedded with all different kinds of bottles.
AllTrails/Louie Garcia
The views from the tops of the staircases are also worth writing home about!
AllTrails/Michael Ariz
Have you ever seen the hidden staircases in Bisbee? If so, we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments! Don’t forget to check out our previous article for more reasons to visit this charming little town.
AllTrails/Jim Muha
Many of them date as far back as the 1930s - in fact, if you look closely, you can still see the stamp of the Works Progress Administration on some of the steps.
Many of these homes are now only accessible via staircase.
AllTrails/Michael Ariz
AllTrails/Angelique Dom
AllTrails/Louie Garcia
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Address: Bisbee, AZ 85603, USA
