Hike Contact Mine
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
Stay well back from mine openings and shafts — the edges are unstable and the drops are real. Old mines collapse without warning, and there is no cell service out here to call for help.
The rocky ascent section has loose scree and no defined tread in places. Ankle-supporting boots are not optional — trail runners will punish you on the descent when tired legs meet rolling rock.
Trail Details
Pro Tips
Start from the trailhead off Pinto Basin Road early morning — by mid-morning even in winter the exposed rocky sections radiate enough heat to make the climb less pleasant, and the low-angle light makes the mining artifacts far more photogenic.
Bring a liter more water than you think you need. There is zero shade on the mountainside ascent, and the sandy wash section at the start is deceptively energy-draining — soft sand eats your momentum before the real climbing begins.
Explore carefully around the mine site for multiple artifact clusters spread across the hillside. Most hikers only see the main shaft area, but there are scattered equipment remnants and prospect holes on the slopes to the east that tell a fuller story of the operation.
Photos
NPS / Brad Sutton
