Hike Lost Horse Mine
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
Open mine shafts dot the hillside around the mill site, some partially hidden by brush. Stay on the established trail and behind all fencing — these shafts can be hundreds of feet deep with unstable edges.
There is virtually no shade on this entire route. Desert temperatures can swing dramatically, and even in spring, midday sun at this elevation can push past 90 degrees. Carry more water than you think you need — at least two liters per person.
Trail Details
Pro Tips
Start before 9 AM — the parking area at Lost Horse Mine Road fills up by mid-morning on winter weekends, and the trailhead lot only holds about 20 cars with no overflow option nearby.
The out-and-back to the stamp mill is roughly four miles round trip with moderate climbing; the full loop adds almost three miles and requires decent route-finding skills on the backside where trail markers thin out.
Bring a zoom lens or binoculars — the mill site is fenced off for preservation, so you cannot walk right up to the machinery. The best vantage point for photographs is from the ridge just above the mill, where you can frame the entire operation against the desert floor.
Photos
NPS / Robb Hannawacker
