Lost Horse Mine
Lost Horse Mine produced more than 10,000 ounces of gold and 16,000 ounces of silver between 1894 and 1931.
Plan Around Lost Horse Mine
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Lost Horse Mine Details
Although about 300 mines were developed in what is now Joshua Tree National park in the late 1800s, few produced much of note. Lost Horse Mine, which produced more than 10,000 ounces of gold and 16,000 ounces of silver between 1894 and 1931, is an exception. Along with three partners, Johnny Lang bought the rights to the mine from a man named "Dutch" Frank in 1890 and called it Lost Horse. After filing their claim, they set up a two-stamp mill and began processing gold. In 1895, a wealthy rancher from Montana named J.D. Ryan bought out Lang's partners, and the next year had a steam-powered, 10-stamp mill shipped to the mine site. Steam engines fueled by nearby trees were used to power the mill, and the results of the heavy timbering can still be seen today in the sparsely vegetated surrounding hillsides. The mine continued producing until 1905, when the miners hit a fault line and lost the ore-bearing vein. The mine was leased to others or left dormant until 1931, when 600 tons of tailings —unprocessed chunks of leftover ore — were processed with cyanide, producing a few hundred ounces of gold. Lost Horse Mine came under the protection of the National Park Service with the creation of Joshua Tree National Monument in 1936. Over time, both the wooden portions of the mill and the 500-foot mine shaft have begun to collapse, although it is still considered a well-preserved mine within the National Park Service. Today, the Lost Horse Mine hike takes visitors to the site, although a chain-link fence protects the site and visitors must admire the wooden replica of the shaft collar from outside its perimeter.
Difficulty
Low
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Nearby Parks Around Lost Horse Mine
Compare nearby parks around Lost Horse Mine when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Lost Horse Mine
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Lost Horse Mine while the map context is still fresh.
1.5 mi away
Lost Horse Mine and Mountain Trail
Located along Keys View Road, Lost Horse Mine is one of the best-preserved relics of the Gold Rush era.
2.6 mi away
California Riding and Hiking Trail
The California Hiking and Riding Trail stretches for 35 miles in Joshua Tree, passing through pinyon/juniper forests, Joshua tree forests, and creosote-covered lowlands.
3.0 mi away
Juniper Flats
Fancy a desert hike among the Joshua Trees (and junipers, of course)? Check out the trails in the Juniper Flats area.
3.0 mi away
Grand Tank
Within Joshua Tree, "tank" is a general term referring to a natural depression from which a reservoir has been created, usually by cattle ranchers.
3.1 mi away
Keys View
Keys View, perched on the crest of the Little San Bernardino Mountains, is a popular stop for park visitors.
