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The Desert Queen Mine in the Colorado Desert was one of the more long-lived gold mines of Southern California's high desert region. The abandoned mine is located in Riverside County, California within the boundaries of the Joshua Tree National Park and is included on the National Register of Historic Places. A hiking trail leads to the mine.
- How to Get to The Desert Queen Mine Hike
- Gear For The Hike
- Desert Queen Mine Trail Maps
- Quick Hike History
- Desert Queen Mine Hike Directions
The trailhead is in a smallish parking lot at the end of Desert Queen Mine Rd, a dirt road off of the main Park Blvd. The trailhead road is dirt but you can do it in a regular low-clearance car. There are also signs on Park Blvd for the Desert Queen Mine turnoff. Use this trailhead address: Desert Queen Mine Rd, Twentynine Palms, CA, 92277, USA
If you have light hiking gear, that will serve you best at Desert Queen. Hiking boots with cuffswill help keep the debris out of your feet. That said, this is a short hike and you can get away with fitness or casual clothes in a pinch. Bring at least 1L of water and sun protection; you are hiking in the desert.
I have three trails marked on this map: 1. The out and back hike to Desert Queen Mine 2. An optional extension on a more primitive trail to Eagle Cliff Mine 3. An alternate route back from Desert Queen Mine that takes you past more ruins
Gold was discovered at Desert Queen by a prospector named Frank James in 1894.Local cattle-rustler Jim McHaney, who had scrapes with other local prospectors, sent his men over to muscle the claim from Frank James. In the process they ended up murdering him.Rewind a few years to another Joshua Tree celebrity, Pegleg Smith, considered " the champion liar of the Rocky Mountains,” He claimed to have found an incredible gold mine in the area and sold "map...Jim McHaney owned the mine for two years, but he squandered the $30,000 he made from the gold, missed his bank payments, and had the mine foreclosed on by the bank.There are several mine shafts at Desert Queen Mine. They are sealed up and (obviously) dangerous to enter. There is also an active bat community in the mine shafts. Just a heads up if you poke your head in by the grate to have a look. From here you can either continue on to Eagle Cliff Mine (more below) or return the way you came. If you want to re...
- Desert Queen Mine, Twentynine Palms, 92277, CA
Learn how to hike to the Desert Queen Mine, a historic gold and silver mine in the center of Joshua Tree National Park. See photos, details, and tips for exploring the mine and its surroundings.
Jan 16, 2020 · Begin hiking on the nearly level Desert Queen Mine Trail (just to the right of the bathrooms at the trailhead for Desert Queen Mine and Pine City). Not far from the start, the trail passes an old stone foundation with a bed frame still inside.
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- Desert Queen Mine Road, Joshua Tree National Park, 92277, CA
Desert Queen Mine and Eagle Cliff Boulder House. Head out on this 3.4-mile out-and-back trail near Twentynine Palms, California. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 37 min to complete.
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- Twentynine Palms, California, United States
Pine City and Desert Queen Mine, Joshua Tree National Park. Varied loop, off-trail for a short section, past two groups of old mine relics, along a canyon and across open flats to a shallow basin with huge boulders and pine trees.
Mar 11, 2016 · Across a valley you'll see the remains of a gold mine that closed in 1961. There's not really much left to see of the mine, but the valley view is interesting nevertheless and the cacti and other desert vegetation along the way are also interesting. It's an easy hike with mild elevation changes.
