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Free Traveling Guides » States » California » Deserts
Lost Horse Mine
Steeped in history, lore and western geographical flavor, Lost Horse Mine is found within Joshua Tree National Park not far from Key’s View Road. The park offers a four mile round trip hike down the trail to the mine, using the same road miners and prospectors traversed with supplies and ore a hundred years ago. It is impossible to hike this trail without sensing the history surrounding the area, and the history is interesting indeed.
The rights to the mine were purchased for $1000 in 1890 by a rancher named Johnny Lang. After having his horses stolen by the notorious McHaley gang, Lang stumbled across another of their victims, “Dutch” Frank Diebold. Diebold knew of the mine but was fearful of laying stake, because of the McHaley gang. Lang purchased the rights and named it “Lost Horse” due to his misfortunes. Between 1894 and 1931, the mine was one of many in the Joshua Tree area, though it was by far the most successful. The mine produced over 10,000 oz of gold and 16,000 oz of silver in this time. Due to some rather dubious business practices, Lang was forced to sell out in this time to his business partner after being faced with the prospect of jail time.
The hike is labeled “moderately strenuous” by the National Park Service, and it is figured at an average round trip time of two and a half hours. The mine itself is surrounded by a chain link fence, protecting it from visitors and vice versa. The wise visitor will hike slightly past the mine to the top of the hill beyond for a gorgeous panoramic view.
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