Misplaced Horse Mine is likely one of the finest trails in Joshua tree, because it blends gorgeous pure magnificence with historical past as you trek via expansive desert to an over-100-year-old mine.
Not solely that, however you may have a couple of choices when it comes to how you are able to do this path, including a select your individual journey aspect to the hike.
And whereas not troublesome, it is a average hike fitted to these on the lookout for a slight problem however not essentially to be gasping to catch their breath.
Really, with regard to vitality spent vs reward, this hike is effectively well worth the effort as you’ll be immersed in a number of the park’s most stunning landscapes without having to summit a mountain.
Bonus:
My husband Andy and I solely noticed solely a handful of different hikers, so that you’ll probably have the path largely to your self!
What Kind Of Hiker Are You? [Free Quiz]
Now, earlier than we dive into the way to hike top-of-the-line Joshua Tree trails, I wish to share a free character quiz I feel you’ll love:
Uncover your mountaineering character on this enjoyable and quick hiker character quiz, which additionally shares path ideas based mostly in your outcomes.
When you’ve grabbed the quiz, let’s focus on the way to hike the Misplaced Horse Mine Path, certainly one of my favourite California journey experiences!
Misplaced Horse Mine Path Map
Earlier than mountaineering to the Misplaced Horse Mine, it’s really useful to print out a map of Joshua Tree Nationwide Park. You’ll be able to click on right here to try this. You can even get a Misplaced Horse Mine Path map particularly right here.
Moreover, you’ll get a paper map when getting into the park and there are maps posted all over the place so that you can simply take a photograph of together with your cellphone.
Choose a Google Map? Click on right here!
Be aware that there are various deserted mines in Joshua Tree Nationwide Park. Many you may’t go to, although some you may. When you’re trying to discover others, just like the Desert Queen Mine, yow will discover Joshua Tree mines maps right here.
Misplaced Horse Mine Path: Fast Information
Trailhead: You are able to do this path a couple of alternative ways:
- Ryan Campground to the Massive Bushes Path to the Misplaced Mine Path or Loop.
- Take the small filth street off the street to Keys View (referred to as Keys View Highway) to the trailhead for the Misplaced Horse Mine out-and-back path or the Misplaced Horse Mine Loop round Misplaced Horse Mountain.
Path Stage: Average (should you do that as an out-and-back hike) or difficult (should you do that as a loop)
Path Size:
- 4 miles (6.4 km) if finished as an out-and-back hike from the Misplaced Horse Mine trailhead; about 2-3 hours
- 6.5 miles (10.5 km) should you add on the Misplaced Horse Mine Loop; about 3-4 hours
- 6.2 miles (10 km) should you do begin at Ryan Campground and get to the Misplaced Horse Mine through the Massive Bushes Path; about 3-4 hours
Elevation Change: About 550 ft
When To Hike The Misplaced Mine Path: There is no such thing as a shade on this hike, so should you can keep away from summer season — particularly if doing the 6.5-mile Misplaced Horse Mine Path Loop — that’s finest. If you’re visiting in summer season, attempt to go earlier or later within the day to keep away from the extreme solar.
Path Highlights:
- Stunning desert surroundings
- Attractive views over the Misplaced Horse Valley
- Wildlife like lizards, ravens, white-tailed antelope squirrels, and big caterpillars
- Seeing the remnants of a profitable Gold Rush-era mine
Joshua Tree Nationwide Park Entrance: There are a selection of various entrances for Joshua Tree Nationwide Park. When mountaineering to the Misplaced Horse Mine, it’s really useful to to come back in via the West Entrance if attainable.
Flora alongside the Misplaced Horse Mine Path. Photograph through Jessie Festa.
A Be aware On Misplaced Horse Mine Path Instructions
Joke:
We attemped this path twice!
The primary time, we began at Ryan Campground and tried to connect with the Misplaced Horse Mine Path through the Massive Bushes Path; nonetheless, we couldn’t discover the place the path linked.
The second time we hiked from the Misplaced Horse Mine Trailhead and have been profitable in reaching the mine. On this try, we additionally noticed the place the Massive Bushes Path and Misplaced Horse Mine Path join.
Furthermore, you may see on this annotated map that each choices are attainable. The yellow highlighter exhibits the Ryan Campground – California Driving & Mountaineering Path – Massive Bushes Path – Misplaced Horse Mine possibility whereas the inexperienced highlighter exhibits the place the Misplaced Horse Mine Trailhead is:
Misplaced Horse Path map
So, what went fallacious?
We’re unsure if the path junction received washed out or we gave up too quickly.
This being stated, the Massive Bushes Path is beautiful and should you can join the 2 it’s a gorgeous hike and a really memorable journey journey expertise.
When visiting for your self, I’d:
- Ask on the Joshua Tree Nationwide Park entrance or customer middle what the situation of the paths is and if it’s attainable to attach them on that day.
- Use the AllTrails app to maintain observe of the place you’re and the place you’re going. Simply make sure that to tug up the Misplaced Horse Mine hike within the app earlier than attending to the park, as you received’t have cell service. This fashion you’ll have the ability to simply click on “Begin Hike” even when offline.
When you’d desire to skip the Massive Bushes Path and simply do the Misplaced Horse Mine out-and-back path or the loop, you shouldn’t have any hassle as this part is well-marked. Once more, you may entry the trailhead off Keys View Highway.
How To Hike The Misplaced Horse Mine Path In Joshua Tree Nationwide Park
As said above, for our first try on the Misplaced Horse Mine Path Andy and I park at Ryan Campground.
From right here, we hike the California Driving & Mountaineering Path for a couple of minutes to get to the two.2-mile Massive Bushes Path — a flat path filled with otherworldly-looking Joshua Bushes twisting and intertwining that connects to Misplaced Horse Mine Path.
The surroundings appears like one thing from a Dr. Seuss e-book, and I can nearly image the creator’s fantastical Barb-a-loots popping up from the tree bristles.
We stroll the filth path, stopping each two minutes to {photograph} the desert panorama that appears so completely different from something we have now in New York.
Simply have a look for your self:
Magnificence alongside the Massive Bushes Path to Misplaced Horse Mine Path in Joshua Tree Nationwide Park. Photograph through Jessie Festa.
Fields of gold alongside the Massive Bushes Path in Joshua Tree Nationwide Park. Photograph through Jessie Festa.
Postcard-worthy landscapes alongside the Massive Bushes Path in Joshua Tree Nationwide Park. Photograph through Jessie Festa.
Rock formations, Mojave yucca, scrub brush, cacti, and the park’s namesake Joshua Bushes add to the desert magnificence, as do the mountains up forward.
It’s over these mountains the place we’ll join with the Misplaced Horse Mine Path, which rewards hikers with an up-close have a look at the ruins of a historic gold mine.
Ultimately, the Massive Bushes Path goes from flat to wavy, taking you up and over quite a few hills to attach with the Misplaced Horse Mine Path, which could be finished as an out-and-back path or an extended loop.
As said above, it’s throughout this part that we have now hassle discovering the place the Massive Bushes Path connects with the Misplaced Horse Mine Path — however it’s attainable. Scroll as much as my “A Be aware On Misplaced Horse Mine Path Instructions” part for extra data.
As soon as on the precise Misplaced Horse Mine Path, we select the shorter out-and-back possibility. The surroundings is way completely different right here than on the Massive Bushes Path, with much less bushes and extra low-to-the-ground desert crops in addition to lizards and enormous colourful caterpillars.
And views. Stunning, stunning views:
Views alongside the Misplaced Horse Mine Path in Joshua Tree Nationwide Park. Photograph through Jessie Festa.
Views alongside the Misplaced Horse Mine Path in Joshua Tree Nationwide Park. Photograph through Jessie Festa.
Views alongside the Misplaced Horse Mine Path in Joshua Tree Nationwide Park. Photograph through Jessie Festa.
My favourite part is after we start mountaineering up and down alongside a rolling ridge overlooking the Misplaced Horse Valley, which awards us with layered mountain vistas.
A fast cellphone selfie on the Misplaced Horse Mine Path showcasing the limitless mountain views we noticed. You’ll be able to see them higher within the video under! Photograph through Jessie Festa.
The views hold us energized as we make our technique to the mine — which seems on our left seemingly out of nowhere.
Professional tip:
It’s really useful to climb the 0.3 miles to the highest of the ridge the place the mine is positioned for wonderful views over Queen Valley, Misplaced Horse Valley, and Nice Valley.
That is additionally the place we take a break for lunch with a vista!
Panoramic view overlooking the previous Misplaced Horse Mine. Photograph through Jessie Festa.
By the best way, it’s fascinating that we began our journey at Ryan Campground, because it’s named after JD Ryan, who really operated the Misplaced Horse Mine. In reality, close by to the campground you may view the ruins of Ryan’s Ranch, which was his residence.
The mine now sits as a relic of the California Gold Rush period, although between 1894 and 1931 it produced greater than 10,000 ounces of gold and 16,000 of silver.
When Joshua Tree Nationwide Monument was created in 1936, the previous mine got here beneath the safety of the Nationwide Park Service.
The mine is fenced off because it’s not protected to the touch or get near, however you may stroll across the fence to see items of equipment that when operated to supply what would equate to about $5 million as we speak.
One of the spectacular ruins is Misplaced Horse Mine’s 10-stamp mill — which is taken into account to be top-of-the-line preserved mills in California!
Misplaced Horse Mine’s 10-stamp mill. Photograph through Jessie Festa.
Finally, what I like about this path is the combination of pure magnificence, unbelievable views, and engaging historical past.
It’s lengthy, although should you’d like to go to the mine within the shortest manner attainable merely park on the trailhead for the Misplaced Mine Path and Loop — however skip the loop and do the out-and-back possibility.
What’s nice concerning the out-and-back hike is the views on the best way there look very completely different on the best way again.
Both manner, don’t miss this unbelievable California mountaineering path!
Misplaced Horse Mine Path Mountaineering Video
Need a first-hand perspective of the Misplaced Horse Mine hike? Take a look at our video from the path:
Suggestions For Mountaineering In Joshua Tree Nationwide Park
-Know that you simply’re on Indigenous land. The Serrano, the Cahuilla, the Mojave, and the Chemehuevi have been the unique inhabitants of the land that Joshua Tree Nationwide Park resides on. These Indigenous peoples have been displaced and/or compelled to relocate.
Together with educating your self on the historical past and tradition of those tribes, think about making a donation to causes and charities that straight assist them. Furthermore, the place attainable rent Indigenous guides and buy from Indigenous-owned companies.
-There is no such thing as a cell service in Joshua Tree Nationwide Park, so make sure that to have a park map available. You can even use the AllTrails app to remain on observe. The paid model works offline — although you may also use the free model offline so long as you pull up your hike within the app whenever you even have cell service.
From there, hit “Navigate” after which “Mountaineering” and get it on the web page the place you’ll hit “Begin” whenever you’re prepared to start your hike.
To be sincere, we didn’t have a lot cell service on our whole Southern California street journey!
-Many Joshua Tree trails have little to no cowl. Because of this it could get extremely sizzling. If attainable, hike outdoors of summer season and/or mid-day when the solar is at its strongest.
–Know what to put on mountaineering. Having additional water in addition to the right mountaineering apparel like moisture-wicking clothes, sun shades, sunscreen, and a hat that covers your head and neck will assist hold you temperate and protected.
-Don’t contact these fuzzy-looking cholla cacti! Often known as the “leaping cactus,” it appears furry however is definitely very prickly. When you get their thorns in you they are often extremely painful and troublesome to take away.
-When selecting your lodging, think about your required entrance. Whereas Joshua Tree Nationwide Park isn’t almost as massive as different California nationwide parks like Yosemite (the place you may hike Sentinel Dome to Glacier Level, Vernal and Nevada Falls, and the Columbia Rock Hike) and Sequoia (the place you may hike the Lakes Path or get pleasure from an unforgettable in the future Sequoia itinerary), the drive from one finish of the park to the opposite could be fairly lengthy.
If you realize what hikes you’d love to do, strive to decide on lodging close to to the doorway that makes essentially the most sense.
-Hold wildlife wild. Don’t feed or contact wildlife. That is to your safety in addition to for the safety of the animal.
For example, in Joshua Tree Nationwide Park feeding coyotes can result in them turning into extra aggressive towards people. You’ll see indicators about this put up by the Nationwide Park Service throughout.
Surroundings alongside the Massive Bushes Path in Joshua Tree Nationwide Park. Photograph through Jessie Festa.