Lost Horse Mine Trail
Hike Stats
- Total Distance
- 7 miles
- Time
- 3 Hours
- Total Climbing
- 1040 feet
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Dogs
- No Dogs
- Gear
- What I Use
- Weather
- Latest Report
The Lost Horse Mine Trail hike offers not only a peaceful trip to a neat mine that's over 100 years old but also a great deal of natural beauty and diversity. Hiking to just Lost Horse Mine is only 2 miles (4 out and back), but I highly recommend hiking the full Lost Horse Mine Loop Trail, which offers expansive views and over Joshua Tree National Park, more ruins, groves of robust Joshua Trees, and quiet. Either way, you do it, it's a fun adventure.
How to Get to the Lost Horse Mine Trail
The Lost Horse Mine Trailhead is about 10 minutes south of the main drag, Park Blvd road. There is a roadside turn marking the turn-off to the Lost Horse Mine Trail. The last couple of minutes are on a dirt road, but it's in good condition, and passable for cars and lower-clearance vehicles. Use this trailhead address:
Lost Horse Mine Loop Trail, Lost Horse Mine Rd., Twentynine Palms, CA, 92277
There is a primitive toilet at the trailhead.
Gear for the Hike
This is a desert hike and you need to prepare accordingly. There is no shade and no water, so bring at least 1L of water for the trip to the mine, or 2L for the full loop trail. Having hiking boots will help keep the rocks and sand out of your feet. And there is no cell reception,; having a satellite communicator in case of an emergency is a smart move.
Essentials I’m Using Now
- Garmin inReach Mini 2: Reliable SOS Everywhere on Earth
- Sawyer + CNOC Water Filter: Easy & Reliable Safe Water
- Nitecore NU25 Headlamp: Running late? Get home safe
- AllTrails Plus (30% off): Good All-Around Hiking App
- Full October 2025 Gear List →
Lost Horse Mine Trail Maps
Joshua Tree NP recommends doing the loop hike in a clockwise direction, and so do I. You'll get better viewpoints and a nice long downhill at the very end.
Elevation Profile
Hike Landmarks
| Landmark | Distance | Elevation |
|---|---|---|
| Trailhead | 0 | 4600 |
| Lost Horse Mine | 2.1 | 5070 |
| Viewpoint | 2.4 | 5130 |
| Optimist Mine Ruins | 3.4 | 4800 |
| End Hike | 7 | 4600 |
3d Map
Quick Hike History
- Johnny Lang arrived at Joshua Tree in 1890 after fleeing rival cowboys that killed his brother. When he arrived, there was “nothing but cattle and Indians.” Even here at Joshua Tree, the local McHaney Gang stole his horses and made life generally miserable.
- When Lang found gold and bought the land at Lost Horse Mine for $1000, he brought in partners to help him protect it from the McHaney Gang.
- From 1895 to 1905 the massive 850lb steam-powered stamps crushed rock, 24 hours a day, eventually producing 10,000 ounces of gold and 16,000 ounces of silver (worth about $5 million today).
- Lang's partner, Ryan, discovered that Lang was stealing gold from the mine and burying it nearby. When confronted, Lang ended up selling his share in the mine and living in a cabin nearby. He lived in poverty for the rest of his life and at one point had to kill and eat his mules.
- Lang would periodically come around the Lost Horse Mine to dig up his stolen gold and harass people. In retrospect it is believed that Lang's erratic behavior was attributed to mercury poisoning, which was used to extract gold from the ore.
- The mine stopped working in 1905 when the gold vein ended at a fault line. Lost Horse Mine was sold and resold a few times until 1936 when the area became Joshua Tree National Monument.
- In January of 1925 Lang left a note at his cabin, "gone for grub." Three months later Bill Keys found his dead body clutching a piece of bacon wrapped in wax paper. He was buried where he died, and you can still see his gravestone on the way to the hike. I have the spot marked on the map in this guide.
- Lang had allegedly hidden a "mother lode of pure gold bullion" and never retrieved it before dying. In 1983 some lowlives dug up his grave to look for clues, stealing his skull in the process. Today his remains have been moved elsewhere and his gravesite concealed to deter dummies looking for gold. If you visit the grave, please do so respectfully.
Lost Horse Mine Trail Directions
If you want to hike the shorter 4-mile route, just head back the way you came after exploring the mine. Otherwise continue with the directions below.
Originally published February 20, 2020