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Joshua Tree Hikes

Lost Horse Mine Trail

  • 7 miles - Moderate Effort
  • Or: 4 miles
  • 3 Hours (Total)
  • 1,040 Total Feet of Climbing
  • Max Elevation of 5,140 feet
  • No Dogs Allowed

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.

In this Guide:
  • Lost Horse Mine Trail Directions  & Video
  • How to Get to Lost Horse Mine Trail
  • Everything You Need to Know to Do the Hike

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

Lost Horse Mine Trail Directions 2
The parking lot is not big. If you can't find a spot, park at one of the turnoffs down Lost Horse Mine Road.

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.

Gear That I Love Right Now

Nothing is sponsored or promoted, just the actual gear that I use.


Gear Inreach Mini 2
Garmin InReach Mini 2If you are out of cellphone range the Mini 2 will reliably allow you to hit SOS via satellite. You can see my review here.
Gear Hoka Speedgoat 5
HOKA Speedgoat 5These are a great balance of comfort and performance. The high stack height leaves my feet feeling great after a hike.

Check out the complete list here.

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.

Click Here To View

Use This Map:
View in CalTopo | PDF Map | GPX File

Elevation Profile

Lost Horse Mine Trail Elevation
There's some uphill to get to Lost Horse Mine, but it's not a big mountain climb. After that there's some up and down, and then a nice long downhill back to the start.

Hike Landmarks

LandmarkDistanceElevation
Trailhead04600
Lost Horse Mine2.15070
Viewpoint2.45130
Optimist Mine Ruins3.44800
End Hike74600

3d Map

Lost Horse Mine Trail 3d Map
From this view you can see that the loop hike is a bit up and down, without any major climbs.

Quick Hike History

Johnny Lang Grave
Johnny Lang was the guy who founded Lost Horse Mine in the 1890s. He was a colorful character and is buried near the hike.

Lost Horse Mine Trail Directions

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The hike starts at then end of the parking lot, past the gate. There are interpretive displays just past the gate.
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Shortly after the gate, bear left to start on the official trail.
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This part of the Lost Horse Loop Trail follows the old road to the mine. Gold was transported down this road with a 16 horse wagon train to Banning, five days away, where it was sold.
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At the junction for the Big Trees Trail, continue straight.
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Stay on the trail as it passes through any washes. This is true for the whole hike.
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The trail emerges on a rise after some climbing, and you are treated to great views of Queen Valley.
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Soon you'll see Lost Horse Mine on the ridge in the distance.
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When you get up the hill by the mine, make the hard left at this post to climb up to the actual mine ruins. It's a 0.3 mile detour off of the main loop trail.
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The trail is smaller than the one you were on before but is easy to follow. Continue up the hill to the mine.
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When the trail splits, bear left to come out above the mine.
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Lost Horse Mine! You made it! Most of the mine is fenced off; the mine shafts started collapsing in 2000.
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Above the mines you can see the ruins of the housing used by the miners. There are also water tanks used in the steam-based stamp mill, which crushed the rock to extract the ore.

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.

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To continue on the hike, keep going past the mine.
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You're going to have to head down the hill on smaller use trails to rejoin the main loop trail.
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Shortly after rejoining the trails and cresting a ridge, the views are jaw-dropping. Below you is Pleasant Valley and after that, the Little San Bernardino Mountains. Pleasant Valley is the site of a fault line. From here the trail skirts down to the right before heading west.
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Keep left when you see the small use-trail up to the right.
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And soon after that the trail twists away from the edge of the valley and into the hills.
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Soon you'll arrive at the ruins of Optimist Mine. The chimney, an old bed frame, and some metal scraps are all that's left. Unlike the successful Lost Horse Mine, the Optimist Mine was a bust. If you poke around the site, be careful, there are two open mine shafts right off the trail.
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Once you're done at Optimist Mine, keep going on the trail. It's mainly flat and downhill from here.
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The trail is flat and meanders through the desert back to the start. Three are some beautiful Joshua Tree groves here. And keep your eyes out for tree stumps; miners would cut Joshua Trees down to run the (steam-powered) Lost Horse Mine.
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In some sections the trail crosses and enters washes. Look for signs and stones to help you find the way. It's not hard.
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Soon you'll see the dirt Lost Horse Mine Road and the toilets at the trailhead in the distance.
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And soon you'll come back to the other end of the parking lot. That's the hike!

Need More Info?

  • Have a question about the guide or want to see what other people are saying/asking? View the Youtube comments for this video. Leave a comment and I will do my best to respond.
  • When planning, always check the park website and social media to make sure the trails are open. Similarly, check the weather and road conditions.

This Guide Was Written by Cris Hazzard

Cris Hazzard 4 Mile Trail Yosemite
Hi, I'm Cris Hazzard, aka Hiking Guy, a professional outdoors guide, hiking expert, and author based in Southern California. I created this website to share all the great hikes I do with everyone else out there. This site is different because it gives detailed directions that even the beginning hiker can follow. I also share what hiking gear works and doesn't so you don't waste money. I don't do sponsored or promoted content; I share only the gear recommendations, hikes, and tips that I would with my family and friends. If you like the website and YouTube channel, please support these free guides (I couldn't do it without folks like you!). You can stay up to date with my new guides by following me on YouTube, Instagram, or by subscribing to my monthly newsletter.