About 7 miles north of the Cottonwood Visitor Center in Joshua Tree National Park, you will reach two dirt roads branching off the main (paved) road. One is Black Eagle Mine Road which heads roughly due west toward the now defunct Kaiser Mine, and the other is Old Dale Road which heads roughly north into the Dale Mining District and (eventually) to Highway 62 east of 29 Palms. After traveling 10 miles on Old Dale Road, you will reach Mission Well, which is what we did last weekend! The road is marked 4WD, although up to Mission Well it was an easy drive and I never put the Jeep in 4WD during the 20 mile round-trip.
It's a great place for a picnic lunch, especially during the cooler months. This area becomes a furnace during the hot summer months.
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| The wellhead at Mission Well |
Our chihuahua appears to be striking a pose!
A short distance north from Mission Well is Mission Mine (or what's left of it). It's a fun place to look around, and my little granddaughter thoroughly enjoyed it! You can climb up on some of the mining structures for great views of Pinto Basin.
Beautiful blue skies for as far as the eye can see!
Just to the west of the mining area was something that looked like a rocky outcropping. On closer inspection, it turned out to be an old dump site of the miners!
I've seen small miner trash sites in different areas of the park, but this is the largest I've come across.
My granddaughter was busy looking for treasure.
The miners must have had very boring meals. Everything from a can, and nothing fresh in such an isolated and desolate location!
Rusty "Prince Albert" tobacco tins are common at this site. Overall, a fascinating area and I'll be coming back! There is a lot more to see!!
This foray into the desert enthralled me! You share not just images, but an insider's feel for what it's like, what it means. We loved the portraits (Yes, doggie likes to pose) and the field of cans, topped off by that smashing image of Prince Albert. So glad I caught these
ReplyDeleteI remember loving the desert when I was out there. Your photos are the reason why. Beautiful captures, even the miner's trash site.
ReplyDeleteGreat captures as always!
ReplyDeleteThose blue sky shots are stunning,but then all the pictures here are great.
ReplyDeleteAmazing pics. Thanks for the post.
ReplyDeleteWonderful images. Looked like a fun time out there finding all those rusty treasures.
ReplyDeleteSuch an interesting place! It's amazing all those rusty old cans have been lying there for all these years!
ReplyDeleteFascinating place! And such lovely blue skies.
ReplyDeleteI really like the two black and white photos
ReplyDeleteHave a great day!
Lea
Wonderful place for an outing, love the miners dump!
ReplyDeleteHello, looks like a cool place to explore and look for treasures. Your granddaughter is precious and I love the dog too. Great series! Happy Friday, enjoy your weekend!
ReplyDeleteOh, how besutiful photos.
ReplyDeleteLovely little girl :)
Thanks for takings along! It is a world within the world and full of whispers of the past! I love seeing your photos!
ReplyDeleteBeing a devoted Baga to my one and only granddaughter Eloise, I adore the pictures of yours. The one of her n her cute little hat looking for a treasure to take home with her warms my heart. And the one form the back...it has to be y favorite I adore picture of adults and children from behind when they are not posing for the camera. The black and whites are awesome and that tire...it looks huge in your close up. Great post today.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful blue sky. Thank you for sharing your tour with us. The 3rd pic is a perfect one!
ReplyDeletePrince Albert seemed to be the tobacco of choice among miners and railroad men. Nice set of images of a very interesting site.
ReplyDeletereminds me of my meandering around the closed tin mines above El Paso.
ReplyDeleteI too have come across small prospector trash sites but nothing ever as large as that one. I have a small collection of some unique can finds and I could spend hours searching for collectibles among this pile of rusty gold. Great low angle shot of your little treasure hunter.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting post. I wonder what the sky would be like on a clear night?
ReplyDeleteNice to see your granddaughter walking around in that strange area under a clear blue sky.
ReplyDeleteWhat a find. It seems there used to be mines all over the country as I have come across the remnants of them in many places. I think they might be a little more preserved in the desert.
ReplyDeleteLove this. I think I may have to make a little visit.....
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful scenery; love your granddaughter learning about nature's beauty and even history of the area! We certainly missed that part of JT -- wish we could go back with our son who has a Jeep (just in case). I know when we used to have Jeeps (in our other life, in Oregon and Washington) we often didn't actually need to put in into 4WD even if the backroads were so marked, but it sure makes you less stressed to know its there when/if you do need it!
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice adventure! Your granddaughter is adorable. The Prince Albert can reminds me of my grandfather. He always used Prince Albert to roll his own cigarettes.
ReplyDeleteI really like the scenery, we just don't get places like this here in NZ so this is unique to me. btw loving your little dog :-)
ReplyDeleteHi! The blue sky photos are breathtakingly beautiful. Your granddaughter is very cute. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHi! The blue sky photos are breathtakingly beautiful. Your granddaughter is very cute. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI can imagine it would be stifling hot in the summer months but you have captured for us wonderful clear blue skies and lots of rich rust. What a delight for your little grand-daughter
ReplyDeleteI love all the photos
ReplyDeleteThat does look great place to explore! As a kid I used to explore a Roman lead mine site! Never did find anything but fallen stones!
ReplyDeleteCheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
Love that photo with your granddaughter holding hands. Prince Albert tin reminds me of my grandfather who always had a pipe clenched in his teeth.
ReplyDeleteRusty gold! A very interesting and historical site.
ReplyDeleteVery nice photos...
What an interesting place to explore!
ReplyDeleteLots of antiques in the desert
ReplyDelete