Thursday, January 23, 2020

Eagle Cliff Miner's Cabin

A couple buddies of mine wanted to hike Joshua Tree National Park, so I was racking my brain... what's the best hike in the Park?? So many great ones to choose from, but I finally decided upon the Eagle Cliff Miner's Cabin hike. Not only does it go through some of the prettiest scenery in the Park, but you have a wonderful surprise waiting for you when you get to your destination!

Eagle Cliff Miner's Cabin isn't a secret in the strict sense of the word, but it's certainly not something the average visitor hikes to or even knows about. It can be difficult to find, and the trail sometimes disappears, so some navigation skills are required to find the place. I first posted about it in September of 2016 here, and, if memory serves, I think this was my third hike to the area. The Eagle Cliff Mine dates back to 1895. Bill Keys reportedly held possession of the mine for many years. The mine was so remote that the ore had to be packed out by burro. I've never found information about who actually built the miner's cabin.
My hiking partners enjoying the trail. Hey, wait up, guys! What's the hurry? These two are obviously not photographers. I usually hike solo, and I hike at a slow pace because I'm looking for photo opportunities or poking around in the rocks looking for pictographs. I had forgotten what it's like to hike with actual hikers!

The Weather Gods were smiling upon us this day. Beautiful blue skies, comfortable temperatures, and no wind. Eagle Cliff Miner's Cabin is at about 4600' in elevation (classified as Mojave Desert), so more rainfall and greater plant diversity than the lower elevation Colorado Desert. Here you can see Nolina, Mojave Yucca, and desert scrub oak.


The rock formations are impressive throughout the area. Unlike the NE section of Joshua Tree National Park were I do a lot of my hiking, the rocks in this area are "harder" and seem less prone to erosion. Arches and alcoves are relatively rare. This is "classic" Joshua Tree.

Grumpy face??
The view over the top of these Mojave Yuccas is impressive!
Pat and John in front of a mine shaft.
Pat checking out the view from Eagle Cliff.
Finally we manage to find the general area where both the mine and cabin are located. Do you see the cabin? No, I don't either. My point being, even if you were able to find this area, you could walk right by the cabin without seeing it.

OK, that's a little better. I think I see something up ahead. Gotta love that late afternoon golden light! Let's take a look inside...

Wow, look at this! The amount of old mining artifacts and other items from bygone years is truly impressive.






What a beautiful view from inside the cabin. If we walk outside the cabin and look in, here's what it looks like:
Someone put a lot of work into this place many years ago, and the fact that it's still standing speaks to the quality of their workmanship.

Just a quick power-nap and we will be ready to hike the trail back to our car!

I hope you enjoyed this adventure. Until next time!

Thanks for stopping by!!

47 comments:

  1. ...wow, make that a BIG WOW! Thanks for sharing this gorgeous country, like the sign, 'only take photographs, leave only footprints.'

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  2. That cabin is a treasure. The last photo is a beauty. Such a great hike!

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  3. You really show the beauty of the desert and bring it out for everyone to see. Glad teh cabing has not been trashed, long may it stay that way

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  4. Just amazing is all I got to say. What a hike, what a find. And so many artifacts left after all these years is a testament to the ethics of the hikers that found the place. Also so amazing that the place has stood for so long. I have to wonder about the economics of the mine, hauling the ore out by burrow.
    I also do most of my hiking solo and I am always stopping and taking photos or sometimes I am thinking about what photos to take. My hiking friends are more like speed walkers so I get left behind a lot which I am generally fine with that.

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  5. I can't do all that walking so I'm glad you shared your trek with us! These are some amazing shots. How cool that the equipment is still around to see.


    Feel free to share at My Corner of the World

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  6. I'm not a hiker either, (certainly not now)! Stop to take one photo and you get left behind.

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  7. This is definitely the time of year to hike out there. Stunning scenery. That cabin... Totally worth the hike.

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  8. Great post, Stunning pics.
    Have a nice weekend.

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  9. Wow what an adventure! Love the fireplace and chimney and love the pic of the outside of the cabin. What a treasure trove and I am glad it is still there.
    Thanks for the journey
    MB

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  10. Whutta place! Love it! Just wondering is there a water source nearby. You had to have water to live there, right?

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  11. Amazing! Absolutely amazing. And by the way, I love that last picture!!

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  12. Beautiful landscape scene
    Great, interesting photos,
    My Sky

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  13. If you want to hide from the world this is one of the places. Really remote and strangely beautiful but in a harsh environment. Thanks for showing us.

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  14. I was thinking of your photos yesterday as I was passing through the winter woods near my home.

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  15. Hello, looks like an awesome hike. The scenery and rock formations are beautiful. Great sky captures. The cabin is neat. Enjoy your day, have a great weekend!

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  16. I love the sign - take only photo and only leave footprints. Wish everyone in the world was that considerate.

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  17. This is great. I so enjoy your blog!! You take us to these out of the way nooks and crannies, or even just every day life around your home. You photos.. I don't know have so much texture. Are so nicely composed. I am so glad to have stumbled on your blog. Larry.

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  18. Thanks for taking us along. Absolutely beautiful. You make it more of a desire than ever before. I am going to shoot for next year to swing around the USA and see some of this first hand. I am now 81 and hope to do this as the window of time is closing for me of course.
    Good stuff.
    Sherry & jack

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  19. Your images are spectacular as always, and I am sure that your friends could have had no finer guide for their excursion into this unique and magnetic landscape. Big hugs for Lilly.

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  20. After a few seconds I saw the cabin -phew - still haven't lost my touch. Your photo of it, underneath: such a cute cabin, and a lot of work, that is easy to see! Hubby is a hiker, and this is something we need to do separate, because it's no fun to rush through a new ares, and NOT take a camera shot, lol!

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  21. great hike and photos, as usual. had to smile at the 'non photographers' comment.

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  22. I am a very slow hiker, always stopping to take photos! I loved that cabin - I saw a similar one, built using existing rock-faces, at Vermilion Cliffs in Arizona. Fascinating.

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  23. Yes, yes, I enjoyed each and every picture. What an amazing cabin. And I never get tired of seeing that scenery.

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  24. wow.. I am almost jumping up and down with excitement over that miners cabin and that window in the rocks like that.. Its amazing. I would so love to be there seeing it all.

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  25. Wow - amazing place & stunning photos! The rocky landscape is awesome, we don't have anything like this in Finland.

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  26. As always, great pictures! It certainly is an amazing place.

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  27. I really like that stone mining cabin! Lovely shots.

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  28. You picked the perfect hike SPP the mining cabin is amazing, I would definitely have missed it. Luckily I usually hike with my husband and he never misses a thing! He has got used to stopping every five minutes so I can take photos too 😊

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  29. The cabin is absolutely beautiful. A lot of fine work went in to creating it and it shows. I love the window view both inside and outside. Thanks for sharing, it was a pleasure seeing it. Have a great weekend.

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  30. Wow! Incredible photography and views. And I love that cabin. I had to chuckle at your “What’s the hurry?” comment to your fellow hikers. My husband and I always have the same issue when we hike with other people.

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  31. How I love the desert and no one photographs it better than you do.

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  32. Very intriguing hike you guys and what skies, rock formation and of course, the miner's cabin ~ Fantastic!

    Happy Moments to You,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  33. It's very cool you found all that mining equipment, I wonder how old it all is.

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  34. What a cool place! I love that you got to visit it and share it with all of us :)

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  35. I enjoyed following your hike. You found the miner's cabin and also all the interesting mining tools.

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  36. I liked this adventure a lot
    very interesting to see

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  37. That “cabin” is not what I expected! Clever of the builder to use what was at hand to make a comfortable home and it’s amazing that the furnishings and tools are still intact. The big boulder in the first photo looks as if it has melted. Wonderful photos!

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  38. What a wonderful hike! Seeing those rock formations makes me wonder if millions of years ago these were mountains? The old miners cabin is amazing--I'm so glad the artifacts have been left there and not vandalized. Your fronds must have been so excited to see all of this.

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  39. Outstanding photography-- glad you lingered behind! Great interesting and informative narrative. The cabin is amazing.

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  40. I love the contrast between the blue of the sky and the brown tones of the landscape! Wonderful texture in the rocks!

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  41. Sure did enjoy it and am very glad you are not a speed hiker. Thanks for taking time to get your great photos and for sharing them. This cabin is outstanding craftsmanship... you know the man who created it did it as a labor of love ... certainly not to show off for any neighbors (or to meet any building codes ), so he could have just slap-dashed it, instead of using fine craftsmanship. . Admirable indeed. .... and beautiful desert scenery as always.

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  42. I always enjoy your adventures. And always hike at a slow pace taking photos too. What a reward at the end! That cabin is so interesting.

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  43. Absolutely stunning photos!
    What a beautiful place. Thank you for the incredible views.

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  44. An incredible place. Unfortunately, on my last hike there (about 2 years ago) there were items missing that I had photographed 20 years prior.

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  45. OK, when you wrote "cabin", that is not what I expected! I am particularly impressed by the roof that was built - the flashing of the roof against the rock is well done. (Intended for the once a summer rain storm?) Glorious pictures.

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  46. You seem to find the coolest spots! Thank you for the pictures and snippets. :)

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