Where to Find the Lost Horse Mine in Mojave Desert

Lost Horse Mine was the most successful gold mining operation in the part of the Mojave we now call Joshua Tree National Monument. More than 9,000 ounces of gold were processed from ore dug here in the late 1890s. The mine’s 10-stamp mill still stands, along with a couple of large cyanide settling tanks and a huge winch used on the mine shaft. The trail to the mine offers a close-up look back into a colorful era and some fine views into the heart of the national monument.

Many are the legends that swirl like the desert winds around the Lost Horse Mine. As the story goes, Johnny Lang in 1893 was camping in Pleasant Valley when his horse got loose. He tracked it onto the ranch belonging to Jim McHaney, who told Lang his horse was “no longer lost” and threatened Lang’s health and future.

Lang wandered over to the camp of fellow prospector Dutch Diebold, who told him that he too had been threatened by McHaney and his cowboys. A pity too, because Diebold had discovered a promising gold prospect but had been unable to mark his claim’s boundaries. After sneaking in to inspect the claim, Johnny Lang and his father, George, purchased all rights from Diebold for $1,000.

At first it looked like a bad investment, because the Langs were prevented by McHaney’s men from reaching their claim. Partners came and went and by 1895, Johnny Lang owned the mine with the Ryan brothers, Thomas and Jep.

Peak production years for the mine were 1896-1899. Gold ingots were hidden in a freight wagon and transported to Indio. The ruse fooled any would-be highwaymen.

But thievery of another sort plagued the Lost Horse Mine. The theft was of amalgam, lumps of quicksilver from which gold could later be separated. Seems in this matter the mill’s day shift, supervised by Jep Ryan, far outproduced the night shift, supervised by Lang. One of Ryan’s men espied Lang stealing part of the amalgam. When Ryan gave Lang a choice--sell his share of the mine for $12,000 or go to the penitentiary--Lang sold out.

Alas, Johnny Lang came to a sad end. Apparently, his stolen and buried amalgam supported him for quite some time, but by late 1924, he was old, weak and living in an isolated cabin. And hungry. He had shot and eaten his four burros and was forced to walk into town for food. He never made it. His partially mummified body wrapped in a canvas sleeping bag was found by prospectors alongside present-day Key’s View Road. He was buried where he was found.

Directions to trailhead: From the central part of Joshua Tree National Monument, turn south from Caprock Junction on Keys Road and drive 2 1/2 miles. Turn left on a signed, short dirt road. Here you’ll find a park service interpretive display about Johnny Lang’s checkered career. (You can also visit Lang’s grave, located a hundred feet north of the Lost Horse Mine turnoff on Keys Road.) The trail, a continuation of Lost Horse Mine Road, begins at a road barrier.

The hike: The trail, the old mine road, climbs above the left side of a wash.

An alternative route, for the first (or last) mile, is to hike from the parking area directly up the wash. Pinyon pines and nolinas (often mistaken for yuccas) dot the wash. Nolina leaves are more flexible than those of yuccas and the flowers smaller. The wash widens in about three-fourths of a mile and forks; bear left and a short ascent will take you to the mine road. Turn right on the road and follow it to the mine.

A few open shafts remain near the Lost Horse, so be careful when you explore the mine ruins. Note the stone foundations opposite the mill site. A little village for the mine workers was built here in the late 1890s. Scramble up to the top of the hill above the mine for a panoramic view of Queen Valley, Pleasant Valley, and the desert ranges beyond.

Return the way you came.

There also will be Brazilian music played by Embra Samba, and visitors can join the procession of masks led by the band as it weaves in rhythm past the booths and around the auditorium.

Chinese food and wine catered by Joss Restaurant and Dim Sum Bar will be served, and visitors will get a crack at 100 door prizes donated by participating artists, such as the gold-and-jade ring designed by Glenn Dizon.

Lost Horse Mine Trail

Parking Area to Lost Horse Mine: 3 1/2 miles round trip; 400-foot elevation gain .