The Eagle Cliff Mine
Mileage: 4.5 miles round trip
Time: 3 - 4 hours
Difficulty: strenuous & moderately difficult
Start at: Pine City Backcountry Board [B]
Good compass and map skill are required to make the trek to the lonely
Eagle Cliff Mine. The route that I travel starts at the end of the
Desert Queen Mine trail, up by the grates that cover the vertical shafts.
In this picture, you can see a grate, and a large rock in the background. The
trail goes past the grate, and to the left of the large rock. As you work your
way around the hill, you will see a 'prospect hole' in the gully. This means you
are on the right track. You will pick up the path of an obscure mining road.
Follow this around to the north, towards a bolder covered hilltop, and then
drops down into a sandy wash. From the wash, look to the South-east, and
locate this spire of rock.
Travel up the rocky gully to a point just below the ridgetop (about 100 yards
northeast of the spire.
Look for a pile of white quartz and follow the gully down to just below the
north side of the ridge top. Pass to the right of large boulder and to the
left of three leaning slabs (you'll know 'em when you see 'em). Follow the
trail about 40 yards down the top of the ridge and continue north to a
small, open plateau.
WARNING! Do NOT enter any mine shaft, for
ANY reason!
The mine is located beneath an oak tree near the center of the plateau.
The highlight of this area is a house built within a pile of boulders.
The house uses these boulders to form the walls and most of the roof.
Miners living here at the turn of the century made shingles for
the rest of the
roof out of flattened tin cans, most of which are scattered around the house.
Inside the house can be found tools and utensils resting on shelves surrounding
an intact six-pane glass window.
This clever fireplace constructed in a split in the boulders provided heat and
a place to cook in this cozy hideout.
Other caves were enclosed to house equipment and supplies.
Farther down below the plateau are more mines and what appears to be the
remains of a blacksmiths forge. (Where I am now standing).
The lower mines are connected by this bridge of mine tailings.
While the Eagle Cliff Mine may be hard to find, it is well worth the trip.
Make sure that you give yourself ample time to fully explore this wonderful
mine!
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In this picture, you can see a grate, and a large rock in the background. The
trail goes past the grate, and to the left of the large rock. As you work your
way around the hill, you will see a 'prospect hole' in the gully. This means you
are on the right track. You will pick up the path of an obscure mining road.
Follow this around to the north, towards a bolder covered hilltop, and then
drops down into a sandy wash. From the wash, look to the South-east, and
locate this spire of rock.
Travel up the rocky gully to a point just below the ridgetop (about 100 yards
northeast of the spire.
The mine is located beneath an oak tree near the center of the plateau.
The highlight of this area is a house built within a pile of boulders.
roof out of flattened tin cans, most of which are scattered around the house.
Inside the house can be found tools and utensils resting on shelves surrounding
an intact six-pane glass window.
This clever fireplace constructed in a split in the boulders provided heat and
a place to cook in this cozy hideout.
