The hike starts off at the parking lot by heading west in the general direction of the Death Valley Buttes seen in the distance:
A mining trail can be quickly picked up and hiked along. Remember that it is important to stay on trails when you can to avoid walking through milling contaminants:
A long stretch of pipeline can be seen along the hillside. These were used to transport water 7/8 of a mile from the springs to the mill:
This looks like a vertical mine shaft which has been covered over for safety purposes:
Extensive grass growth can be spotted while approaching Keane Wonder Springs:
Notice that there is a fair amount of flowing water in this stream:
Another fenced off area containing a pit covered over by some type of wooden contraption. Perhaps this is a collapsed mine shaft or a well:
In order to explore Keane Wonder Springs more thoroughly, it is necessary to turn off the main trail and hike up the hillside a short distance:
This is a very pretty area with a couple of flowing channels of shallow water:
There are also deeper portions of water with some pools. Please stay away from the edges so as to avoid sinking into mud and damaging the landscape:
This rock arch towers over the source area of Keane Wonder Springs:
A warning notice which should be heeded to avoid breathing in toxic hydrogen sulfide:
A nice view showing flowing water with Tucki Mountain in the background:
This fenced off area looks like it contains a flooded vertical mine shaft:
From the springs, the main trail continues toward Cyty's Mill. However, we headed southwest and dropped 300 feet in elevation to explore around:
There are some small cascades with flowing water to check out:
There are also some larger waterfalls, as seen in the next two pictures:
Note the very colorful hills in the background. Beautiful spots such as this are missed by those who don't explore the lower area:
Some very unique rock formations can be seen in the next two pictures. I hadn't seen anything quite like this in the park before:
A large eroded formation rising above the small canyon wash:
Can you spot Keane Wonder Bridge in the distance up this small canyon?:
Standing directly in front of Keane Wonder Bridge. Note the composition, colors, and surrounding area:
This 2018 visit to Keane Wonder Bridge was my first time back in five years. To see some 2013 pictures, check out our DV Natural Bridges database page:
View from behind the major natural bridge shows how it connects two hillsides above the canyon:
Back on the main trail now, this opening in the ground is passed. It is also flooded, so it's hard to tell if this was a mine shaft or something else:
Arriving at Cyty's Mill, which is about 1.3 miles from the parking lot (if not doing the side trip to Keane Wonder Bridge):
Cyty's cabin (or shack) is made of wood and was built on level ground made possible by the rock platform seen in the previous picture:
View from inside the cabin looking out at many square miles of Death Valley desert:
View of the cabin from behind. Note the gutter system which would help collect water during very infrequent Death Valley rainstorms:
This is Cyty's impressive three-stamp mill, which was brought to this location in 1911:
The water tank next to the mill is still supported by a wooden structure which was built long ago:
View showing the small ore bin above the mill. Mined ore was dumped into the bin from the back opening:
From behind the mill structure, we climbed the hillside about 100 feet until we picked up this mining trail heading uphill to the northwest:
The trail can be a little faint through this area, so just follow it the best you can. The trail is sometimes easier to make out when looking back:
Climbing up and out of the first little enclosed valley which appears to trap you during the approach:
The next three pictures show views of the trail as it progresses steadily uphill into the mountain:
When you reach this rock wall, you are about 2/3 of the way up from Cyty's Mill to the canyon overlook:
Looking back at the trail as it passed beneath the rock wall:
Looking ahead at the final ascent before reaching the canyon overlook:
After gaining some 1,500 feet of elevation since leaving Cyty's Mill, the breathtaking canyon overlook is finally reached:
Panoramic from the canyon overlook looking back toward central Death Valley and Mesquite Flat:
Panoramic from the same spot looking up canyon and at the trail as it continues on:
Notice how the trail narrows down considerably and there are steep slopes off to the left:
The canyon overlook also contains this view looking to the northwest:
The trail now continues as it heads for Big Bell Extension Mine, probably the most seldom visited mining camp in the area:
Looking back, you can see the canyon overlook point where we had taken our break:
A nice view down into the lower canyon, which is an alternate route with climbing and bypass challenges:
Looking straight down from one of the somewhat exposed portions of the trail:
Corkscrew Peak (5,804 feet) really stands out from the trail when looking to the northwest:
Zooming in on a unique curved rock wall down in the canyon below:
Looking ahead at the upper canyon which winds back into the mountain range:
First mining tunnel spotted as we reached the outskirts of Big Bell Extension Mine:
Another view looking straight down the steep slopes dropping into the canyon wash:
The canyon eventually reaches a spot up ahead where it ties in with the trail we were now hiking on:
The remains of a rock wall foundation next to the trail:
More mining tunnels are passed, many of which only go a short distance into the mountain:
A totally collapsed wooden structure that likely once served as housing for miners:
This metal bucket appears to have been set up to receive water being piped down from above:
Panoramic looking back down canyon toward the overlook point with the Cottonwoods visible:
A rusted-out container found among the mining remnants:
The bottom framing components are all that remain of a former structure located in the central Big Bell Extension Mine area:
Broken china plates and colored glass pieces leftover from the time when miners lived, worked, and ate meals here:
The metal frame of a stovetop used long ago for cooking meals:
View from the wooden platform showing the trail, overlook point, and canyon below:
The trail then turns uphill to climb out of the Big Bell Extension area. It's not clear from this vantage point how you will get past the headwall:
However, upon reaching the headwall, the well-constructed trail turns left and climbs above it:
The trail continues high above the canyon and winds along the hillside. Looking back, we could see a very large mine opening:
Our last look down into the canyon revealed a tall ladder and some pipes in the wash:
We were now on the seldom-used portion of trail which connects Big Bell Extension to Big Bell:
A desert horned lizard was on the path as we reached the upper slopes:
Upon reaching Big Bell Mine, this tin outhouse is the first structure encountered:
The outhouse has two seats. Privacy wasn't as important back in mining days:
A wheelbarrow that is in remarkably good shape for its age. They don't build wheelbarrows this good anymore:
The living area of Big Bell is now reached. Winds have collapsed this first shack and now only the roof is intact. These structures were possibly constructed as early as 1907 by the Big Bell Mining Company:
The next two shacks were protected by this rock wind break which was built by miners:
Old rusted beds and mattress springs can be found inside the remains of the shacks:
Check out some of the amenities of the last shack. First, we have what looks like an antique refrigerator:
This is a stove with a built-in oven, likely now being used by pack rats:
A full sink basin once was in use here for washing hands, dishes, and food:
This giant tank was resting on the ground nearby:
Outside of the mine, cables still stretch between the mine and mill far below. You can also see the cable road to Chloride Cliff in the distance:
Notice how the railway heads out of the mine toward the dumping spot into the ore buckets (seen in the previous picture):
A wooden table and bed frame inside one of the mining tunnels shows where miners would take breaks from their hard labor:
Big Bell is unusual for having such a long intact railway still in place:
If you need motivation to stay out of the mining tunnels, these makeshift wood supports should show you how unstable and unsafe it can be inside:
Spotting a chuckwalla which quickly took shelter inside a rock crevice:
Crossing over to the mill complex is a bit steep and challenging. The first stop is at these two large cyanidation tanks:
The next three pictures show some more of the mining equipment and relics which are found just below the mill:
One of the large water tanks (or perhaps mixing tanks) which is located on the hillside:
The remains of a couple workshops can be found along with assorted parts:
The ball mill and ore bin are located across the ravine from the mining tunnels. The upper mill structure seen here was also used as a tramway terminal:
View of the aerial tramway which connects the mill with the mine above. Notice that ore buckets are still hanging in the air:
This is the Mack truck chassis which was winched up the cable road from Big Bell to Chloride Cliff:
The next two pictures show a wagon which appeared to have housed some type of generator used in mining operations:
Getting a picture at Big Bell Mine and mill site, one of the most fascinating locations in Death Valley:
After backtracking briefly, we continued along the high trail headed toward upper Keane Wonder Mine:
Panoramic of the Funeral Mountains from the high trail between Big Bell and Keane Wonder Mine:
Panoramic showing a wide expanse of central Death Valley as seen from the high trail:
Upon reaching upper Keane Wonder Mine, you'll notice that access to these cliffs and caves is completely fenced off. This area is really unstable due to all the mining activity which took place inside the mountain:
While hiking on the trail below the fence line, this tank with rust streaks and associated pipes can be seen:
Notice the extensive rock wall which was built up by miners above this closed-off mining tunnel:
This sheltered area with a rock wall was likely built to be more than just a cable storage area:
More safety work done by the NPS to keep hikers from falling into vertical shafts:
A collapsed wooden structure at Keane Wonder Mine that possibly served as housing for miners:
The lower portion of Keane Wonder Mine contains the upper tramway terminal (left), ore bin (center), and rail platform (right):
The upper tramway terminal is incredible to check out up close. At this spot, empty ore buckets would enter the terminal and circle around to the left along this iron track:
The ore buckets would then be loaded back up and continue out of the terminal, being carried by gravity down the mountain:
The rail platform extends way out toward the ore bin:
Only bats and small animals are allowed to enter the mining tunnels of Keane Wonder:
Looking back at the ore bin and upper terminal as we continued along the trail:
The views during this portion of the trail were outstanding. The Black Mountains, Owlsheads, and Panamints were all visible:
Zooming in on an area where the tramway line crosses the canyon as it descends. Notice the ore bucket visible which is hanging from a cable:
More mining tunnel openings that have been closed off. Some of these have been closed off for decades:
Looking back up canyon from the trail. The distant ridgeline leads up to Boundary BM:
Elevation is dropped rapidly during the 1 1/2 mile hike in between Keane Wonder Mine and Keane Wonder Mill:
A portion of the trail follows next to some old water pipes:
The trail passes right next to these tramway towers which measure 12 feet across at the base of each side:
This large tank is located near the end of the loop hike (or beginning of the trail if starting from the bottom):
At the bottom of the trail, the lower tramway terminal can be visited:
This giant tank is slowly being buried by the surrounding soil:
Well-built retaining walls located below the lower tramway terminal at the mill complex:
The last stop on the loop hike is the Keane Wonder Mill complex. There is a lot to see in this general area and it is easy to access from the parking lot:
