Ryan Ranch Loop

From the park road, this doubletrack heads south, uphill towards the Ryan Ranch complex. At the top of the small hill (and at the base of Ryan Mountain), you'll find the remnants of the Ryan Complex. The complex consists of two adobe structures, a well, an adobe residence, a graveyard, and the remains of a corral. The complex itself was established by the Ryan brothers, Tom and Jepp in the early 1890's. After building the ranch, the family developed the Lost Horse Mine, the most profitable mine in this area. The mine was fed water by Lost Horse Spring, a spring 750 feet higher and three miles away (now called Lost Horse Well because the family dug a well there). Today, this complex showcases a way of desert life that is indicative of successful mining endeavors in the area.