Trail Overview
In Death Valley National Park, situated within the Panamint Range, Jail Canyon Road offers a 5.4-mile round-trip trail. Initially, the road transitions from a dirt and gravel surface to a wide rocky wash, formed by the accumulation of rocks from the road’s large alluvial fan. The trail meanders through the wash, providing a visually captivating experience. Jail Canyon presents a vibrant and scenic drive, culminating in the exploration of a well-preserved mining camp and mill. The canyon itself is characterized by its multicolored hues and picturesque beauty. However, the ascent to the canyon is equally remarkable, offering panoramic views of the multi-layered west-facing Panamint Mountains and the striking erosion patterns. The canyon receives a significant amount of water during storms and snowmelt from the Panamint Range mountains. A perennial stream, which has sustained the mines at the trail’s end, flows year-round. This stream currently supports various plant and wildlife species, including the elusive Nelson’s Big Horn Sheep, which can occasionally be observed drinking from its waters. Mining operations were conducted at the trail’s end, extracting silver, lead, and zinc from 1899 to 1900.
Difficulty
Initially, the road transitions from a dirt and gravel surface to a wide rocky wash, formed by the accumulation of rocks from the road’s large alluvial fan.
History
The Corona mine is located at the end of Jail Canyon out of Panamint Valley. The mine was first named the Gem Mine and was mined for silver, lead, and zinc. The Gem Mine was originally claimed by Jack Currant, who traded half interest in the mine to Charles Weaver, a Ballarat storekeeper, for a 3-stamp mill. The spring in Jail Canyon produced enough water to power the stamp mill by a water wheel, which was the first used in the Death Valley area. The mine shipped several thousand dollars of bullion monthly starting in the winter of 1899-1900. In 1949, the previously named Gem and New Discovery lode claims were renamed the Corona, Corona #1, and Corona #2, and sold to John F. Lee from A. F. Troster. The claims were assigned to the Corona Mining Company out of Trona, California. The gold, silver, lead, and zinc ore taken from the Corona #1 assayed out at $90 per ton. At one time, five men were employed at the mine.
