Trail Overview
The first section of this trail climbs from 7200 feet up to 9000 feet in just over 3 miles. The trail starts off smooth but gets progressively rough as you climb the winding road. The trail takes you through various tree sections and open areas. There is an old Boy Scout Camp as well as an abandoned gold mine to explore. This fun trail offers stunning views of Mono Lake and the surrounding mountains. You may be treated to some deer in the area if you approach carefully.
Difficulty
The first half mile of this trail is a nice graded dirt road. It splits off and enters an area that is not well maintained. It gets progressively harder as you climb the grade. The next couple miles climb another 2000 feet. The difficulty ranges between 2 and 3. The difficulty in the last 4.5 miles ranges from 2 to 4. The trail can be harder depending on the time of the early. The trail gets more rocky until it is all rock. You will encounter various sections of deep ruts, uneven ground, rocks, roots, and branches. After the old Boy Scout camp and mine area, the trail becomes more rocky and has a few very steep sections. It can be narrow between the tree sections. Short wheelbase and high clearance 4x4 are recommended.
History
The Log Cabin Gold Mine, located near Lee Vining, California, opened around 1890 and was once the most active gold mine in the state. It was at its peak during World War II and was state-of-the-art, able to extract and process gold from quartz ore deep underground. Today, the mine is in ruins, with only decaying buildings and equipment left behind. However, efforts are being made to restore the mine and preserve its history.
