Red Cloud Mine

Red Cloud Mine trail is a 12.6-mile (25.2-mile) out-and-back rated 3 of 10 located near Desert Center. This generally level dirt trail has multiple sand washes that must be crossed to get to the trail end. This is a destination trail that offers several stops within the historic Chuckwalla Mining District. The trail can be challenging after major storms as there are several areas with large rocks which vehicle will need to maneuver around. This entire route and the area to the south and east are BLM-managed lands. The area to the north and east of the trail is part of the Chuckwalla Mountains Wilderness and is restricted to non-motorized use only. The Chuckwalla Mining District was also known as the Pacific Mining District with its origins dating back to the 1880's. Mining continued in this area through the early 1900's. The Red Cloud Mine after which the trail was named began in the 1930's with several mining tunnels being dug. Today the remains of buildings, mine shafts, mining equipment, and leaching ponds can be seen. Gold was the predominant mineral mined in this location with gold-quartz veins often containing abundant pyrite and copper, lead, and silver minerals. Several of the veins have been mined to depths of about 350 feet. This area can be brutally hot in the summer and very cold in the winter. Safety should be the number one concern when exploring this area as there are open shafts as well as other sharp and rusty materials. This area is well traversed and parking near the various sites can accommodate multiple vehicles. Just prior to entering the canyon there is a large flat area suitable for camping. Cell phone service will be limited to the area between the interstate and the canyon. The nearest gas is located to the west along I-10 at Chiriaco Summit. The nearest full services are located to the west in Indio or to the east in Blythe.