The Reward Mine

Total Miles
0.7

Technical Rating

4

Moderate

Best Time

Spring, Fall, Summer

Trail Type

Full-Width Road

Accessible By

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The Reward Mine
13

Trail Overview

This is a moderate trail that starts on a broken road just off the 395 Freeway on Manzanar Reward Road. You will climb up and over the hillside where you will be welcomed with an experience you will never forget, as you venture deep into the largest Gold Mine. The most amazing part is that you can drive down into the mine. The trail to the Reward Mine is very rocky, therefore 4WD and high clearance will be required to get to the entrance. Once inside the mine, the trail is easy soft dirt.

Photos of The Reward Mine

The Reward Mine
The Reward Mine

Difficulty

This is a steady uphill climb on rutted sections with large rocks up to 12 inches tall. The mine is tight in the entrance but opens up nicely as you descend. The top of the mine does go up a bit but stays fairly low, with the lowest point being just about 79 inches, so it is important to not enter if you have a roof rack. Take off your antennas as well, for if they reach over 79 inches they will make contact with the mine ceiling.

Technical Rating

4

Status Reports

Brian Baker
Apr 26, 2025
4x4
Open
Dusty
Pretty fun little adventure. Road getting in is covered in washboard then the main road coming up into the mine is pretty rocky but fairly easy in a semi lifted vehicle. The mine shaft itself is about 10-12 foot wide, 7ish or so feet tall. We were able to drive our truck all the way in about a 1/4 mile.
Jarad R
Apr 22, 2025
2013 Land Rover Range Rover
Open
Dusty
Dusty and rocky. I didn't air down, though it would have been more comfortable if I had. You are going to want high clearance and 4x4, especially if you head off the main road at all. My car is on 31s, and I didnt struggle to roll over anything, but I do have 14" of clearance.
Stephen Jensen
Mar 22, 2025
2021 KTM 690
Open
Dusty
Rough/Deteriorated
Washboard
Loose rock, sand, dusty, the last 100-200 yards to the mine entrance is steeper and very rocky, large rocks embedded in the road mixed with loose baby head sized rocks. Was an easy climb on my 690, a larger adventure bike could be more challenging. High clearance 4wd vehicles would be a requirement. The mine was awesome.
Sergio Palomo
Mar 19, 2025
4x4
Open
I went up in my 2018 GMC Sierra with 4x2, I do have a 4.5 inch lift with 35 inch tires so that did help a lot. Also I went up on the second of January; it won't let me date this that far back. It was pretty easy, I would say that 4x4 is not necessary but the clearance definitely is.

Access Description

From the 395, head east on Manzanar Reward Road until the broken pavement ends right at the base of the hill where the trail officially begins. There is a side trail to the right where you can drive up and check out old mining buildings.

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