Reward Mine

5/5 (23 reviews)
Reward Mine is a unique offroad experience. Lying in the shadows of Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the lower 48 of the United States, Reward Mine is one of the few trails to offer underground offroading. With a round trip of roughly a 1/2 mile inside the Inyo Mountains and more on-foot exp... Read More
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Highlights of Reward Mine

Altitude Category Icon Altitude
Camping Category Icon Camping
Desert Category Icon Desert
Ghost Town Category Icon Ghost Town
Iconic Category Icon Iconic
Mine Category Icon Mine
Overland Category Icon Overland
Rock Category Icon Rock
Sand Category Icon Sand
Scenic Category Icon Scenic
Highest Elevation
4183 ft
Shape of Trail
Out & Back
Typically Open
Year Round
Best Direction
East
Official Trail Name
Reward Mine
Nearest Town
Lone Pine
Nearest Services
Lone Pine
Management Agency
Bureau of Land Management
District
Inyo District

Overview

Reward Mine is a unique offroad experience. Lying in the shadows of Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the lower 48 of the United States, Reward Mine is one of the few trails to offer underground offroading. With a round trip of roughly a 1/2 mile inside the Inyo Mountains and more on-foot exploring possible, this is a memorable experience. Whether or not you are a fan of mines, this takes mine exploration to a fun but scary level.

The Reward Mine had several other names and was the first to operate in Owens Valley from 1860 through the 1980s. From 1889 to 1951, the Reward Mine produced 600,000 ounces of gold, 102,600 ounces of silver, 30,900 pounds of copper, and 203,300 pounds of lead. Today, several stone building ruins, foundations, ore bins, head frames, and other mining equipment remain. But the highlight is driving into the mine.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Guide Overview
4 Waypoints
14 Trail Photos
4 Trail Concerns
23 Community Reviews
1 Video
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