St John's Mine Road

One of the several tributaries of the lengthy Arlington Mine Road, St John’s Mine Road leads into a complex of mines and their ruins on the slopes of the McCoy Mountains.  The area provides a quiet, peaceful, and private camping spot with the rugged McCoy Mountains providing an impressive vista. Short hikes from its trail's end reach the ruins of St. John’s and Bluebird Mines to explore.

Running next to a wide wash, the road has been washed out near its end and rerouted to the south to reach the base of the mountains. This road is mostly over desert pavement, a natural surface layer made up of tightly packed, interlocking rock fragments and pebbles, but also transitions through a couple of wide sandy washes.  The trail is easy, but it should be driven with a high-clearance vehicle.

Several existing dispersed campsites with existing rock campfire rings are located near the end of the trail, in and around the mining camp, and are tucked close to the hills to provide some shelter from the wind.

This is a remote area with spotty cell phone coverage, and drivers exploring the area should carry adequate water, be equipped for self-rescue, and notify family/friends of their travel plans.