Chuckwalla Springs Trail

Soon after turning onto the sandy tracks of Chuckwalla Springs Trail, a distant tunnel presents itself. These tunnels or underpasses are designed to allow various wildlife, like desert bighorn sheep, to safely cross beneath the highway and are also designed to be wide and tall enough to allow passage of full-size vehicles.  After emerging from the tunnels, the remnants of Gold Hammer Mine appear.  The remains of a mill, bare concrete slabs where the building once was, and fenced-off mine shafts remain.  The mine front presents an extremely well-preserved rounded flagstone staircase and a flagstone trellised garden appearing more as a luxurious home entrance than a working gold mine.  Continuing past the mine, the road eventually follows a wash and ends at the edge of the Clipper Mountain Wilderness, where a 1.5-mile hike will reach Chuckwalla Springs.

Past the mine and over a hill, the only dispersed campsite seen from the trail is on a large area of flat desert pavement that does provide a wonderful view of the Clipper Mountains.

This is an easy trail over soft sand but requires a four-wheel drive, high clearance vehicle.