Mail Spring Road

Mail Spring Road is an out-and-back trail that climbs up the eastern side of one of the mountains in the New York Mountain range to provide wonderful views across the desert and eventually reaches one of the oldest mines in the area, the Sagamore Mine. Sagamore Mine silver deposits were discovered in the 1870s, and the mine has operated on and off until the mid-1960s, recovering a variety of precious metals, including gold. Remnants of the abandoned operation are still present, including the gold recovery vats at the end of the trail, but the once-standing mine camps were leveled by the massive 2023 York Fire. Hiking up the hill from the end of the road will reach the mine camp sites.

A note of caution: in its later years, the mine was reported to have used toxic cyanide to recover gold (termed gold cyanidation). The concrete basins at the end of the road are typical of vats used for this process.

The trail is covered in apple-sized rocks sourced from the mine operation, making for a rough ride. Airing down will make for a more comfortable trip. Burned trees from the 2023 York Fire may fall to block the mountain section of the road, and drivers must be aware and willing to remove these trees before attempting the trail. One particular shelf section of the trail is water-damaged, creating a slippery off-camber section leaning down the side, requiring careful tire placement.

Large flat dispersed camping sites with existing rock fire rings can be found next to the trail, not far from Ivanpah Road.