Snow Cloud Mine Road

I made the run out here with Robert by way of Pinkham Canyon Trail. Perfect weather. Spotted this camera along the trail placed by the Park Service. Not sure if they're counting wild animals or wild people.

Snow Cloud Mine trail is easily missed when traveling along Pinkham. When on Pinkham the entrance to Snow Cloud is a narrow brush shrouded opening that requires a double take to realize its a road. So keep a keen eye to your right when prompted by your GPS. The road up to the Snow Cloud mine is easy enough. The difficult parts are past the mine which we did not do on this this trip. A stop at the mine is a must to explore the shaft openings. The shafts are on the west side of a hill with fairly steep walking access and covered with loose slippery gravel tailings. We could find 3 shafts but we think there at at least 4 from the ID of "Snow4" scrawled on the wood beam supporting one of the open shafts. The shafts themselves have been safed with steel beams welded across the openings and one can feel a draft existing from what we are calling the main shaft suggesting its connected to other openings. Concrete foundations are still present suggesting a processing or a crusher was on site which is consistent with online information that stated Snow Cloud was one a gold mine. With no water present its possible the crushed ore was taken to existing site within the park where ore was received from several mines throughout the area for processing and whose significant remains can still be inspected in the park along Old Dale Rd. On site evidence suggests that last time Snow Cloud mine was assayed was 1984.

A short 1 mile detour about 1/2 way down Pinkum Canyon trail takes to the abandoned Snow Cloud mine. A rating of 5 suggests it occasional difficulty and again should only be attempted with a 2nd vehicle. The payoff is wonderful, A very well preserved but abandoned mine begs some safe exploration.