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Wall Street Mill: Mine & Abandoned Cars in Joshua Tree National Park

Last Modified: February 21, 2020

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Joshua Tree National Park is full of mines from a century of settlers looking to get rich. While Wall Street Mill is just one of the many, it is one of my favorites in the park. This gold ore crushing mill is one of the last remaining mills in the park, with operations up until the mid-1900s. Accessed from the same parking lot as the incredibly popular Barker Dam Trail, this is a great way to get in an introduction into the California desert and its history. Here is all the information on this hike.

Wall St Mill 23

Details

  • 2.2 miles round trip
  • Relatively flat but no shade
  • I visited in 2016 and 2019

The Hike

Wall St Mill 21

While this hike is not on the map you get when entering the park, it is accessed from the same parking lot as Barker Dam and has a plaque and signs to guide you along the well-maintained path. It is less popular than Barker Dam but provides a lot of great history without the crowds and is a must do hike in the park.

Wall St Mill 17

As you proceed along the trail, you will be hugging the rocks for the first quarter-mile as you slog through the sand.

Wall St Mill 13

At .3 miles, you will reach a small dirt parking lot that off-road vehicles can park at, and that will make the hike shorter if you prefer that.

Wall St Mill 14

The trail proceeds away from the rocks and into the flat desert. Along the way, you will pass many Joshua Trees, which get you up close with the park’s famous trees.

Wall St Mill 15

At the .4 mile marker, you can veer off the trail to see one of the three old cars you will see on the hike. These are a lot of fun to photograph as they add a modern feel to the stark desert.

Wall St Mill 22

At .6 miles you will see an old windmill and the remains of what used to be a water pump and reservoir.

Wall St Mill 10

The trail then proceeds into the old water-bed, which you will be walking in until you reach the mill.

Wall St Mill 4

Along the way, there are more abandoned cars in varying levels of disrepair. They paint a picture of the modern history of this mine compared to some of the older mines in the park.

Wall St Mill 11

Wall Street Mill

Wall St Mill 7

When you reach the mill, you will be treated with a relatively well maintained old gold mill that you can get pretty close to; even though it still has a chain to block you from walking in.

Wall St Mill 2

The mill is located right near some large rocks where you can boulder up to get different views of the mill and the area around it.

Wall St Mill 20

There is a lot of history on the plaques near the mill that will tell you about its use and life in this desert wasteland.

Wall St Mill 6

There is also a lot of loose debris that mars the landscape in varying levels of rust and makes for good pictures.

Wall St Mill 1

All in all, this is an excellent hike in Joshua Tree National Park. It is one of my favorite mines and one of the more exciting, easy things to see in the park. Add that to the old cars that are a lot of fun to photograph, and you have the recipe for a pretty awesome adventure. Just make sure to bring a lot of water when it is hot. I would love to hear your comments below.

Filed Under: Abandoned, Deserts, Hikes, National Parks, Southern California Tagged With: Joshua Tree National Park, Riverside County

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    Josh from California Through My Lens I'm a travel junkie strapped down to one state, focused on seeing as much of it as I can and encouraging others to do the same. More about me.

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