Wall Street Mill, Joshua Tree CA

• 5-star hike
• 2 mile part-loop
• Easy | Gain 90 feet
• Twentynine Palms, CA | Joshua Tree
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The image shows an old, abandoned mining structure in a desert landscape. The structure is made of corrugated metal and wood, and it appears to be in a state of disrepair, with parts of the roof and walls collapsed or missing. The surrounding area is arid, with sparse vegetation and rocky terrain. The sky is clear, indicating a sunny day.

The image shows an old, abandoned mining structure in a desert landscape. The structure is made of corrugated metal and wood, and it appears to be in a state of disrepair, with parts of the roof and walls collapsed or missing. The surrounding area is arid, with sparse vegetation and rocky terrain. The sky is clear, indicating a sunny day.

The abandoned stamp mill at trail's end is mostly still intact.

We'd recommend the trail to Wall Street Mill as the best short trail in the park. Take a picturesque stroll between rocky outcroppings along the flat desert floor, passing historic ruins of mans' attempts to live in and off this arid landscape.

The one mile out-and-back trail leads you past a wind-pump, an argument leading to a shoot-out, and ultimately to a small preserved depression-era stamp mill. Local prospectors would commission Bill Keys' stamp mill to crush and grind their rocks into a slurry using a two-step process, so it can be separated into gold and mine tailings.

On the route you'll happen across a modern metal replacement for a stone monument that was originally placed here and is now in the Joshua Tree park museum. The monument was placed in this location by the mill owner Bill Keys as a warning, after an altercation and shooting over a property dispute. The law sentenced Keys to five years imprisonment but later received a full pardon.

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⬤ 5★ Wall Street Mill 2.2 mi part-loop back, easy, gain 90 ft
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions

At the mill site you can also check out other historic equipment and a motor vehicle rotting away in the desert sun. More derelicts can be found on your return trip just to the north of the main trail - we've included a detour to these in our trail map. While you're out here in the desert, keep an eye out for wild bighorn sheep that roam the area.

This is a very popular hike, so we'd suggest making it a first priority in the park. We'd also recommend combining this with the Barker Dam Nature Trail hike that leads off from the same parking lot.

The image shows a desert landscape with several Joshua trees and a memorial plaque. The plaque is made of metal and has the following inscription: 'Here is where Worth Bagly bit the dust at the hand of W.F. Keys May 11, 1943'. The plaque is surrounded by small rocks at its base. The scene is set under a clear blue sky with rocky hills in the background.

The image shows a desert landscape with several Joshua trees and a memorial plaque. The plaque is made of metal and has the following inscription: 'Here is where Worth Bagly bit the dust at the hand of W.F. Keys May 11, 1943'. The plaque is surrounded by small rocks at its base. The scene is set under a clear blue sky with rocky hills in the background.

A metal monument to a desert showdown.

The image shows a desert landscape with a clear blue sky. In the foreground, there is a Joshua tree with its distinctive spiky leaves and twisted branches. To the right, there are the ruins of a small building with partially standing walls, some of which are painted pink. The background features rocky hills and sparse desert vegetation.

The image shows a desert landscape with a clear blue sky. In the foreground, there is a Joshua tree with its distinctive spiky leaves and twisted branches. To the right, there are the ruins of a small building with partially standing walls, some of which are painted pink. The background features rocky hills and sparse desert vegetation.

Ruins of a desert dwelling.

The image showcases an abandoned mining site in a desert landscape. The scene features rusty metal containers, wooden structures, and remnants of mining equipment. Large rock formations and sparse desert vegetation are visible in the background. The site appears to be in a state of decay, with weathered and deteriorating materials. It captures the remnants of historical mining activities and the impact of time on man-made structures in a harsh desert environment.

Abandoned mining equipment from the depression era.

The image is a detailed diagram of the Wall Street Gold Mill from 1931. It illustrates the process of how gold ore was handled and processed in the mill. Here are the key steps: 1. Ore Collection: Miners drove their gold ore to the mill and shoveled it into an ore car, which was pulled up an inclined tramway by a winch. 2. Grizzly Separation: The ore was dumped onto a grizzly, a grate to separate ore sizes. Smaller pieces fell into an ore chute. 3. Jaw Crusher: Larger pieces were broken in the jaw crusher and then fell into the same ore chute. 4. Mortar Process: The gravel-sized rocks entered the mortar, where they mixed with water and mercury. Heavy stamps dropped repeatedly on the ore, grinding it into wet sand. 5. Amalgamation Table: This pulp flowed onto the amalgamation table, where exposed gold particles adhered to mercury-coated plates. The amalgam was then scraped off and retorted. 6. Concentration Table: The remaining pulp continued to the concentration table, where any remaining gold was separated by weight. 7. Final Products: The products were sent to the mint or a smelter. The Wall Street Gold Mill is located in Joshua Tree National Park, Riverside County, California, and it serves as an interpretive exhibit managed by the National Park Service. It represents a small gold mill built in the early 20th century, significant for its role in the history of gold mining in the Joshua Tree region.

Workings of the stamp mill. From the park's interpretive sign.

Tangents:
• Official: Joshua Tree National Park
• Public Map at AllTrails: Wall Street Mill
• Facebook Group: Comment, Follow Us

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