Route Editor
Route Scout
 With the discovery of Silver ore (Silver Chloride)at the CHLORIDE CLIFFS in August,1871, Chloride City reportedly became the first mining venture on the east side of Death Valley in the Funeral Mountain Range. The Chloride Cliff Company was active on and off producing silver ore until finally closing down for good in June 1912. On this 8 mile 4x4 drive in, one of the things you will not want to miss is the excellent viewpoint from the 5279 foot Chloride Cliffs highpoint. You will be looking down the length of Death Valley, more than 5000 feet below, a breathtaking panorama perhaps surpassed only by Dante's Viewpoint high above Badwater Basin. The main attraction and focus of this hike description is the remote and scenic hike down from the TH/Parking Start location at way point N36.69947 W-116.87886 to the BIG BELL MINES COMPLEX located 2.75mls and -1408 feet below your TH Start (between the popular Keane Wonder Mine Complex and the Chloride Cliffs). This Big Bell Complex has a very interesting and educational Gold Mining History. The majority of its remains date back from the 1935-37 time period with tons of old surviving mining equipment to view and numerous, large audits you can carefully walk into. A well preserved mining site once fought over by a real western gunfight. IF you enjoy: ..scenic 4x4ing to reach a remote destination; ..mining history with old structures, tons of old mining equipment, and numerous audits to explore; ..a scenic highpoint at 5279' to view the depths and length of Death Valley; ..and are a capable GPS user who can download and follow the attached GPS hiking "and" GPS driving route attached to this hike description; ..visiting this area of DV in only Dec-Jan-Feb-early March; ..hiking downhill -1408' in the beginning of the hike, then uphill coming back for a total of 1700'AEG; THEN, this hike and exploration area is a "must do" when visiting Death Valley National Park; Please Note: As of this writing, the more popular and easier driving route to access this hiking area via the Keane Wonder Mine Trail (off the Beatty Cutoff Road), is presently closed due to recent Mercury contamination finds at the Keane Wonder Mine, so this hike description is the present recommended route to access this most interesting area of Death Valley history. Check out the Official Route and Triplogs. Leave No Trace and +Add a Triplog after your hike to support this local community.
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WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.
Most recent Triplog Reviews
Chloride Cliffs & Big Bell Mines - DVNP
With the discovery of Silver ore (Silver Chloride)at the Chloride Cliffs in August,1871, Chloride City reportedly became the first mining venture on the east side of Death Valley in the Funeral Mountain Range. One of the highlights of this day trip you will not want to miss is the excellent viewpoint from the 5279 foot Chloride Cliffs highpoint. You will be looking down the length-north & south of Death Valley, more than 5000 feet below.
The main attraction of this day outing is the remote and scenic hike down from the TH/Parking area to the Big Bell Mine Complex located 2.75mls and -1408 feet below the TH Start (between the popular Keane Wonder Mine and the Chloride Cliffs). This Big Bell Complex has a very interesting and educational Gold Mining History. The majority of its well preserved remains date back from the 1935-37 time period with tons of old surviving mining equipment to view and numerous, large adits you can carefully walk into. A very well preserved mining site- frozen in time, and once fought over by a real western gunfight
IF you enjoy:
..scenic 4x4ing to reach a remote, scenic destination;
..mining history with well preserved structures, tons of old mining equipment, and numerous adits to explore;
..a scenic highpoint at 5279' to view the depths and length of Death Valley;
..and are a capable GPS user who can download and follow the attached GPS hiking "and" GPS driving route attached to this HAZ hike description;
..visiting this area of DV in only Dec-Jan-Feb-early March;
..hiking downhill -1408' in the beginning of the hike, then uphill coming back for a total of 1700'AEG;
THEN
, this hike and exploration area should be on your "must do list" when visiting Death Valley National Park;
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Edit Update- April,2010:
PLEASE NOTE: The NPS has issued a "closure notice" for this area as follows- "Closed Area: Until the site can be made safer--while also preserving the historic features of the site and protecting those areas used by wildlife--the National Park Service has decided to close the Keane Wonder Mine and surrounding area to public access. The closed area is from the junction of Keane Wonder Road and Beatty Cut-off Road east to Chloride City, and approximately one mile both north and south of Keane Wonder Mine, including Keane Wonder Mill, Cyty Mill, Big Bell and King Midas Mines. For questions or a map of the closed area, ask at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center." Also, for more information and possible updates regarding this DVNP "area closure notice" see NPS link- http://www.nps.gov/deva/historyculture/ ... r-mine.htm ;
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The main attraction of this day outing is the remote and scenic hike down from the TH/Parking area to the Big Bell Mine Complex located 2.75mls and -1408 feet below the TH Start (between the popular Keane Wonder Mine and the Chloride Cliffs). This Big Bell Complex has a very interesting and educational Gold Mining History. The majority of its well preserved remains date back from the 1935-37 time period with tons of old surviving mining equipment to view and numerous, large adits you can carefully walk into. A very well preserved mining site- frozen in time, and once fought over by a real western gunfight
IF you enjoy:
..scenic 4x4ing to reach a remote, scenic destination;
..mining history with well preserved structures, tons of old mining equipment, and numerous adits to explore;
..a scenic highpoint at 5279' to view the depths and length of Death Valley;
..and are a capable GPS user who can download and follow the attached GPS hiking "and" GPS driving route attached to this HAZ hike description;
..visiting this area of DV in only Dec-Jan-Feb-early March;
..hiking downhill -1408' in the beginning of the hike, then uphill coming back for a total of 1700'AEG;
THEN
, this hike and exploration area should be on your "must do list" when visiting Death Valley National Park;************************************************************************************
Edit Update- April,2010:
PLEASE NOTE: The NPS has issued a "closure notice" for this area as follows- "Closed Area: Until the site can be made safer--while also preserving the historic features of the site and protecting those areas used by wildlife--the National Park Service has decided to close the Keane Wonder Mine and surrounding area to public access. The closed area is from the junction of Keane Wonder Road and Beatty Cut-off Road east to Chloride City, and approximately one mile both north and south of Keane Wonder Mine, including Keane Wonder Mill, Cyty Mill, Big Bell and King Midas Mines. For questions or a map of the closed area, ask at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center." Also, for more information and possible updates regarding this DVNP "area closure notice" see NPS link- http://www.nps.gov/deva/historyculture/ ... r-mine.htm ;
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2010-02-15 Grasshopper
Chloride Cliffs & Big Bell Mines - DVNP
Did the 4WD to Chloride Cliffs, visited the high point there and drove back to the hike starting point. The GPS tracks for the drive and hike are posted and are most seriously recommended if you want to visit there. Chloride city is a mining ghost town and there are a maze of dirt roads and trails along the way with absolutely no signs or cairns to guide you. I was fortunate to have hiked up from the Keane Wonder mine trailhead 5 years ago and recorded a track for that. So discovering the trail to Big Bell was not a problem but would have been if not for that track.
This is a great drive and hike with spectacular views from the high point at Chloride Cliffs and a lot of surviving equipment and structures to see at Big Bell. You can also walk into the adits for some distance to see what that was like. A well preserved mining site.
This is a great drive and hike with spectacular views from the high point at Chloride Cliffs and a lot of surviving equipment and structures to see at Big Bell. You can also walk into the adits for some distance to see what that was like. A well preserved mining site.
2010-02-15 gpsjoe
