Most people interested in the old mines of Southern California know about the old "Spanish" smelter on the eastern edge of the San Bernardino Mountains. It is just off Burns Canyon Road in Rattlesnake Canyon and is well-visited.
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Chaparrosa Peak
There is nothing historical here, but this is a nice hike to a peak with great views just outside of Joshua Tree.
Directions
Getting There
The trailhead for this hike is at the visitor center in the Pioneertown Mountains Preserve, run by The Wildlands Conservancy.
To get there, drive out
Pipes Canyon
Pipes Canyon is a pleasant and easy hike. The trail heads out from the visitor center at the Pioneertown Mountains Preserve and follows the canyon up into a riparian habitat. The canyon is usually dry, but water does occasionally surface to support this isolated oasis.
Keep an eye out for
Belden Arrastra and Mikiska Petroglyphs
I had looked for this arrastra some time ago but instead found another mining camp. That ended up being a good trip, even without finding my elusive target. Still, it wasn’t an arrastra.
So, some time passed (actually, a few years), and it sort of dropped off my radar,