Wall Street Mill Trail - Joshua Tree National Park

Today we’re in Joshua Tree National Park and hiking to one of the best preserved gold mills in the entire park. Join me along the trail to the Wall Street Stamp Mill.

History

Long time Joshua Tree rancher and miner, Bill Keys, saw an opportunity when this local mining region experienced a second gold rush during the Great Depression. In 1930 Mr. Keys bought the Wall Street Mill property and gathered equipment and machinery from the area to assemble this mill, where he would process ore for smaller mining operations.

The old wind mill along the Wall Street Mill trail

Location

This hike is just over two miles out and back, and the main parking area for the trail is located at the paved Barker Dam Trailhead parking lot (there is also a secondary unpaved lot less than 1/2 a mile down the gravel road). Shortly into this hike the trail splits, and you can take the 1/10 of a mile detour to the pink ruins of Wonderland Ranch…the crumbling walls are all that’s left of its long-gone ranching days. Here you can clearly see the Wonderland of Rocks giant boulder formations, which are popular for rock climbing and bouldering. The Wonderland Wash Trail here is narrow and unmarked, but still fairly easy to follow.

When you’re done exploring the pink ruins, head back to the main trail where you’ll pass multiple vehicles left to rust long ago, as well as the old windmill, which is a towering trail marker. If you pay close attention, just under 1 mile into this hike sits a lone memorial plaque for Mr. Worth Bagley. In 1943 Mr. Keys and Mr. Bagley had a property dispute that escalated into a shootout, and the plaque marks the spot where Mr. Bagley was shot and killed during the argument.

The marker where Bill Keys shot and killed Worth Bagley

Old car remnants along the Wall Street Mill trail

The final stretch of this trail drops into a sandy ravine leading to the mill. This site might look rather dilapidated at first glance, but the well, pump, rail tracks, winch, and mill shed all remain intact. You can read the informative signs showing how this two stamp mill crushed the ore and extracted the precious metals inside. The Wall Street Stamp Mill was entered in the National Register of Historic Sites because of its technological and mechanical significance. It is a complete gold ore crushing mill that features late nineteenth century two-stamp mill machinery.

Know Before You Go

• Always use caution near abandoned mines; stay out to stay alive. The mill itself is fenced off due to the unstable terrain and to the protect the history of this mill, but you can scramble around the nearby rock formations to get different views of the mill.

• The trail is uneven and made of gravel, dirt and sand, so plan appropriate footwear.

• Pets are not allowed on the trail.

• The closest restrooms are located at the Barker Dam Trailhead parking lot area.

• There is very little shade on this hike, so always bring extra water and use wisdom when hiking. Summer temperatures often hover above 100º here.

• Entrance fees to Joshua Tree National Park are currently $30 per vehicle. Consider purchasing an America the Beautiful Annual National Parks Pass for $80, which grants you access to over 2,000 federal recreation sites for a 12 month period.

• Please be sensitive when exploring the great outdoors and consider the Leave No Trace principles to help keep this special spot pristine, so that others may enjoy it for years to come.

• This is a great trailhead for night photography…just make sure to bring a strong flash light or headlamp.

Other Joshua Tree Points of Interest

• Hidden Valley Nature Trail

• Barker Dam

• Cholla Cactus Garden

• Keys View Point

• Arch Rock & Heart Rock

• Cottonwood Springs

• Jumbo, Penguin & Skull Rock

Night photography along the Wall Street Mill trail

In Summary & Behind the Blog Video

Thanks for joining me here today in Joshua Tree National Park. For a virtual tour of this hike, join me in my Behind the Blog video below…and until next week I hope you find adventure and encouragement wherever you go.

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