Exploring the Abandoned Log Cabin Mine

The Log Cabin Gold Mine near Lee Vining is accessed by dirt road (4WD and high clearance recommended). The mine opened around 1910 and was in its peak in the World War II era. At one point, it was the most active gold mine in California. It is a scenery, history, and OHV adventure.

Don’t let the name fool you. This federal government owned mining site began operation in the early 1900. Modern operations began after WWII and continued into the 80′s. This is an abandoned large scale mine with much a equipment still in place. A very interesting mine to visit indeed. For a while the mine was the largest producer of gold in California.

…on the verge of collapsing into the gaping collar…
We headed up to the mine along the long dirt road from Lee Vining it's best suited for four wheel drive or high clearance vehicles. The site features an impressive Head Frame and Mill which appear to be on the verge of collapsing into the gaping collar of the main shaft, very dangerous. We explored the hoist house, assay shack, bunkhouse and office, mess hall, various other structures and the original “Log Cabin”.

The site is littered with old mining equipment like stamps, cams and pulleys from earlier mining efforts, all shoved off the side of the hill where we found another road overgrown with young pines. This road led us down the hill some 200 plus feet in elevation to another tunnel which we had seen on topo. The adit was collapsed and had water flowing out it. There was a nice tailings pile with ore cart tracks overlooking Mono Lake but man that was a long hike back up the hill.

Log Cabin mine and mill are located up a dirt road just a few miles (but several thousand feet of elevation) from the bottom of the Tioga Pass road. The Log Cabin Mine was once the largest gold-producing mine in California. It was state-of-the-art and could both extract and process the gold from the quartz ore far beneath the surface. It opened in 1910, and over the next 30 years became famous for the amount of gold it produced and for the harsh winters the miners endured. Log Cabin mine was closed by Presidential order at the beginning of WW2, remained mothballed for the next 20 years in hopes of a rise in gold prices that would again make operation profitable, and finally closed permanently in 1956. Now, all that remains of the once bountiful mine are decaying buildings, equipment ravaged by time and vandals, and memories.

Remember Stay out and stay alive

Have you been, comments welcome below!