Exploring Abandoned Mines in California's Piute Mountain Range

Exploring Abandoned Mines in California's Piute Mountain Range

The Piute Mountains are part of the Sequoia National Forest in Kern County, Ca. They lie between the Kern River to the west and the Mojave Desert to the east. Large scale gold mining in the Piutes began in the late 1860’s and early 1870’s but faded out around the turn of the century. The great depression brought on another flury of activity and many old mines were reopened as low buget operations.

In this video, I show you four old gold mines and one dolomite mine that I found during a camping trip last July. At the mine sites I found two adits, a miner’s cabin, and a stone arrastra. Although these mines are pretty small, they were still very enjoyable to explore. I hope you guys find them as interesting as I did.

11 Comments

  1. PHARRAOH on February 25, 2021 at 8:43 pm

    just yesterday, I was watching Andy Griffith and it was the one where he and Helen Crump get stuck in a old mine when it collapsed and Barney organized a crew to dig them out.

  2. ronnie cardy on February 25, 2021 at 8:50 pm

    Nice cabin 👌

  3. Cheycasters on February 25, 2021 at 8:50 pm

    Cool! Iv’e never heard of that arrasta?? El Paso’s too Piutes! Thanks.for theses vids…

  4. Steven School Alchemy on February 25, 2021 at 8:58 pm

    Cool bananas!

  5. Ralph Patrick on February 25, 2021 at 9:00 pm

    I’m so jealous! My age and health prevent me from exploring. Thanks for sharing!

  6. Lars Mohler on February 25, 2021 at 9:02 pm

    Nice finds. Thanks for taking us along.

  7. Sue Girling on February 25, 2021 at 9:02 pm

    Hi, that cabin was a cool find, I wonder how old it was ??. those mines although small were still interesting. Thank you for sharing, much love. xx💖

  8. SoCal Outdoor Explorer on February 25, 2021 at 9:23 pm

    Another awesome video. What are your resources that you use to find your locations?

  9. Robert Hardwick on February 25, 2021 at 9:28 pm

    Id be on the watch for mountain lions!

  10. Kevin Brennan on February 25, 2021 at 9:32 pm

    I will never understand the mine of a vandal or thief. What a wonderful asset { NOT }, to the community they are.. At least the place, has not been shot to shit..

  11. shawn burton on February 25, 2021 at 9:32 pm

    Been hunting piute mtn for years never seen those mines.

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