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    Cerro Gordo Mines

    5.0 (23 reviews)

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    Reviews With Photos - Cerro Gordo Mines

    Susan G.

    It was a white knuckled drive up to the top for me in my Honda CRV AWD. All the way up all I could think about was how the heck I would get back down! It was a cool site and I was wondering how it was connected to Saline Valley. The guys gave me good advice how to go down: drive in low gear at no more than 10 mph. Going up was the hardest part. They were right. It was an adventure!

    02.13.21 view of Owens Valley
    May A.

    Ghost town with a lethal legacy... The road towards the abandoned mine was rough... 8 miles of it, unpaved and at times you have to give way to an oncoming car whoever has room to spare with no safety. Yikes! It was quite a trek... did I say "car"... no, you can't drive a 4-banger up there, you'll damage your car from the rocky road. You need a truck or a 4x4 or a Rubicon! We encountered steep incline and winding dirt road with hairpin turns and vertical drops. So scary! It was a bit nerve-wracking and required a great deal of focus. Prior to making that rocky trek to the mines there is a sign at the entrance, read it. There is a phone number listed, call that number and ask to see if you can visit the property. Cerro Gordo is privately owned and all visitors must check in. This mining town is located in the Owens Valley near Lone Pine CA. Unfortunately, there were no tours offered at the time we went. We were free to walk around the grounds but we can't go inside the buildings and structures. Cool place to visit to see a living history of a former 19th-century silver mining town. There is an air of mystery in the property. Since we were not able to take a tour I read up a lot about the Cerro Gordo. There is one resident caretaker, Brent Underwood, he bought the property for $1.4 million and plans to restore the town and transform it into a tourist destination. The old mine looks over Owens Valley and the now dry Owens Lake on the east side of the Sierra mountains. The views of Owens Valley was G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S! Our crazy drive up to the mines were rewarded by a pict and stunning views. Sorry for all the photos... i couldn't get enough of the scenery. Cerro Gordo was featured in the season 19 episode of Ghost Adventures titled "Cerro Gordo Ghost Town", which aired in 2019 on the Travel Channel. Review #2121

    Diomedes L.

    This ghost town was one of my targeted place I wanted to visit off the northwestern part of Death Valley national park just outside of it and eight miles from the town of Keeled up the mountain. The trek going up was something else, the view is spectacular and not for the weak because the road is not pave and some parts you're right the edge of a cliff. Not for the faint of heart. In addition, is very rough I paved road, some parts have large lose rocks. You can't make it up the mountain with a car that's for sure. I was lucky enough trouble rent a 4x wheel drive and even that was pretty brutal. Anyway, when we (me and my wife) got to the to the town, the place was being restore or maintained and we were allowed to walk around but can't go in buildings . I believe you can book a mine tour with the owner, but at this time they close. There were people (I'm assuming custodians) that keeps the place secured. It's pretty spectacular area to go and fun to drive up and down that scary , one lane road that goes for both way traffic. I'm looking forward to come back and book a tour with sometime in the future when all this Covid protocol ease a little.

    julie f.

    Had a great tour today by Johnny. It was very interesting and he was full of knowledge. Glad we decided to add the tour. We would have missed out if we just drove through

    Cerro Gordo
    Eric L.

    Gorgeous drive up the mountains with epic views from several stopping points. The drive passes a few abandoned mine shafts along the way. The caretaker is a working miner and knows a ton of history and present day intrigue of the area. It's a great way to spend a few hours - pack a picnic!

    Lucky S.

    Okay, the drive out here is gnarly. Really, rocky, really narrow, really windy dirt road about 9 miles up to the ghost town. We read somewhere that a 4wd isn't necessary. I would totally disagree. While you may be able to technically make it without one, I would never subject any car I owned that wasn't 4wd to the trip. There is a caretaker, Robert, on site and no entrance fee but a tip is welcome (although he didn't request one, we gave him money for his time and knowledge). We spent about an hour with Robert that told us stories and shared all of his knowledge from living there decades. The history in this place is amazing and it's really cool that you can rent a bunk for over night exploring, BUT there is no running water on site so you might get a room and breakfast but no shower! Definitely a unique experience if you can take the drive!

    Jimmie C.

    A unique piece of California history. We were greeted by Roxie and given a tour of the town and various buildings. Roxie was very warm and provided a thorough history of the area. She went out of her way to welcome us. The unpaved road from Keeler was a bit rough in parts and steep, but we made it up in our sienna mini van. I recommend a high clearance vehicle or 4-wheel drive to definitely make the travel a lot easier. Thank you Roxie for a great visit!

    The road up
    Andrew K.

    This place is cool. The road up starts at approx 3600 ft and you climb to almost 8700 in the shirt 9 mile trip. It is a graded gravel road. Easy in a 4x4. Moderate in 4x2. Definitely worth the trek up. Check out the old hotel, see the cool artifacts and say hi to the curator that lives on sight. Very nice place to sit have a lunch and imagine life in 1871.

    This hidden treasure is great!
    Don T.

    Stopped here to capture some photos with my camera buddies and we were very impressed. The property manager Robert gave us a very informative tour of the mine and then turned us loose to roam. A lot of history here!

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    The visual clarity of challenges, obstacles and personal travel around the mines created an amazing video of his property!

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    2 years ago

    stumbled on this on our trip to Yosemite. Just a small sign on the side of the road. Ended up being the best thing we did this vacation

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

    incredible experience highly recommend you visitand take a tour of the property and its history!

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    6 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Awesome place to walk through and see how the miners did it. Great staff, beautiful area and there is an amazing hike above the mines.

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    Review Highlights - Cerro Gordo Mines

    When you watch some of the YouTube videos about the trek to get to town, it does not do it justice.

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    Manzanar National Historic Site - Barracks recreation

    Manzanar National Historic Site

    4.9(223 reviews)
    36.3 km

    I came out here on a field trip with a class I'm taking this summer. It's 95 degrees, windy and…read morearid. Even as a visitor, I find these conditions to be uncomfortable, so I could not imagine being forced to live out here in subhuman conditions for an indefinite period of time. However, that is what over 120,000 Japanese Americans and Japanese Nationals living in the USA were forced to do during WWII - and 10,000 men, women, children and babies were forced to do just that at Manzanar. The Visitors Center is only open on Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday - so we were not able to see it, but we were able to eat our lunches in the Mess Hall. I also explored the barracks, and saw the rest of this historic site by bus and on foot. Don't miss seeing Merritt Park, the Children's Village area, and the Issei Obelisk. This site is a powerful reminder that History repeats itself, and visiting Manzanar is an extremely moving and meaningful experience for everyone. Peace.

    I have driven past the turnoff for Manzanar over a dozen times. I have known about it since I was…read morein middle school but never went. My sister and I have been taking my nephew to significant sites of WW11 over the years starting with Pearl Harbor and Auschwitz. Being part Japanese, we felt this was an important stop. The grounds are very well maintained. The educational aspect of it is great. The rangers have taken great care to show an accurate representation of what "camp" life was like. The recreated rooms, shacks and monuments have been meticulously built. The rangers were great about sharing knowledge. The book store has some great books that are not available on Amazon. The parking is a breeze. The entrance is free. When entrance is free to somewhere like this I like to support by donating or buying items that help support the cause. I bought my nephew and I each a book and a couple other little things. I also really like that they participate in the Junior Ranger Program. It was a great way for not just my nephew but myself to learn too. It was a great family activity. I highly recommend visiting. It can be a little emotionally draining but it is an important part of American History that we cannot forget.

    Photos
    Manzanar National Historic Site - Healthcare at Manzanar explained

    Healthcare at Manzanar explained

    Manzanar National Historic Site - Origami cranes

    Origami cranes

    Manzanar National Historic Site - Mess hall

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    Mess hall

    Keysone Mine - Abandoned

    Keysone Mine - Abandoned

    4.0(1 review)
    94.6 km

    So I make no bones about my love for abandoned things. Yes, it does make me feel a bit like Indiana…read moreJones minus the whip, cool factor, and the only real enemy here in the desert is me being unprepared or doing something stupid. They Keystone Mine is roughly halfway between the Panamint Valley and the Barker Ranch of Charles Manson fame. It is just before the Death Valley National Park boundary. During its productive years used to mine gold. I simply explored the mine entrance and offices. The mine itself is located away from the main gate area and involved pretty rough terrain over miles of switchbacks to get to so I passed. I did attempt to drive above the wash plant and encountered conditions that I could have gotten past with my stock 2016 MDX but decided not to chance it given there is no one out here and no cell service. The main building was pretty cool to explore as were the remains of the washplant, the swimming pool, and the shower area. As with most of these places there is plenty of stuff abandoned in place decaying slowly in the dry conditions. There is also a lot of fauna about if you are patient. From various raptors to wild sheep and donkeys Aside from this there are no services etc so you need to bring whatever you want to use. There are a few camping areas and some of the cabins are for public use. There is also lots of flora and fauna if you are patient. If you want to get to the actual mine, a legit off road capable vehicle with good ground clearance is needed. Also you need to be prepared for desert conditions. I made the run in April and it was still mid 80's. Summertime may be much higher.

    Photos
    Keysone Mine - Abandoned
    Keysone Mine - Abandoned
    Keysone Mine - Abandoned

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    Magic Cart Ride - The magic cart

    Magic Cart Ride

    5.0(15 reviews)
    330.8 km

    The tour was so much more than we expected. We are locals and didn't think there was anything new…read morewe could learn about our town but we were totally wrong. We experienced a new restaurant as well as learned so much history about the places we went to. We also made new friends with some of the other people taking the same tour which is always a benefit! Definitely recommend!

    Palm Springs Old and new!…read more The MAGIC CART RIDE is such a fun activity for tourists and locals alike. I'm a long-time local, but I still have so much to see and learn. I work with many tourists who ask me about great activities and this is the top on my list. Donnie and Kathy (the tour guides) are so much fun- taking us through the history of Palm Springs, while pointing out the newer details about the area. History, culture, art, food, what more can we ask for? They kept us hydrated and filled with beverages, water, food and even a nifty gift bag. This tour is small and intimate, with only 6 guests, so everyone has a chance to ask questions and absorb! The tour includes several stops featuring cocktails, mocktails and food while you enjoy the experience. Some of our stops included several popular and my personal choices, Eight Four Nine and Crudo. We were treated to Crudo's pistachio lime cocktail - perfect beverage to feel relaxation at its finest! These may be on your tour, or there will be other wonderful places. Best to even take the tour again, in case you missed something! I don't want to give much more away so just trust me and make your reservation now. It's truly memorable and magical!

    Photos
    Magic Cart Ride - Getting your gift bag ready for the tour

    Getting your gift bag ready for the tour

    Magic Cart Ride
    Magic Cart Ride - Sugar High Bar on top La Serena Villas One of our stops

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    Sugar High Bar on top La Serena Villas One of our stops

    Crystal Cave - Second inside room

    Crystal Cave

    4.3(84 reviews)
    86.2 km

    We visited Crystal Cave on Monday, June 8, 2026, and had a fantastic experience. Our guide, AJ, was…read morefabulous--knowledgeable, engaging, and made the tour both fun and informative. The walk down to the cave is about a half-mile and fairly steep, but it's absolutely worth it. The beautiful waterfall along the trail was an unexpected highlight and made the hike even more enjoyable. Crystal Cave itself is amazing and well worth the visit. The formations are incredible, and the tour provides fascinating insight into the cave's history and geology. The ticket price is very reasonable, and knowing that the proceeds help support conservation and educational programs makes it even better. I highly recommend Crystal Cave to anyone visiting the area! Maybe you'll be lucky snd AJ will be your guide too!

    Crystal Cave was closed for 4 years for renovations and reopened last season. We made reservations…read morefor this year as soon as they opened the roster. My boyfriend is very interested in exploring different caves & caverns and I thought this would be a fun weekend getaway for us. There is a long trail down to the mouth of the cave, the decent is not too bad, but it is quite a trek back up. The trail is about half a mile to the cave opening and half a mile back up. When you check in for your tour (tickets are not sold at the cave and must be purchased in advance) they go over some safety information and tour information. The staff has you cleanse the soles of your shoes prior to heading down to the cave to help prevent white nose syndrome to the bats that inhabit the cave. On the trail down there are many beautiful sights including waterfalls. I would recommend stopping at the sights on the way back up when breaks from the steep trail will be needed. The trail back up is not the most difficult we have endured, but it is up there on the list due to the steepness of the path. There is a large area at the mouth of the cave for the tour group to gather with the guide who is waiting at the gate for you. No items besides cameras and plastic water bottles are permitted within the cave and must be left outside the gate during your 50 minute cave tour. There is a large gate that the guide will unlock and you will walk through to enter the cave. The gate is a huge spiderweb with a large spider in the center, it was really wicked. Crystal Cave has crystal clear water running through it, you could see the marble that is natural there that the water has washed out over the years, as well as many stalagmites & stalactites, cave bacon, cave popcorn and many other interesting formations that have taken hundreds of thousands of years to form. Among the many caverns & caves we have toured this one was very different with the marble and flowing water within. Shirley was our tour guide, and though she was new she was so passionate and knowledgeable about the cave!

    Photos
    Crystal Cave - This one looks like the abominable snowman!

    This one looks like the abominable snowman!

    Crystal Cave
    Crystal Cave

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    Cerro Gordo Mines - historicaltours - Updated July 2026

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