Off Road Exploring: Red Cloud Mine (California)

[@robertcrawford718]

When I was a kid my father took me out to a lot of the old mines. I forgot where they were. I have a lot of great memories of hiking out to the silver mines with him.

[@hamcracker9153]

Awesome. I grew up camping with my family around that that grave site. We'd clean it up every trip.

[@Allhisranch]

Interesting

[@richm.6220]

Aw been out there a few times in the 70's as I only live about 25 miles from there. I worked for Kaiser Steel at Eagle Mountain. I found 100's of mines around. Back yrs ago all the that had a claim patent were listed in the AAA road maps by a pick & shovel like cross bones. My mom was a AAA member so you could get free maps of any area. I had many maps. I used the SB county map was the best for me since I made just a day trip on my days off. I had a 64 little 4x4 scout 4banger that went every where. Had kids in school so wife stayed home when I had days off in the middle of the week. So it was just the dog an me most of the time. Another day trip was out on Rice Rd to the only under ground bunker left by Gen. Patten tank crew. This was about 15 miles from Desert Center on the left side of the road.. Took my 3 yrs to come across it an only found it by stopping to pee and the by one of the 2x12" boxes sticking up a few inch up out of the ground. The dog ran out to pee also. I beeped the horn and dog pop his head out of the ground. I walked over an saw stairs going down into the ground with a big heavy door 1/2 open. I got my light an took a peek inside an saw bunks beds and another room that look like for their gear. I looked into that little 2x12 wooden box thing an noticed I was parked right on top of its air box. Yikes I slowly moved my scout.. Happy hunting.. Sorry for the poor grammar. I have only told a few people back when working at the Kaiser Iron mine. I posted a maker on the barred wire fence but it must have come off by the wind. I could not find it again as the area all looks alike. .

[@davidl.williams7366]

What memories. Back about 1952, Dick Harmony (from LaHabra, Ca.) and I ventured to the Red Cloud mine in his '39 Studebaker coupe. We had 4 tire failures, but made it anyway. I remember the cyanide tanks and the open vertical pit. Not too far from there was a small mostly rock cabin, and an old timer, last name Tubbs lived in it. It had formerly been a post office when the mine was in production. He slept mostly on the roofed front porch, and the wood plank floor had many small holes in it. Tubbs used bird shot to kill the rattlesnakes before he got off his cot after naps. Those were good times. Dick passed on this year 2018.

[@1984911Porsche]

Thanks again for the video, we were not able to find the graves, are they closer to the water tower or the house? Thanks

[@desert07576]

Have you gone up the radio tower rd out there? Super cool!

[@TheNotaRubicon]

We went up to the bottom of it when we were there yesterday but it was already late.. From the bottom it does not look like the kind of road I would enjoy.

[@desert07576]

@@TheNotaRubicon no I know you will not and very narrow with a couple section with steps.

[@richardhelit3840]

Lived in DC late 40's dad worked for Kaiser as electrician

[@1984911Porsche]

If anyone goes out the graves are getting covered by bushes. If you could take something to cut them back would be great. We tried our best with what we had in the Jeep.

[@ForensicPI]

Thank you Randy.

[@mithrandir1313]

Great Video!! the GPS cords really make this video awesome!! thanks again!

[@AllTerrainFamily]

Cool spot! We found a mine shaft like that on an abandoned pass north of Reno last summer. There are a lot of vertical shafts around here too. So sketchy.

[@nikonandys]

Been there a couple of times, love to camp at the spot with the tree just before you head down into the wash that leads to the mill ruins.

[@rubencarlos7715]

Tree on the right side next to the wash with a little hill next to it? I’ve been camping there for about 45 years on and off the tree is kinda wasted now I’ve also found abandoned cars stripped. One truck was new and all ID stripped but one I found it and turned it in. It was from around the border area but not reported missing so who knows. I wish you hadn’t posted to many people go there already. I even saw a big Boy Scout camp where I used to camp oh well. Have fun

[@WFORacer]

Awesome video as always, looks like a fun day of exploring. Thanks for sharing.

[@christopherschlitt7747]

Isn’t this private property? Looks like it was a state park in your clip with the info station you showed?

[@TheNotaRubicon]

It may be private property, but if it is there are no signs, gates or fences - My GPS says it is BLM land. It is not on state-park land - the kiosk at the beginning is 10 miles away from the mining area.

[@climbingbunny]

The Red Cloud Mine itself with all the structures are private property... currently all 93+ acres are up for sale, so it might not be available for access for much longer.

[@mindybelli7584]

The “Red Cloud Mine” is part of my family history. According to my mother, my great-grandmother caught gold fever after seeing a gold nugget on display at her bank in Hollywood, CA, and invested (too much) in "the Red Cloud Mine". That was most likely between 1895 and 1910. I have a few photos and a story about their involvement with the mine. My grandfather turned the bad investment into an adventure. Later, when he was a father, he took his young daughter (my mother) on camping trips to visit the area and a prospector who lived at Corn Spring, Juan Garcia. My mother recalled stories shared by her father and seeing a corral and large fly wheel at the Great Western mill site. The timing of the initial investment is perplexing, so as time allows me, I search for more information about the Red Cloud Mine group.

[@OtisChad]

It would be cool to see old pictures of the mill and mine site.

[@desert07576]

Now that interesting !

[@christopherschlitt7747]

Your family didn’t make or find much gold there?

[@rubicornfamily2995]

Another great video Randy. Can't wait to try this one out.

[@fonzrenteria2321]

Awesome

[@1984911Porsche]

Thanks for the helpful video. I took my son out yesterday. You can no longer drive up to the first building and the wash is closed between the next stop.

[@TheNotaRubicon]

Thank for the update! We were planning on going back there in the next few weeks. Why cant you drive up to the building and how is the wash closed??

[@1984911Porsche]

@@TheNotaRubicon looks like someone put boulders out to block the road up and the wash. I was going to take my wife back soon.

[@1984911Porsche]

@@TheNotaRubicon have you been out recently, since it is my understanding this area is still open was going to head out Saturday.

[@TheNotaRubicon]

We have some friends that were out at Red Cloud Mine last week.. It's all open land so there is really no way to close it.

[@1984911Porsche]

@@TheNotaRubicon thanks, will be nice to get out of the house.

[@RobDTom]

Thanks for the video Randy. Do you happen to have the GPS coordinates for the big mine that you walked through at the end? Is it somewhere around 33.592720, -115.438363?

[@TheNotaRubicon]

RobDTom the mine is 100 yards past the graves, to the right

[@RobDTom]

Ah, it's that close. Cool, thanks!

[@MPTrailGroup]

Awesome!!

[@TeamBoogie]

Another great video

[@jeremygreiner6854]

Great video!

[@NYC-WRX]

Love your videos. I am in nyc. I would love to take a trip to the west coast to wheel with you guys.

[@mr.bluegrass9723]

Great video as usual. So how do we get there.

[@TheNotaRubicon]

Interstate 10 to the Red Cloud Mine Road.. Follow the map on the video and/or navigate to the GPS coordinates.

[@dbizm]

I've got to say, I like this format of video much more than your IN4Lo series. Great job on this one!

[@juanl710]

Heey how's it going NOT RUBICON CREW I WAS WONDERING ON HOW TO GET THERE WITH THE FAMILY AND IF AN FJ CRUISER WITH **ONLY REAR DIFFERENTIAL LOCKERS** CAN MAKE IT UP THERE OOH AND I HAVE 33'S WITH A 3INCH LIFT thanx for the help and the Videos we are subscribed👍👍

[@TheNotaRubicon]

To get there take Interstate 10 to the Red Cloud Mine Road exit. From there follow the map on the video and/or navigate to the GPS coordinates. Your FJ should make it easily, no need for any lockers.

[@roadscountryforets]

bonito paisaje