SECRETS OF JOSHUA TREE: Brooklyn Mine Road (camp, off-road, spelunk)

Lately, I've been visiting Joshua Tree National Park to explore it's hiking trails. Most recently, I discovered a Boulder house that looks like it has been left untouched for decades. While Joshua Tree has many points of interests to visit, like a gated off mining site, it just doesn't match how genuine the abandoned mining sites are on the outer eastern border.
Back on November 12, 2022, I set out to explore the Brooklyn Mine with 6 of my friends. I've never been here before, and I wanted to explore one of the last accessible abandoned mines in the area. As expected, this was a trail of moderate difficulty for a 4WD, which means that this trail can be difficult to impossible for a stock AWD. No matter what you drive, I want you to be as safe as possible, so I made this video for you! Use it as a point of reference.
NAVIGATION
00:00 INTRO
01:44 Starting the trail from Joshua Tree NP
04:21 This is where the ADVENTURE begins!
06:24 Fork in the road. LEFT = STEEP CLIMB, RIGHT = ROCKS
07:16 The STEEP CLIMB
16:40 STEEP downhill to the cabin
19:01 The ROCKY SECTION
26:38 Good Byes, Camp, Starlink, UFC
27:10 Wake up and explore the MINE!
Follow along on the adventures with detailed write ups and GPX files on / jondz_adventuring
***please do not share coordinates publicly or with someone that you wouldn't trust, protect our public lands, thanks!
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BUILD INFO:
-SKID PLATES by No-Lo Designs - discount code "JONDZ5" for 5% off
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-ROCK SLIDERS by Traxda USA - discount code "JONDZ20" for 20% offf
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-3.5 INCH LIFT KIT by Traxda USA - discount code "JONDZ20" for 20% off
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-RIDGELINE SWAP (Strut/Shocks and Spring)
-RIDGELINE EIBACH LIFT SPRINGS. Front 0.8" longer, Rear 0.3" longer
-STRUT/SHOCK EXTENDER by New Age Performance (Ventura, CA)
-BRAKE AID LINE LOCK SYSTEM by New Age Performance (Ventura, CA)
-WHEELS - Black Rhino "Chase" 18" X 8", 120 x 5, 10mm offset, 26 lbs
-TIRES - Toyo Open Country AT3 255/70R18
-REAR HITCH TIRE CARRIER "Trailswing" by DirtCom USA
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-ROOF TOP TENT by Centori Outdoors - discount code "JONDZ5" for 5% OFF
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Visit www.crossoverlanding.com for an AWD trail database, trail gear guide, and a link to join others.
#joshuatreenationalpark #brooklynmine #jondz #jondzadventuring #overlandmovie #overlanding #overlander #offroad #offroading #softroader #softroading #crossoverlanding #crossover #lightoffroad #CUV #SUV #outdoors #adventuremobile #vanlife #honda #hondapassport #hondaridgeline #hondapilot #ivtm4 #awd #subwaycave #4wd #vtec #vtecsociety #vtecnation #hondaoffroad #trailsport #twinclutchreardiff #twinclutch #jeep #carcamping #primitive #dispersed #remotecamping #primitivecamping #hondatruck #skidplate #sleepingincar #pasport #toyotatacoma #toyota4runner #jeepgladiator #nissanxterra #secrets

[@dstephan34]

Just picked up a Rubicon 4xe, look forward to taking the family on trips like this.

[@JonDZ_Adventuring]

Awesome! Congrats! Well, you’re going to like the new video I release today then. It has a Wrangler Rubicon 4xe. You can watch it a little early here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/imrSaoqonsZkgrMsi=rasJNwHH9cWOdXi9 I redid the video and made some very slight tweaks for the final version.

[@flyfisher530]

Nice video Jon! Those trails were knarly looking! Cabin and mine visit was cool to see, thanks for sharing!

[@JonDZ_Adventuring]

Thank you Michael! Your Jeep would make quick work of it, but definitely a fun trail for sure!

[@thesecondhalf5823]

Good stuff. Great vid. Thanks for sharing this info. Been to Joshua Tree a couple of times and have eyeballed this trail but I was on my own and didn't want to risk it. Subscribed.

[@JonDZ_Adventuring]

Thanks for the support! I just got back from Joshua Tree and thought about running it solo, but with the rain today, I decided not to risk it. Plus, I had the Wife with me. Driving home my vehicle hydroplaned and went half way into the lane to my right, and thank God no one was around wen it happened. Scary stuff! hehe

[@kevintrieu465]

That was a good trip. Feels like a lifetime ago.

[@JonDZ_Adventuring]

Well, it was 14 months ago 😉. Shortly after this trip we were having those historic snow storms, and snow wheeling / camping episodes had to take priority. As soon as the snow was over, it was now too warm for Joshua Tree content 🤣

[@CinderellasStinkyFoot]

Hell ya guys, i love going to JT. Cant wait to see what you guys uncover.

[@JonDZ_Adventuring]

🤙

[@iluvdrt8776]

This is a great trail, my Brat loved it. L A Mine road is another one I'd recommend and place it as a 4. You really can't go wrong exploring in J Tree. One of those mines was active not too long ago on one of those reality gold digger shows. Me, Scott Pittman, and Dustin meeks went here about 6 years ago. No videos, but we do have pics

[@JonDZ_Adventuring]

Thanks Jason! I’ll have to check out the LA mine sometime. The Wife and I went out to JT again! We just just got back actually. Our focus was on doing some hikes we we’ve never done. Headed out at midnight on Tuesday, camped in BLM land new the south entrance and then did some hikes and camped at Ryan mountain campground. It was a good reminder why I like dispersed camping so much. Paid campsites kinda suck. Not as much freedom.

[@Robsoccasionaltravels]

I ran it back in 1/2023 in my 2017 Jeep renegade Trailhawk and I also went up the steep hill up to the cabin and mine entrance

[@JonDZ_Adventuring]

Nice! My Honda has the same ZF transmission 😀

[@no-lodesigns]

Another great video! That trail looks pretty rough but the passport made short work of it.

[@JonDZ_Adventuring]

Thanks No-Lo! I took some hits on your skid plates for sure!

[@no-lodesigns]

@@JonDZ_Adventuring 🤜🤛

[@mojavedesertsonorandesert9531]

I have been up and down that hill many times, never seen an AWD on it, but I did see a stock F-150 4×4 with stock tires - with a spotter he made it up.

[@JonDZ_Adventuring]

I believe it. Body on frame trucks have lots of maximum clearance (rocker clearance), they can just run over the obstacle, even in stock form. The guy that we ran into in the mine tunnel was driving a modified newer gen Ford Ranger, but we saw that he wasn't as experienced. One things for sure, the rocky section leveled up his off-road skills that day.

[@mr.mctiktok]

Love it brother! I’d love to take my forester wilderness up here but who knows if it could make it stock 😂 you did say you wouldn’t recommend it 🥲

[@JonDZ_Adventuring]

I’m always going to side with caution, and my recommendations will be conservative because I don’t want anyone to damage their vehicle (remember, your wife will kill you 🤣, take no chances!). There were a lot of hidden boulders lurking around that I hit and that’s with 12” of centerline clearance and 15.5” of rocker clearance at the sliders.

[@eldedo8927]

was up there just last week, did geo/berdoo, this looks like my next one.

[@ianlupo9552]

Sick Video! I love my NoLo plates!

[@JonDZ_Adventuring]

Thanks! and I love them too!

[@durtyflyadventures]

That was such an amazing trip. I did hit my rocker but thankfully no damage (yes i need sliders still haha). There was so many cool mines we saw on that trip. Good times were had!!

[@JonDZ_Adventuring]

It’s too bad we missed hiking into the Brooklyn mine. I watched a video recently that shows the Brooklyn mine being gated off (similar to the mine in Death Valley)

[@durtyflyadventures]

@@JonDZ_Adventuring oh ok, like you can go in? Or permanent gate haha

[@JonDZ_Adventuring]

@@durtyflyadventuresI saw that the gate had a lock

[@durtyflyadventures]

@@JonDZ_Adventuring do you think it was the one we tried to get to on that sketchy tight road? That one had a lock on it

[@JonDZ_Adventuring]

@durtyflyadventures I think it was around where Kevin was hiking

[@OverlandOverloaded]

OOOOOOOH YEEEEEEAAAAAHHHHH

[@samli7350]

Took my stock crosstrek here haha. The mine was tricky to navigate

[@JonDZ_Adventuring]

Haha! Did you go up the steep hill? Or did you get all the way through the rock garden to the cabin? When are we getting on another trip?

[@samli7350]

@@JonDZ_Adventuring yeah I got to the cabin. If you keep going from the cabin you get to a pretty complex cave right ? On top of a hill

[@JonDZ_Adventuring]

@@samli7350 we never ended up finding the Brooklyn Mine entrance, just the Gold Standard Mine.

[@samli7350]

@@JonDZ_Adventuring it’s to the right hand side of the cabin. You will see a bunch of wooden tubs and walk up that hill. Haha where is your next trip?

[@edgarandreasyan521]

15:53 I was in 4lo with my foot off the brake and gas just climbing

[@JonDZ_Adventuring]

I know bud, I was referring to myself and how I bashed my passenger rock slider the following day while we were looking for the mine.

[@ir8maverickmichaeljavillon306]

I haven’t been on that trail, this looks nice Jon. Do you think i can make it there?

[@JonDZ_Adventuring]

Hey Mike, this definitely was an interesting place to explore. Compared to Old Dale Road, this trail has steep, loose, rocky sections and a rock garden. This might be a really tough one, but can’t count out a Subie. Also, some people will drive out to this area and then hike to the cave, so that’s another option. Trails off-road rates old dale road a level 4 trail, but Brooklyn mine a level 3 trail. In my opinion, they should both be rated a level 3, but Brooklyn mine should be more difficult (perhaps a 3.5)

[@ir8maverickmichaeljavillon306]

That’s a good info, because it’s been a long time i haven’t been doing a real off-roading beside when i went to Moab on a lvl1 jeep trail. I wont do it anymore on my Subaru 😂 and I’m just really busy at work.

[@bobby350z]

I wish someone would show a video of what happens when someone comes from other side say at 15:37. How do you guys handle it? Thanks.

[@JonDZ_Adventuring]

That’s a good question, that part of the trail is very steep with no space for someone to pass. The people up top will be able to see the bottom and uphill traffic has the right of way. If oncoming traffic doesn’t see each other, then people will either have to back down or back up.

[@bobby350z]

@@JonDZ_Adventuring - Thanks.

[@hukmai]

Aight where's Manny's regeared Ridgeline?

[@JonDZ_Adventuring]

HAHA! I just got back from the Gorman trip last night!

[@danpayan9468]

Are SxS allowed to travel on this trail?

[@JonDZ_Adventuring]

Good question! So, according to the Joshua website. No OHV vehicles allowed to drive inside the Joshua national park territory. However, the Brooklyn mine is located around BLM (bureau of land management) land, and you may be able to take your side by side here.

[@edgarandreasyan521]

@@JonDZ_Adventuring you can trailer your sxs to blm land,unload and drive it. But on national park it needs to be road legal. So no SxS on national park roads

[@JonDZ_Adventuring]

@@edgarandreasyan521 so, trailer it in off highway 62 in 29 palms ✌️