Hanaupah Spring & Shorty’s Mine – Death Valley National Park
Hike up Hanaupah Canyon to a spring, then up a vague old road to the remains of a mine.
| Total Distance: 6.8 miles out & back | Elevation Gain: 3,391ft. (3,212ft. to 5,878ft.) |
| Difficulty: Very Strenuous | 5-10 Mile Difficulty: Very Strenuous |
| View Rating: 2.0 out of 5.0 stars | Author’s Rating: 2.0 out of 5.0 stars |
| Visitor Rating: (Click to rate) [Total: 0 Average: 0] | Visitor Difficulty Rating: (Click to rate) [Total: 0 Average: 0] |
| Pets: No | Horses: Yes |
| Best Seasons: March-June, September-December | Special Permits: None |
| Water Availability: No potable water | Overnight Options: Dispersed camping permitted |
| Trailhead Amenities: None | Crowd Factor: Solitude |
| Trailhead Access: 2.3 | |
Uses:     | Trail Surface:     |
Features:      | Hazards:      |
Mile-by-Mile: Hanaupah Spring & Shorty’s Mine
0.0 End of Hanaupah Canyon Road (3,212ft.). Exactly where the road ends is approximate; obey the signs if you’re on wheels. Continue hiking up the canyon – you’ll begin to see greenery fairly soon, indicating that Hanaupah Spring is upstream. (approx. 36.188558°, -117.005375°)
1.0 Springs & campsite (3,696ft.). Around this point, you’ll pass the second of the two Hanaupah Springs along with a campsite. The spring is special in that it typically flows all year round, including in the summer months. Backtrack downcanyon a short distance to where an old mining road strikes south up the hillside. The mine is about 200 yards beyond the spring, but you can keep following the road for a while. About mile 2.3, stay left (south) when the road forks or else you’ll end up down in a wash. (36.186151°, -117.021368°)
3.4 End of old road (5,878ft.). You may find some old mines nearby. (36.171317°, -117.037171°)
History & More
Be very careful near the entrance to the mine – it seems it’s a favorite hangout for yellowjackets!
Alexander Zachariah “Shorty” Borden prospected for gold in Death Valley beginning in 1887. While he never struck it rich, he did walk for miles over the entire area, discovering other interesting riches including his well along what is now the West Side Road. He stayed on for many years, becoming known as the “last of the old timers” with a personality full of hospitality and friendliness.
“Shorty” Borden decided to make his fortune by creating a camp in Hanaupah Canyon. Shortly before he opened it to visitors, an enormous flash flood washed the entire camp down onto Badwater Salt Flats. Shorty heard it coming and barely made it to safety on higher ground. Without supplies, he knew he would have to hike to civilization, so he set off at dusk (by this time, he knew quite a bit about the desert, including that you don’t want to hike in the summer heat) – only to find the mouth and alluvial fan of the canyon blocked with mud and debris. It took him most of the night just to wade through the mess. A man named Monroe Wagnon took some trash out to his incinerator in Furnace Creek the next day and spotted Shorty wandering out in the desert – dehydrated and delirious with heat exhaustion. Monroe nursed him back to health, then rescued Shorty a few days later when the latter tried to hike up to a friend’s cabin/claim in the Panamint Mountains. Shorty took his time recovering after that and lived for many more years, finally dying peacefully at a rest home in San Bernardino.
Download Route Map
Driving Directions
The trailhead is at the end of the Hanaupah Canyon Road, 8.2 miles from the West Side Road.
It is extremely dangerous to enter a mine due to unstable shafts, gasses, and more. Do not enter mines, even if they are apparently open!
Walking on, climbing, entering, ascending, descending, or traversing any mine, structure, feature, or ruin is prohibited.
Toxic chemicals or ore may be present around mine sites. Enter at your own risk.
Possessing, destroying, injuring, defacing, removing, digging, or disturbing any mine, structure, feature, or ruin is also prohibited.
Always be wary of flash floods in a canyon.
Camping in a canyon is discouraged due to the danger of flash floods.
Remember, it may be easier to climb up dryfalls than down them (or vice versa). Be sure you can climb in the other direction before climbing up or down a dryfall.
Camping is not allowed within one mile of a paved road, developed area, or dirt road that is closed to camping.
Camping is not permitted within 100 feet of a flowing stream, spring, or other natural body of open water.
No camping is permitted on the floor of Death Valley, within one mile of Darwin Falls and Greenwater Canyon, on the active/shifting sand dunes, and certain other canyons and backcountry areas.
Camping is also prohibited within one mile of the Ubehebe Lead Mine, Leadfield Mines, Keane Wonder Mill, and Skidoo Mill.
Camping is limited to 30 days per calendar year within the park.
Fires are permitted in NPS-provided fire grates or grills ONLY.
Leave No Trace Principles are enforced
Drones and model aircrafts are prohibited
Camping is permitted only in designated sites or in areas open to dispersed backcountry camping
All park rules and regulations
12 Month Pass: $55/Death Valley Annual Pass (valid at Death Valley National Park). $80/America the Beautiful Annual Pass (valid at all national park and federal fee areas). $20/Annual Senior Pass (62 years or older US citizens; valid at all national park and federal fee areas). Free/4th Grade Pass (Valid Sept. 1-August 31 of the child’s 4th Grade school year). Free/Military Pass (valid for all active military personel and their dependents with a CAC Card or DD Form 1173).
Lifetime Pass: $80/Lifetime Senior Pass (62 years or older US citizens; valid at all national park and federal fee areas). Free/Access Pass (available to all US citizens with perminent disabilities). Free/Access for Veterans and Gold Star Families Pass (valid for all military and veterans with a CAC card, Veteran HJealth Identification Card, Veteran ID Card, or veteran’s designation on state-issued drivers license or identification card.)