Prospects via Confidence Wash & Old Mining Road – Death Valley National Park
Follow a wash and old road to some old mines in a rural part of Death Valley.
| Total Distance: 13.8 miles out & back | Elevation Gain: 2,444ft. (27ft. to 2,206ft.) |
| Difficulty: Extremely Strenuous | 10+ Mile Difficulty: Very Strenuous |
| View Rating: 2.0 out of 5.0 stars | Author’s Rating: 1.0 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: November-April | Special Permits: None |
| Water Availability: None | Overnight Options: Dispersed camping permitted |
| Trailhead Amenities: None | Crowd Factor: Solitude |
| Trailhead Access: 1.5 (4×4 required when road is flooded) | |
Uses:     | Trail Surface:    |
Features:     | Hazards:      |
Mile-by-Mile: Prospects via Confidence Wash & Old Mining Road
0.0 Old road to the Confidence Mill along the Harry Wade Road (28ft.). Follow the route to the Confidence Mine to the place where the route leaves the wash to follow an old trail up the hillside. (35.842780°, -116.561001°)
5.0 Trail up north hillside (1,659ft.). Instead of turning up the hillside, continue up the main wash. Keep your eyes open for the first major (wide) wash that strikes off left (north) from this wash, but continue up the main wash. (35.883259°, -116.501679°)
5.5 Ruins on the south side of the wash (1,821ft.). Leave everything as-is and turn north and slightly west to enter the first wide wash you spotted earlier (a second wash is across from the ruins; you want the first wash not the wider one across from the ruins). (35.878665°, -116.494680°)
5.9 Pick up old mining road (1,856ft.). Pick up the old mining road on the left (east) side of the wash. It may look like a side-wash at this point. The road travels up the wash for a short distance before turning up the hillside. (35.884363°, -116.495113°)
6.0 Road turns out of side-wash route (1,920ft.). Turn left to strike northwest on the old mining road. The road twists and turns in switchbacks over the hill and around to the prospects. (35.886448°, -116.495052°)
6.9 Prospects (2,161ft.). Explore the area, but be cautious and do not enter the mine shafts, which may be very unstable. (35.887270°, -116.498919°)
History & More
There are many prospects in the area. Use care as you walk around, and always stay out of boreholes and mine shafts.
Use care near the old mine shafts. They may be unstable or contain toxic gases.
Feel free to explore a bit. You never know what kinds of historical junk you may find!
Gold was mined in this area as one of the first areas prospected in Death Valley. It’s likely it was also prospected later for other metals. Unfortunately, the mine and the mill built on the plain below the mine were mostly a bust due to inefficient management, lack of water, and the remoteness of the location.
Download Route Map
Driving Directions
The unmarked beginning of the route is 6.7 miles south of the northern end of the Harry Wade Road. If coming from the south, the “trailhead” is 12.5 miles beyond the Owl Hole Spring 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.)