Carbonite Mine from the Queen of Sheba Mine – Death Valley National Park
Walk up an old mine road to a very profitable silver-lead mine.
| Total Distance: 2.2 miles out & back | Elevation Gain: 699ft. (785ft. to 1,241ft.) |
| Difficulty: Moderate | 0-5 Mile Difficulty: Moderately Strenuous |
| View Rating: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars | Author’s Rating: 3.0 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: October-May | Special Permits: None |
| Water Availability: None | Overnight Options: Dispersed camping permitted |
| Trailhead Amenities: None | Crowd Factor: Solitude |
| Trailhead Access: 2.0 | |
Uses:     | Trail Surface:  |
Features:     | Hazards:       |
Mile-by-Mile: Carbonite Mine from the Queen of Sheba Mine
0.0 Old shack at the “end” of the Queen of Sheba Road (946ft.). The shack has a visitor register; there are also some other buildings to explore in the area. From here, a maze of roads goes off to various buildings, ore bins, audits, tunnels, and much more. You want to walk back down the road (north) a very short distance to the northernmost of the roads that strike off from this area. Take the right fork at every junction, unless doing so will take you back to the Queen of Sheba Road. You’re heading for an old ore chute (this guide goes below it, but it’s also fine to take the road that goes above it – though if you do, you’ll have to descend to the lower road eventually to continue on this route). (35.999706°, -116.885260°)
0.2 Old ore chute (890ft.). Admire it before continuing north. The old road loops east (right); a tenth of a mile later, go left at the junction to go north and then loop west. The route descends into a wash and turns north again to ascend up to the Carbonite Mine. (36.002305°, -116.886784°)
1.1 Carbonite Mine Area (1,238ft.). Enjoy views down on Death Valley as well as exploring around the area (do not enter the mine). (36.006557°, -116.892107°)
History & More
The Carbonite Mine was first prospected in 1907. It was named for the type of ore found there (lead carbonate with silver, but apparently they didn’t spell the name quite right!)
Jack Salsberry was one of the people who helped develop the Carbonite Mine. As usual, transportation was an issue – it was simply too expensive to transport the ore to a railroad. Jack built a wagon road across Death Valley and then across the Black Mountains to the Amargosa Range. This was a thirty-mile route with teams of mules or horses. From there, a gasoline tractor hauled the ore the last sixteen miles to the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad in the town of Zabriskie. Today, Salsberry Pass on the Jubilee Pass Road is named for Jack on his route through the Black Mountains.
Water and other supplies were hauled back from Zabriskie by Jack’s pack animals. Eventually, the tractor was replaced with trucks. In its heyday, the mine made a nice profit, despite the cost of transportation. About 11,000 tons of ore were extracted from the mine from 1915-1918.
Workers at the Carbonite Mine found their thermometer climbing to 130F in the shade during the summer – it reached 164F at one point. The miners slept in the tunnels just to try and stay alive.
The nearby Queen of Sheba Mine appears to be an extension of the Carbonite Mine. It was first mentioned in 1924, though the company soon discovered that it was not the main ore body, which was higher up on the mountain. Still, the two mines continued to be profitable into the 1930s. It’s estimated that the Queen of Sheba Mine yielded 5 million tons of lead and 100,000 ounces of silver.
Download Route Map
Driving Directions
Take the Queen of Sheba Mind Road to its end, 3.8 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.
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.)