The Big Bell mine sits perched on the steep western slope of the Funeral Mountains, approximately halfway between the Keane Wonder and old Chloride Cliff mines, approximately 3,650 feet above Death Valley's floor. Discovered in 1904 during the rush that followed nearby Bullfrog strikes, this gold mine was tied to the legendary prospector Johnnie "Behind-the-Gun" Cyty. The stunning views stretch across Death Valley from the Mesquite Dunes to the salt flats beyond Badwater Basin, making the challenging hike well worth the effort. The site remains remarkably preserved due to its remote location and difficult access.
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Abandoned Drott International Tractor (Death Valley)
When I heard a rumor from Guy that there was an abandoned excavator with a view of the salt pan in Death Valley that he had never visited, I knew I had to take a look and see if I could find it. After a bit of research, I was
Lost Burro Mine
Bourke Lee wrote in the 1930s: "There is a Lost Burro Mine on almost every mountain." Prospectors spent so much time chasing their wandering burros through the desert hills that the animals became their best prospecting partners. The Lost Burro in the Cottonwood Mountains of northern Death Valley
Braden Cabin and the Berman Murders
Spend enough time around the warm springs in Saline Valley and someone will eventually mention "the Murder Cabin." The name has stuck for decades, carried by rumor and retold with increasing inaccuracy. The cabin in question once belonged to Roy "Red" Braden, a pistol-packing cinnabar prospector