The Salsberry Prospect was a small mining operation on the shoulder of Salsberry Peak, which can be traced back to the Greenwater Valley copper boom of the early 1900s. Little is known today about the history of the mine, but it appears to have been owned by Jack Salsberry, a prominent mine promoter and investor at the turn of the century. (Salsberry was a major figure in the Ubehebe Mining District, in the Racetrack Valley area, during the same era.) The mine consisted of a single 115-foot adit, two shafts, eight prospect pits, and an ore bin with a cableway to transport ore down the slope. There was also a small camp nearby. About 20,000 tons of ore was identified, containing small amounts of gold, silver, lead, and zinc.
Although the mine was never very substantial, and little remains today, the hike is nonetheless a very enjoyable experience in the spring, especially in a good wildflower year. The hiking is easy, mostly on an old road, and the views are sweeping, dominated by dramatic Epaulet Peak as well as Salsberry Peak. This overlooked corner of the park sees few visitors. The washes and slopes from Jubilee Pass to Salsberry Pass can feature some of the best wildflower displays in the park, and this hike offers the chance to see them without the crowds.
Also, see Rhodes Spring Cabin.
