Lost Mine Trail

Lost Mine Trail is a 4.8-mile out-and-back from Chisos Basin Road to a ridge above Pine Canyon. Allow about three hours for the steady climb and return; the route gains about 1,100 feet, with repeated log steps and a steeper upper stretch. The ridge opens toward the Sierra del Carmen in Mexico. If you want a shorter Chisos walk, go about a mile to the saddle, take in Juniper Canyon and Casa Grande Peak, then turn back for a roughly 2-mile outing. The full climb earns a wider view, but the saddle is a satisfying stopping point.

The low saddle is about a mile from the trailhead and looks east across Juniper Canyon, the Northeast Rim and the desert beyond. It is the recommended turnaround for the shorter version. The main route continues steeply uphill from here, so decide whether you want the full climb before you leave the saddle. Early morning light can pick out Casa Grande and the cliffs along the Northeast Rim.

A wheelchair-accessible sidewalk leads from the parking area to an information panel; the hiking trail beyond is dirt and rock. It starts beside a drainage among trees and desert plants, with many log steps helping up the slope. After the saddle, the climb steepens through juniper, oak and pine, then winds across the upper slope on switchbacks. Stay on the turns rather than cutting across the hillside; the trail is steepest near the top.

The route levels abruptly on the ridge. Treat it as a ridge viewpoint rather than a clearly defined summit: the trail’s destination is the broad view over Pine Canyon and the Sierra del Carmen. Another viewpoint looks across the bulk of the Chisos, with Casa Grande, Toll Mountain and the Northeast Rim spread across the skyline. From the saddle, keep some of the near plants in the foreground with Juniper Canyon behind them to show the depth of the view.

This is a good introduction to the Chisos Mountains’ woodland-grassland landscape. The route moves from desert plants along the drainage into juniper, oak and pine. Black bears and mountain lions live in the area, though this is not a wildlife-sighting guarantee; follow park guidance if you encounter one. Volcanic activity formed the mountain rocks, and faulting and erosion shaped the peaks and ridges you see from the trail.

Start at the Lost Mine Trailhead lot on Chisos Basin Road, at mile 5. It holds about 15 vehicles and often fills between 8 and 9 a.m. from November through April; roadside parking is not allowed. There are no toilets along the trail. Bring water and a snack, and remember that pets are prohibited on park trails. The accessible sidewalk ends at the information panel; the route itself continues over dirt, rock and steps.