Parking
Park at the Keane Wonder Mine Trailhead at the end of Keane Wonder Mine Road, by the mill ruins. The 2.8-mile dirt access road is rough and may require a high-clearance vehicle with thick tires.
Overview
About Keane Wonder Mine Trail
If you like your history with a side of quad burn, this is your trail. Keane Wonder Mine is a strenuous, exposed out-and-back from the Keane Wonder Mine Trailhead to the upper tramway and mine area in the Funeral Mountains. It is about 2.9 miles round trip, with roughly 1,500 feet of climbing packed into about 1.4 miles uphill. The stored line follows the physical uphill corridor once; hikers return down the same route. Expect a demanding grade, zero shade, and big views across Death Valley.
Why go
- Walk beside intact aerial tramway infrastructure the whole way
- Exceptional mining relics and ruins add context to the climb
Heads up
- Trail can be faint and confusing above the tram towers
- Loose, steep footing makes the descent tricky even for strong hikers
If you’re intrigued by mining history and don’t mind a relentless grade, this is a rewarding outing with standout views. If you prefer gentle trails, the sustained steep climb and exposed loose footing will feel punishing—choose a mellower valley-floor walk instead.
Parkwolf’s verdictIs It For You?Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Death Valley map
Full mapElevation1,490–2,838 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Best time to go
Safety
3 active Death Valley alerts
- ClosurePark roads closed or hazardousPlan around multiple closed roads and use extra caution on damaged routes. - Paved roads: North Highway and Beatty Cut-off are closed due to flooding and debris from the October 22 storm.Official details
- ClosureSaline Valley Lower Springs closed after wildfireLower Springs at Saline Valley Warm Springs remains closed after the September 15 wildfire; stay out because the fire left safety hazards, including potential hazardous chemicals.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Death Valley Tour Guide
Your drive to Keane Wonder Mine Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Death Valley National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Death Valley audio tourMore stories near here in the app
- Desert Pavement: The Park’s Fragile Stone Mosaic
- Hells Gate: Your First Big Death Valley View
- 130 audio storiesacross Death Valley’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Bighorn Sheep, Desert Tortoise, Coyote, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 36 trails, 114 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Keane Wonder Mine Trail
What You’ll SeeFrom the mill ruins, the route follows an old mine road and the line of the historic aerial…
From the mill ruins, the route follows an old mine road and the line of the historic aerial tramway toward the upper mine. Along the way you’ll pass tramway towers, ore buckets and cables, water tanks, settling basins, pipes, and other mining remnants. Near the top, grated mine openings, machinery, and the upper tramworks make the climb feel like a walk-through museum without the velvet ropes. Scan sunny rocks for chuckwallas.
Trail Conditions & NavigationThe surface is rocky and loose with sustained steep pitches and very few breathers.
The surface is rocky and loose with sustained steep pitches and very few breathers. The route follows the old road, water pipe, and tramway corridor, but signage is limited and the upper section can be faint or confusing. Stay on the main trail and do not take side paths into mining debris or unstable terrain.
Tips & NotesBring 2–3 liters of water per person, sun protection, and sturdy footwear; trekking poles can…
Bring 2–3 liters of water per person, sun protection, and sturdy footwear; trekking poles can help on the loose, steep descent. Do not climb on structures, enter mine openings, or touch tailings. Mine shafts may be unstable, and mine and tailings areas can contain toxic chemicals and metals.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Death Valley
71 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
101 sightingsDesert TortoiseMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
458 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
28 sightingsFeral BurroMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
30 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
62 sightingsKit FoxMost seen around 7 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Death Valley. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
