Lost Orphan Mine

Overview

Lost Orphan Mine is a fenced, closed historic uranium mine perched on and below the South Rim between Maricopa Point and Powell Memorial along Hermit Road. You’ll encounter it as a brief curiosity while walking or biking the Rim Trail; the route detours around the site for safety.

What You’ll See Today

Expect a signed closure fence and disturbed ground marking where the mine infrastructure once stood. The area itself is off-limits due to legacy contamination and other hazards, and there are no tours or facilities. Take a quick look from the trail, then continue to nearby viewpoints for the scenery you came for.

Why It’s Notable

This is one of the best-known uranium operations in Grand Canyon history, a stark reminder of the region’s mining era and the environmental legacy that followed. The mine tapped a uranium-bearing breccia pipe and became a touchstone for shifting attitudes about extraction inside national parks.

Brief History

• Claim patented: 1906.
• Uranium boom years: production largely wrapped up by 1969, with significant output coming from inside park boundaries.
• NPS acquisition: 1987; the Park Service later removed the major structures. The fence was expanded in 2017 as management of low-level radiation and other hazards continues.

Access and Safety

• The mine area is closed—do not enter.
• The South Rim Trail detours around the site; stay on the designated path and heed all closure signs.
• There are no restrooms, parking, pullouts, or services here; treat it as a look-from-afar historic spot along a well-traveled corridor.

Pair It With

Use this as a quick historical footnote en route to Maricopa Point or Powell Memorial, where the canyon views deliver the real payoff.

Best Time to Visit

Daylight hours are best, since this is a brief stop to observe a closed site as you move between nearby viewpoints. For photography and grand vistas, time sunrise or sunset at Maricopa Point or Powell Memorial rather than here.