Eagle Cliff Mine and Boulder House

Eagle Cliff Mine and Boulder House are a historic mine site and a small stone cabin tucked into a cleft between enormous granite boulders. Go if you enjoy old mining remains and can manage a remote, hard-to-follow approach; this is not a quick roadside stop. A route account describes a broad desert outlook just beyond the cabin.

There is no signed, maintained path all the way to the site. Published approaches start from Split Rock or Desert Queen Mine, and their distances differ with the starting point. The last stretch can be steep and difficult to follow, so don’t plan around a single copied mileage figure. The National Park Service warns that crowd-sourced apps and blogs can give misleading route information; check current park conditions and bring enough food and water for a remote hike.

The mine dates to 1895, when a lead-bearing ledge was located. Early work included two shafts; the ore had to be packed out by burro because the site is so remote. Later, Bill Keys held the claim under the name Black Eagle, and small amounts of ore were processed at Wall Street Mill in the 1920s and early 1930s. The mine was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.

The Boulder House is roughly 10 by 30 feet, built from stone and mortar directly against the giant rocks. A flattened-tin roof, wood-framed window and door, shelves, and a masonry-and-iron stove show the cabin’s handmade scale. The cabin was stabilized through a park preservation partnership. Look from outside, leave artifacts where they are, and stay out of mine openings; abandoned shafts and tunnels can be dangerous.

The cabin is partly hidden by its boulder setting, so the best view is close enough to see how its walls fit the rock. Frame the stone facade with the granite masses around it; the wider view beyond the cabin gives the remote setting some context.