Mining in the Angeles Forest: Gold at the Dawn Mine

This post is part three of a series about mining in the Angeles National Forest. To learn about the history of the Angeles National Forest and current concerns, read Part 1 and Part 2.

Remembering A Golden History, Today

While modern mining in the Angeles National Forest may be in a tenuous state, the history of mining can still be explored at the Dawn Mine.  The Dawn Mine has been running on and off again from the early to the mid 1900s.  While gold was found in the mine, it was mainly enough to inspire the succession of mine owners hoping to strike the mother load until each eventually gave up.

This aged and grafittied piece of equipment stands next to the primary entrance to the Dawn Mine.
This aged and grafittied piece of equipment stands next to the primary entrance to the Dawn Mine.

In 1895, gold was first discovered in Millard Canyon.  Dawn Mine was one of many claims that were staked in the canyon after the discovery.  The mine was named after Dawn Ehrenfeld, a daughter of the claim owner’s (Bradford Peck) friend. Tunneling began in 1902—when the mine was sold to Michael Ryan.  Ryan added a track out of the steep walled canyon which mules could pull ore up to a train track. He operated the mine successfully until his death in 1929.

The mine remained idle for a few years until Ryan’s widow leased it out to Hunger, Comstock, and Hilton, who bore more tunnels but only managed a short period of success until the gold petered out.  While other miners tried to find more gold in the 1940s and 50s, there were no notable successes.  The now inactive mine sports almost 900 ft of passageways between two levels. (Though reports vary)

While there have been many tunnel mines throughout the Los Angeles mountains, this mine is accessible to intrepid hikers while other mines have been gated off or are collapsed.

Quartz veins still stretch along exposed rock faces for hikers to inspect as they progress through the canyon, hinting at the gold deposits that drew miners in the mid 1800s.
Quartz veins still stretch along exposed rock faces for hikers to inspect as they progress through the canyon, hinting at the gold deposits that drew miners in the mid 1800s.

Hiking the Dawn Mine Trail

Path leading to the Dawn Mine.
Path leading to the Dawn Mine.

For those interested in hiking the Dawn Mine Trail, they will find a combination of breathtaking views, curious mining remnants, and a fair bit of confusion.  There is little maintenance being done on the trail.  Indeed, the official Angeles National Forest page describing this trail simply states:

The Dawn Mine Trail is 2.2 miles long. It begins at 2N50.1 at Dawn Station and ends at Tom Sloane Saddle. The trail is open for the following uses: Hiking

Similarly little information will be explicitly available for the trail itself. Trail signs that list more popular and better maintained trails do not include any reference to the Dawn Mine Trail.  Do not count on referencing your phone, as there will be no cellular service in the canyon.  Rather, be sure to have a map and some navigation tools (a GPS unit or at least a compass).

View of the parking lot (center) and Sunset Ridge (left).
View of the parking lot (center) and Sunset Ridge (left).
This log is more than just a fallen tree, it is the branch to the Dawn Mine path as soon as hikers reach the canyon floor.
This log is more than just a fallen tree, it is the branch to the Dawn Mine path as soon as hikers reach the canyon floor.

We recommend parking your car at the Millard Campground lot and taking the trail before the camp ground up to Sunset Ridge.  (If you can find parking on Sunset Ridge, then that can save you the 1 mile hike up, though it is a pleasant hike).  The first portion of the hike follows the Sunset trail with picturesque views before descending into the canyon.  At cabin 16, take the lower trail to the bottom of the canyon and a creek.  Here is where things start getting confusing.  It is easy to miss the log “bridge” when you first come to the canyon floor. It is hidden behind a boulder and spanning  the creek.  Crossing the log will take you to the mine trail, while following what seems like the more obvious trail to the left will dead end at the top of a large waterfall.

The trail to the Dawn Mine is sporadically marked with neon flags such as this one and black spray painted arrows.
The trail to the Dawn Mine is sporadically marked with neon flags such as this one and black spray painted arrows.

From this point on, you should be roughly traveling north west. Helpful individuals have marked the trail with occasional strips of neon pink/orange tape and black spray-painted arrows. Yet, even these only appear later along the trail and only in parts where the trail becomes particularly difficult to navigate.

The Dawn Mine Trail was one of many casualties of the 2009 Station Fire, which closed the trail until 2014. Despite the recent reopening, many times the trail will seem to disappear, and it will take a bit of exploration to find the next part. Fallen trees, landslides, and growing brush often obscure or block the trail.

Fallen trees, landslides, and overgrown brush obscure the trail.
Fallen trees, landslides, and overgrown brush often obscure the trail.

Make sure to have plenty of daylight left before embarking on this trail. While the trail is listed as being 2.2 miles long, between false starts, following side trails that apparently go nowhere, scrambling over boulders, fallen trees, and the gradual effects of exhaustion and heat, we found that, even though we started at 10AM, we did not return to the car until 4PM despite only sitting down once for a 10 minute breather.  In our defense, this does not appear to be an uncommon problem, as many commenters on the trail have noted their own experiences of getting lost on it.

Entrance to the Dawn Mine.
Entrance to the Dawn Mine.

Of course, part of this is also due to time spent at the mine itself. There are two mine entrances, though only one is easily accessible. The second is 20ft above the first and requires some rock climbing and possesses only a third total passage length compared to the lower entrance. For the spelunkers, the first mine entrance is an exciting spot with a network of tunnels as well as a 50ft deep abyss near the front of the mine. Make sure to bring headlamps, helmets, and rope.

The secondary Dawn Mine Entrance is perched 20 vertical feet above the primary entrance.  While a climb with many hand holds for rock climbers, it is a perilous fall for those without equipment and experience.
The secondary Dawn Mine Entrance is perched 20 vertical feet above the primary entrance. While a climb with many hand holds for rock climbers, it is a perilous fall for those without equipment and experience.

Be careful, consider your safety before taking any risks (you are far away from any roads and there is no cellular reception!) and bring plenty of water!

Mining Claims In & Around the Angeles Forest

Dawn Mine extends almost 900 feet into the canyon walls.  There is no light source inside the mine, so bring your own lighting and safety equipment if you intend to explore the inside.
Dawn Mine extends almost 900 feet into the canyon walls. There is no light source inside the mine, so bring your own lighting and safety equipment if you intend to explore the inside.