Big Horn Mine in Los Angeles 2025
A short and easy hike to an abandoned mine
Best time: March–November
Big Horn Mine Trail is a popular 6-km (4-mi) trek that starts near Valyermo, California, in the Mount Baden Powell area of San Bernardino Mountains. It's in about one-hour of drive northeast of Los Angels into the heart of Angeles National Forest. The Big Horn Mine dates back to 1895. The wagon road that was built at that time now serves as the trail. The mine got its name because Charles Tom Vincent, who discovered the mine, was hunting for bighorn sheep. The legend has it that the mine was filled with the gold worth $100,000.
The trailhead for Big Horn Mine Trail is located in the Vincent Gap Parking Area off Highway 2. No permit is required, only a parking pass. The same trailhead serves for several Mt. Baden Powell trails. After going up for about two miles, hikers are rewarded with a beautiful view of the mountains.
Once you get to the mine, climb up the broken wood to its entrance. Steel bars are blocking access to prevent people from getting inside the shaft, which is obviously too dangerous. In winter, the trail is usually covered with snow, so the best time to make this hike is from March through November.
