Hike to Johns Camp & Gold Hill Mine, Joshua Tree National Park, California

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Johns Camp existed because of five claims collectively known as the Gold Hill Mine, located a little farther up the wash from the camp. The mine operated during the late 1920s and early 1930, and was owned by C.H. Wiser, Anvil B. Johns and J.A. Johns. I'm guessing the camp was named after one of the Johns. There's no trail to Johns Camp, but there is a fading dirt road that must have once provided access to the camp and mines. The best spot to find the old mining road is at this pair of pullouts on Park Blvd., about 1-1/4 miles west of the Pinto Wye junction. Hike northwest on the old road, towards that gap in the first set of small hills. The distance from Park Blvd. to Johns Camp is about 3/4 of a mile. Johns Camp sits on the high west bank of the wash. There is an old stove/oven and various cans at the camp. Not too far from the stove is this ten-foot by twenty-foot concrete pad, or what remains of it. It was probably the foundation for a bunkhouse/office type of building once upon a time. The Gold Hill Mine is located approximately 250 yards west of Johns Camp; it's easy to find as the tailing piles can be seen from quite a distance, they are quite obvious from the camp site. Walk around the side canyons to see other mining areas.

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