This ride is a repeat but well worth it. We rode it back in 2019 and remembered it being a great adventure so we decided to tackle it again. It’s a tough ride but worth it. Mountain bikes necessary.
Inyo Mine lies 10 miles up a rocky gravel road that cuts through Echo Canyon (appropriately named), with a fair amount of solitude. Riding up the 3300’ we were treated to rock walls, cliffs, mountains, and silence. We passed a couple trucks coming down the mountain, and a few people that had jeeped up to the mine, but largely, we were alone all afternoon. Ahhhhhhhh.
Inyo Gold Mine began in 1906 after two men discovered gold and shortly after, had 755 feet of tunnels. Gold was very costly to extract and, being a desert, there was a shortage of water available for milling. The pair actually tried to go public in 1907 but they were about 6 months too late as a panic hit and investors were scarce. Left are the remains of the ball mill and a complex of living and support buildings. We hiked around and took some pictures before getting back on our bikes and BLASTING downhill.
Check out these views! The wildflowers are out.
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