Overview

The Uranium Mine is a 1950s-era prospect (aka: Long Shot Prospect, Blue Chip Prospect) where prospectors came in, found some uranium ore, invested time and money in bulldozing roads and digging one tunnel, building a cabin, and then they abandoned the area leaving a damaged and polluted landscape in their wake. Even so, this makes for an interesting hike into the mining history of Gold Butte where, they say, you can find any mineral you seek, but not in commercial quantities.

Described here is the Uranium Mine Cabin site at the base if the ridge. Little remains, and nothing is standing, but the cabin site adds a bit of interest for hikers in the area.

Link to map.

The Hike

From the trailhead (Wpt. 01), the trail up to the mine runs east from the campsite following Uranium Mine Road. The road drops into a wash, turns right to head upstream, then shortly bends left and climbs out the other side of the wash. Just ahead, a little-used campsite can be seen on the left. A few yards farther, the road forks (Wpt. 02); watch for carsonite posts. Uranium Mine Road continues straight (left), while a short spur road to the right (southeast) runs out to the Uranium Mine Cabin site.

At the end of the road, there is a broad area where perhaps vehicles were parked. To the right (west), there is a shallow pit with no obvious function.

To the left, rocks line a driveway leading to the cabin site. Evidence of the cabin primarily are native-rock flagstones that appear to have been a porch and interior flooring. Unfortunately, the hillside is eroding and slowly covering the flagstones. Wooden debris on the north side of the cabin might have been a shed or outhouse. A fair sized can-dump lies behind the cabin.