Contact Mine Trail- Trail Running In JTNP

I’ve done the Contact Mine Trail several times, first hiking with the kids and then a few times after as part of technical trail training in preparation for races at Calico and Black Canyon.  This four mile roundtrip trail is a perfect technical training ground for these two desert races, guaranteed to challenge your technical running skills both up and down the trail.  +Plus, you want more distance or more sand, you can cross the main road directly beside the Contact Mine Trailhead and head down to the California Hiking and Riding Trail Parking Lot and Trail, heading out on that trail for more distance.   

Let’s jump into my trail description and photos.

In my mind, this is about as much of a classic Joshua Tree National Park trail as you will find.  About 1/2 mile of nice sand…deep in some places (it’s a wash).  After that, it’s technical uphill to the mine.  Then as you come down, it’s technical downhill until you reach the sand.  And there’s no water, no shade and no cooling off till you reach the bottom and perhaps find a rocky ledge for shade.  Yeah, that’s my crack route description, check out my photos to see if I’m wrong.  Here we go- 

So once you make it up the two miles of nice technical incline, you are rewarded with Contact Mine and the stuff still there.  Lots of people have discovered this old mining area, so each year less and less stuff is up there to see.  But here’s what’s left: 

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When you are done with the brief tour of history, you will want to get back down the trail.  Two miles later you are done.  Here’s what it looks like from the mine: 

I’ve used this trail for hiking and trail running.  All the times I’ve used it, it’ gotten hot because there’s no cover and no shade.  Please take water if you hike or run these trails and be smart about pacing.  

Here’s stories about some of the other places I run in the area: 

The High Desert & Joshua Tree National Park- Not Perfect Trail Running

Hill Day- Running Ryan Mountain