The Lost Mine Trail

An early morning drive on Wednesday took us high up into the Chisos Basin, our destination was the Lost Mine trail.

Chisos Basin Road

We were the second vehicle in the parking area. Another warning of a mountain lion frequenting the area which could possibly be aggressive greeted us as we set off up the shady trail. Suprisingly, I walk much faster when there’s a bear or lion warning at the trail head, although what difference walking faster makes is anyones guess.

Legend has it that if you are in the right place at the right time of the year, the sun will shine on the entrance to a long lost silver mine, that was either found and then lost or was hidden by the Indians after they were used a slave labour to mine it. Needless to say it didn't shine in the right place today. Ah well guess it's back to checking my lottery tickets!

It’s a 5 mile round trip, and climbs quite steeply up switchbacks there are some wonderful views and it's one of our favourite trails in Big Bend National Park.

Casa Grande

Juniper Canyon

The trail has seats at some viewpoints and steps and culverts built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930’s. As this is a mountain trail there are different types of trees, several different sorts of oak and juniper, including a Mexican weeping juniper which actually looks as though it’s dying.

The Window

Animals can and do use the trail, after all why push through the brush when there is a nice easy trail to use, and people can and do walk into bears and mountain lions, although today, we only walked into a deer. We rounded a switchback and there it was delicately stepping down the trail, we stopped, it stopped and looked at us then after sniffing the air carried on towards us, unfortunately some people coming up further behind us spooked it and off it went leaping into the brush and out of sight.

It was a lovely hike, sunny and warm and we didn’t meet a lion!

The sunny trail on the way down

Have fun, we are!