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Ashford Mill Site
Hiking Around Las Vegas, Death Valley National Park
Ashford Mill Site
Ashford Mill Site
Ashford Mill Ruins sign

Overview

Ashford Mill Ruins. In 1914, gold ore from the Golden Treasure [Ashford] Mine, 5 miles to the east, was processed here for shipment to a smelter. Legend has it that the Ashford brothers sold the mine for $50,000 to a Hungarian Count, who later sold it to W. McCausland for $105,000.

Ashford Mill Ruins is a small historic site at the south end of Death Valley that served as a mill to process gold ore from the Ashford Mine. The mine operated, on and off, from about 1907 to 1941, and the mill was built in 1914. The ore quality was low, and the transportation cost were high, so the mine never made much money. For an essay about the mine and mill, see the Legends of America website (if the link doesn't work, try this).

Link to map.

Ashford Mill Site
Walls of the concrete office building

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ... this area is about as safe as it gets, but ensure that your spare tire is in good condition and bring plenty of water.

While out, please respect the land and the other people out there, and try to Leave No Trace of your passage. Also, this is a short hike, so just bring what you need of the 10 Essentials. For those who wander beyond the immediate ruins area, the walk goes into the Death Valley Wilderness Area, so pay particular attention to respecting the land.

Ashford Mill Site
Concrete foundations of the mill

Getting to Ashford Mill

Ashford Mill is located along Badwater Road in the south end of Death Valley National Park, about 2 hours northwest of Las Vegas.

From town, drive out to Death Valley. From the Furnace Creek Visitor Center (Table 1, Site 0712), drive south on Highway 190 for about 1.25 miles to the Badwater Road (Site 0741). Turn south (right) towards Badwater, and drive for about 43.6 miles to a side road to the right (Site 1430); watch for highway signs. Turn right and drive 0.2 miles to the end of the road (Site 1431) between the ruins and restrooms. Park here; this is the place.

If coming from Shoshone, drive west on Hwy 178 to Badwater Road at Harry Wade Road (Site 0839). Continue north 2.0 miles to Ashford Mill Road (Site 1430) and turn left into the mill site (Site 1431).

Ashford Mill Site
Sign and office building
Ashford Mill Site
Crumbling office building
Ashford Mill Site
Crumbling office building
Ashford Mill Site
Crumbling office building
Ashford Mill Site
Concrete foundations of the mill
Ashford Mill Site
Concrete foundations of the mill
Ashford Mill Site
Concrete foundations of the mill
Ashford Mill Site
Concrete foundations of the mill
Ashford Mill Site
Old well
Ashford Mill Site
Wire mesh covering old well
Ashford Mill Site
Inside old well (view straight down)
Ashford Mill Site
Perhaps a loading dock?
Ashford Mill Site
Ashford Mill Site (view NE towards Black Mountains)
Ashford Mill Site
Ashford Mill Site (view NE towards Ashford Canyon)
Ashford Mill Site
Ashford Mill Site (view NE towards Black Mountains)
Ashford Mill Site
Original road (now closed)
Ashford Mill Site
Surrounding landscape (view NW)
Ashford Mill Site
Surrounding landscape (view SW)

Table 1. Highway Coordinates Based on GPS Data (NAD27; UTM Zone 11S). Download Highway GPS Waypoints (*.gpx) file.

Site Location UTM Easting UTM Northing Latitude (N) Longitude (W) Elevation (ft) Verified
0174 Hwy 127 at Hwy 178 (Shoshone) 565854 3980972 35.97275 116.26960 1,573 Yes
0712 Furnace Creek Visitor Center 512030 4034954 36.46159 116.86574 -186 Yes
0741 Hwy 190 at Badwater Rd 513271 4033494 36.44841 116.85192 4 Yes
0839 Hwy 178 at Harry Wade Rd 531052 3972691 35.89982 116.65591 16 Yes
1430 Badwater Rd at Ashford Mill Site 528835 3975020 35.92088 116.68039 -116 Yes
1431 Ashford Mill Site Parking 528646 3974817 35.91905 116.68250 -126 Yes
1432 Badwater Rd at West Side Road (south) 526715 3976879 35.93770 116.70382 -49 Yes

Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 240324

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