Iron Hiker: Tin Mine Canyon

Friday, December 8, 2017

Tin Mine Canyon

Hiked: 12/1/2017
Distance: 7.6 miles round trip on trail and cross country
Summit Elevation: 2541' (high point on ridge)
Elevation Gain: 2100'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 1.68
Round trip time: 4 hours 30 minutes
Recommended water: 80 oz.
Parking/Fees: Free on Foothill Parkway
Difficulty: Moderate

Tin Mine Canyon is a popular hike on the eastern side of the Santa Anas. The trailhead on Foothill Parkway is the starting point for many hikes including Hagador Canyon, Hagador Peak, Sierra Peak,and Pleasants Peak. To get to the Tin Mine trail, follow the paved path to the Skyline trail. At the first switchback where the road starts going up, continue straight. There is a sign for the Tin Mine Canyon and a single track begins just beyond. The trail is well shaded from tall oaks and maples. It might even be pleasant on a summer morning. A small creek ran next to the trail and there was a trickle of water. In about a mile, I reached the first adit of Tin Mine. It had been sealed with a metal grate. I took a picture inside the grate and it looked a lot safer than the Horseshoe Annex Mine that Dima and I explored in the San Gabriels. Not far up the trail was the second adit sitting about 20' above the trail. A loose and exposed class 2 ledge got me to the entrance which was also sealed with a grate. It looks like the whole mine is still in good shape, though it was a commercial bust. I passed two rest areas with benches on the way to the official end of the trail. It took about 45 minutes to hike the 2.3 miles to the Trail End sign. Most people turn around here for an easy 4.6 mile round trip. I continued exploring up the canyon on a shockingly good use trail. Elevation started to pile up from small, but easy boulder scrambles. The upper canyon was quite nice at first.

First adit is on the trail

Inside the first tunnel

Second adit

Inside the second tunnel

End of the official trail

I met a few wood rats in the upper part of the canyon, always scurrying for cover. About half a mile past the end of the trail, there is a major fork. The main canyon continues southeast, while the southwest fork branches right. I stayed on the use trail that went up the main canyon, then veered east along another fork and ended at a crumbly, 30' dry fall. I was thinking I might get some bearings in the view above the fall so I risked a loose class 3 bypass up the right side with an assist from the brush clinging precariously to the wall. Instead of a view, more brushy scrambles greeted me. I kept thinking I would get a view after the next loose scramble. Nope, more of the same. This pattern repeated until I decided to return and check out the southwest fork. At the main fork, I found an interesting and relatively clear animal trail going up the main ridge that separated the two forks. It was also steep with loose dirt. Eventually, it got a little bushwhacky and required some crawling. However, it was clear enough that I could see a path up and so I continued for a while. This was all unplanned exploration. As the thrashing grew moderate, it became tedious. The ridge, being a deer hang out, dropped a couple of ticks on me. I brushed them off before any blood loss. On the way down, I lost the animal trail and instead of going back up to look for it, continued straight down into the northwest fork. I followed it back to the main canyon, then out. Checking the topo map later, it looks like I was 0.6 miles and about 500' below the doppler radar tower on Main Divide Road. A return trip might be warranted some day with a loop up the Skyline Trail to the doppler tower, then down the ridge and canyon. It might be rough sledding on the ridge below the tower. In any case, I found Tin Mine Canyon an enchanting diversion.