by dougmajor » Wed Aug 05, 2026 8:06 am
Follow-up on the Murry Mine Track and Cleanup
This is a follow-up report on the Murry Mine work described in Tom Hopkins’ articles in Ventana Wilderness Watch:
Spring 2020 newsletter
https://www.ventanawild.org/images/docs ... spring.pdf
Spring 2015 newsletter
https://www.ventanawild.org/images/docs ... spring.pdf
After working on Mt. Mars access last week, I returned via County Line Road to the Murry Mine Track, the old access road used when the mine was still active in the 1950s. The road is now mostly clear of encroachment, with only a few step-overs and walk-arounds from fallen trees. Much of the tread lies under a shaded canopy of oaks and pines, making for a pleasant and cool approach. As with many old roadbeds, there are a few steep sections, but these are broken up by gentler grades.
Water is limited, but there is one reliable dripping source at the second drainage crossing. The small pool there is surrounded by snake grass, suggesting a steady spring. Just before the mine turnoff, the road enters a grassy area and drops steeply. Look for large rocks on the right to find the old road cut leading to the mercury-processing retort, where the cinderbar workings are still visible.
This visit served as a follow-up to Tom Hopkins’ note that the Forest Service had completed cleanup work at the site. On an earlier visit about eight years ago, the area still had scattered junk piles, old fuel drums, and piping into the stream. Those appear to be gone now. The retort, lamp post, and adjacent tool shed remain in place, but the shed has been cleaned out and is now occupied by a woodrat. The last time I was there, I recall a very active wasp nest instead.
Given how isolated the site is, removing the remaining historic equipment would be difficult and would likely require reopening the old mine road for heavier access. Unlike the Willow Creek cleanup project, which involved removing mine shack debris and an old suspension bridge, this site is much more remote. If the toxic hazards have truly been stabilized, my feeling is that the area could remain as a historic remnant of the region’s mining past, much like the Kinder Mine House.(Still an active mine permit)
Further down the track, where the route makes its way toward Dutra Flats, there is an old outhouse with a flush toilet — now pushed over — near the end of the old mining road. Beyond that, the river is dry, but there is another area of trash and old junk at a former cowboy camp farther down by the river crossing and uphill section. These areas should ideally be cleaned up to help restore the wilderness character of the drainage and their location right by the trail, though doing so would likely take helicopter support. We could ask the base at Hunter Liggett to help as a part of their training.
Follow-up on the Murry Mine Track and Cleanup
This is a follow-up report on the Murry Mine work described in Tom Hopkins’ articles in Ventana Wilderness Watch:
Spring 2020 newsletter https://www.ventanawild.org/images/docs/newsletters/2020-vwa-wilderness-watch-spring.pdf
Spring 2015 newsletter https://www.ventanawild.org/images/docs/newsletters/2015-vwa-wilderness-watch-spring.pdf
After working on Mt. Mars access last week, I returned via County Line Road to the Murry Mine Track, the old access road used when the mine was still active in the 1950s. The road is now mostly clear of encroachment, with only a few step-overs and walk-arounds from fallen trees. Much of the tread lies under a shaded canopy of oaks and pines, making for a pleasant and cool approach. As with many old roadbeds, there are a few steep sections, but these are broken up by gentler grades.
Water is limited, but there is one reliable dripping source at the second drainage crossing. The small pool there is surrounded by snake grass, suggesting a steady spring. Just before the mine turnoff, the road enters a grassy area and drops steeply. Look for large rocks on the right to find the old road cut leading to the mercury-processing retort, where the cinderbar workings are still visible.
This visit served as a follow-up to Tom Hopkins’ note that the Forest Service had completed cleanup work at the site. On an earlier visit about eight years ago, the area still had scattered junk piles, old fuel drums, and piping into the stream. Those appear to be gone now. The retort, lamp post, and adjacent tool shed remain in place, but the shed has been cleaned out and is now occupied by a woodrat. The last time I was there, I recall a very active wasp nest instead.
Given how isolated the site is, removing the remaining historic equipment would be difficult and would likely require reopening the old mine road for heavier access. Unlike the Willow Creek cleanup project, which involved removing mine shack debris and an old suspension bridge, this site is much more remote. If the toxic hazards have truly been stabilized, my feeling is that the area could remain as a historic remnant of the region’s mining past, much like the Kinder Mine House.(Still an active mine permit)
Further down the track, where the route makes its way toward Dutra Flats, there is an old outhouse with a flush toilet — now pushed over — near the end of the old mining road. Beyond that, the river is dry, but there is another area of trash and old junk at a former cowboy camp farther down by the river crossing and uphill section. These areas should ideally be cleaned up to help restore the wilderness character of the drainage and their location right by the trail, though doing so would likely take helicopter support. We could ask the base at Hunter Liggett to help as a part of their training.
