Prospect Mountain has a long history of mining activity dating back to the 1860s. One of the many mines in the area is known as the Prospect Mountain Tunnel.

The primary ores here were gold, silver, and lead. The main years of production were from 1882 to 1891. The mine itself consists of a single adit with a gated entrance. The adit extends 3000 feet into the mountain, where it connects to miles of subsidiary workings. In later years the mine’s tunnel was mainly used for access and haulage from the connected workings.

Next to the adit is a single building covered with corrugated metal. The building is empty except for a concrete foundation for some kind of machinery, most likely an air compressor.

The tracks from the mine went past this building and out over a wooden bridge. This bridge has several openings where ore could be dumped into wagons or trucks positioned below. Waste rock would be dumped at the far end of the bridge.

A short distance away I found the ruins of an old mill. These are mostly concrete or stone foundations and a few brick or stone walls. Considering the materials used, and the conditions of the ruins, my guess is that this mill dates back to the mine’s earliest years of operation.

I visited this site in 2019 and put together a interesting video about it:

Posted February 2021.

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