Reward Mine

Reward Mine is a unique offroad experience. Lying in the shadows of Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the lower 48 of the United States, Reward Mine is one of the few trails to offer underground offroading. With a round trip of roughly a 1/2 mile inside the Inyo Mountains and more on-foot exploring possible, this is a memorable experience. Whether or not you are a fan of mines, this takes mine exploration to a fun but scary level.

The Reward Mine had several other names and was the first to operate in Owens Valley from 1860 through the 1980s. From 1889 to 1951, the Reward Mine produced 600,000 ounces of gold, 102,600 ounces of silver, 30,900 pounds of copper, and 203,300 pounds of lead. Today, several stone building ruins, foundations, ore bins, head frames, and other mining equipment remain. But the highlight is driving into the mine.