CALICO MOUNTAINS
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Directions: From San Bernardino take Interstate 15 north past Barstow. Exit at Ghost Town Road, turn left.
Calico Ghost Town: From I-15 exit at Ghost Town Road, turn left. Drive about 3.5 miles to the entrance to Calico Ghost Town. The Town of Calico is managed by the County of San Bernardino. The Calico Mountains and Alvord Mountains further north are managed by the BLM.
Caution: Most mines and shafts are still open. Enter the mines at your own risk. And the Desert Tortoise shares the area with us. Do not disturb this endangered species (it is protected by law!). Pack it in, Pack it out! Tread Lightly!
Calico Ghost Town: From I-15 exit at Ghost Town Road, turn left. Drive about 3.5 miles to the entrance to Calico Ghost Town. The Town of Calico is managed by the County of San Bernardino. The Calico Mountains and Alvord Mountains further north are managed by the BLM.
Caution: Most mines and shafts are still open. Enter the mines at your own risk. And the Desert Tortoise shares the area with us. Do not disturb this endangered species (it is protected by law!). Pack it in, Pack it out! Tread Lightly!
GENERAL INFORMATION
Between 1881 and 1896 the Calico Mountains proved to have the largest silver deposits in California history, producing over $86 million in silver. In 1887 the town was destroyed by fire. Afterwards more adobe buildings were constructed and most had basements. But prosperity did not last long. When the price of silver dropped to $.63 an ounce from $1.31 an ounce, the miners moved on. At one point over 3500 people lived in the town of Calico. Then in 1966 Walter Knott rebuilt the town and donated it to the county of San Bernardino. Festivals are held three times a year.
In addition to deposits of silver, gold, jasper, feldspar, quartz, iron and magnesium have also been found. But probably the most significant find in the area dates back 200,000 years. Found buried in earth were tools, chips and blades made from chalcedony, chert, jasper and siliceous limestone. Although no human remains were ever found, archaeologists believe the area was used by early man to build and repair his tools.
The Calico area gives the Off Highway enthusiast an opportunity to explore old mining operations, hunt rocks and travel challenging terrain. There is legal access from the Calico Campground to OHV trails on public lands. The Doran Scenic Loop is passable, but only by those who look for the roughest routes. The Phillips loop is not as difficult but is still challenging for 4WD vehicles. Both routes have traces of asphalt which actually makes the travel more difficult. At last count there are over 30 miles of tunnels through the Calico Mountains.
The Alvord Mountains are located just a few miles northeast of the Calico Mountains. These mountains still show the wear from the wagons traveling the Mojave Trail. Traces of the old Spanish Trail can also be found. Both of these historic trails disappear on the Fort Irwin military base. I encourage you to explore the Alvord area on existing roads before it becomes a part of Fort Irwin (this has been proposed).
Caution: Most mines and shafts are still open. Enter the mines at your own risk. And the Desert Tortoise shares the area with us. Do not disturb this endangered species (it is protected by law!). Pack it in, Pack it out! Tread Lightly!
In addition to deposits of silver, gold, jasper, feldspar, quartz, iron and magnesium have also been found. But probably the most significant find in the area dates back 200,000 years. Found buried in earth were tools, chips and blades made from chalcedony, chert, jasper and siliceous limestone. Although no human remains were ever found, archaeologists believe the area was used by early man to build and repair his tools.
The Calico area gives the Off Highway enthusiast an opportunity to explore old mining operations, hunt rocks and travel challenging terrain. There is legal access from the Calico Campground to OHV trails on public lands. The Doran Scenic Loop is passable, but only by those who look for the roughest routes. The Phillips loop is not as difficult but is still challenging for 4WD vehicles. Both routes have traces of asphalt which actually makes the travel more difficult. At last count there are over 30 miles of tunnels through the Calico Mountains.
The Alvord Mountains are located just a few miles northeast of the Calico Mountains. These mountains still show the wear from the wagons traveling the Mojave Trail. Traces of the old Spanish Trail can also be found. Both of these historic trails disappear on the Fort Irwin military base. I encourage you to explore the Alvord area on existing roads before it becomes a part of Fort Irwin (this has been proposed).
Caution: Most mines and shafts are still open. Enter the mines at your own risk. And the Desert Tortoise shares the area with us. Do not disturb this endangered species (it is protected by law!). Pack it in, Pack it out! Tread Lightly!