A search for domestic deposits of tin-bearing ore in the United
States was a failure. Small quantities of tin were produced during
the early 1900s in the Franklin Mountains of El Paso County, Texas.
The only tin mine in the United States was located in the Franklin
Mountains, where its ruins are visible today. A complete history
with photos is placed inside the cache. Please leave the cache copy
inside after you read it. The tin mines are safe to enter, but
bring a good flashlight. Be sure to follow the stairs down to the
lower entrance, there is much more to see down below. Just watch
you step, your head clearance, and use that flashlight.
How to get there? Go to the intersection of War Highway (Martin
Luther King Blvd) and Jon Cunningham. Turn west (toward the
mountains) on Jon Cunningham. Follow the road west to the parking
area at the end. N31*55.952 / W106*26.946 4182ft. You will be at
Chuck Heinrick Park. You will begin hiking from the concrete dam at
the end of the pavement. Grab your gear and hike to the top of the
dam. From there, you can see the North Mine. Look for two rust
colored squares easily visible on the hillside about 2.8 miles
ahead and due west. You will spot the North Mine intermittently
throughout the hike.
From the dam, look to the northwest. You will see a fence-line,
and 4 steel posts along that fence-line. The 4 posts are a gate.
Hike south on the dam until you find the road down to the bottom of
the dam. Then hike back to the gate. Enter the gate, and please -
close it behind you! Remember to look back often so you remember
the return path. Hike northwest until you intersect a jeep trail
N31*55.994 / W106*27.138 4231 ft) going west up the arroyo. Follow
the jeep trail west, up the hill, past the Franklin Mountain State
Park signs, and through another gate. Once past the gate, do not
turn South towards the tree. You are halfway there. Continue West,
up the hill on the jeep trail. The road will curve north, go
through a dip, then back up and curve west again. When you come to
a major intersection, you are almost there. The mines are 0.3 miles
apart. Turn south for the South Mine (0.1 miles), or turn north for
the North Mine (0.2 miles). The South Mine is closer. The climb to
the North Mine is much more difficult, but it is worth it. The
cache is near the North Tin Mine. Sticking to the trails as much as
possible is the easiest path. Please hide the cache real good
before you leave. Mines are locked. Stop by the main park, ask the
rangers about looking in the mines, they might give you the
combinations. The hike will take 2.5 to 3 hours, plus time spent
exploring. Remember all the usual safety rules. If you hauled it
in, you haul it back out with you. If it was there when you got
there, then leave it there. Take PLENTY of water along, watch out
for critters, and have a great hike. NOTE: I try to keep a few
bottles of water hidden with the cache. Use it if you really need
it, but remember, I have to backpack it in, so don't waste it.
Please carry the empty bottle out with you, and let me know how
many are left so I can replace them needed. Thanks.
Take nothing but pictures. Leave nothing but footprints.