Wall Street Mill is a historical hike in Joshua Tree National Park.

Want to visit one of California’s best-preserved historical gold mill? Well, head on over to Joshua Tree National Park and hike along the Wall Street Mill Trail! On this short hike, you will see many amazing artifacts from the past, including an old homestead, rusted vehicles from the early 1900s, and the famous Wall Street Mill.

This site is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, so please be respectful when you visit and do not take anything with you. This is an easy hike through the beautiful desert landscape. If you are into both hiking and history then this is the perfect little adventure for you!

Know Before You Go

Entrance Fee

Entrance into Joshua Tree National Park is $30 per vehicle for a 7-day pass. If you have the America the Beautiful Pass then you get in for free. If you don’t have an America the Beautiful Pass and you visit National Parks frequently, we highly recommend making the purchase! It costs $80 for one whole year.

Summer in Joshua Tree

If visiting Joshua Tree National Park in the summer, always check the local weather forecast prior to going so you can plan your day around the heat. The smart thing to do would be to explore and hike early in the morning and later in the evening to avoid the peak summertime heat.

Bring plenty of water, salty snacks, and other items to replenish your electrolytes if you are out hiking in the heat and sweating a lot. Also, protect yourself from the sun by applying sunscreen and SPF lip balm and wearing sun-protective clothing.

Be smart and be safe out there if visiting in the summer!

“False” or Social Trails

Hiking trails in Joshua Tree National Park can be confusing due to difficulty following the trail markers (or lack thereof). We highly recommend downloading offline maps and having a physical map and compass in your backpack just in case you get off trail.

This particular hike to the Wall Street Mill was a little bit difficult to follow due to the social trails. We went off the main trail a few times, but we had no issues making it back to the trailhead. With that being said, always be prepared!

Leave No Trace

Before you go, please make sure you understand the Leave No Trace principles. These seven principles help reduce our environmental impact from outdoor recreational activities. Nature is meant to be enjoyed and respected. 🌱

Quick History Lesson

Before we dive into the history of Wall Street Mill, I would like to mention that this area was previously occupied by Native Americans for many years. They used the rock shelters and natural food sources in the area to survive. Sometime in the late 1800s, a guy named William McHaney dug a well in the area. It soon became a popular cattle watering area.

In the early 1900s, things changed for this area drastically. Gold!! People became obsessed with finding gold in this desert area which is now Joshua Tree National Park. In 1928, the well site was claimed by Oran Booth and Earle McInnes. They built a cabin and named the site Wall Street.

After a few years, Booth and McInnes left the site to seek new opportunities. In 1930, William Keys swooped in and claimed this area as a milling site. He built a bunk house and outhouse, and also transported a two-stamp mill ore crusher to the new site.

The mill became known as the Wall Street Mill. It was used to process ore that was mined from nearby mines, such as the famous Desert Queen Mine. The ore would be crushed and sifted in order to extract gold. Keys ran the mill until about 1966, and later on it became listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Oh, I guess I should mention that William Keys was also a murderer. Continue reading to learn more about that tea (or drama). 😉

Another cool site to see while hiking along the Wall Street Mill Trail is the Wonderland Ranch. The Ohlson family made a homestead here, but little is known about them. It is said they were there for the gold mining opportunities.

About the Trail

Wall Street Mill Trail (from Barker Dam Parking Lot)

Location: It is located off the Queen Valley Road (or Barker Dam Road) in Joshua Tree National Park.

Length & Elevation Gain: It’s about 2.25 miles with an elevation gain of 80 feet.

Hiking Time: It takes an average of 1 to 1.5 hours to complete this hike.

Route Type: This is an out-and-back hike.

Difficulty Rating: Most people consider this hike to be easy.

Terrain: This trail takes you through a very sandy wash.

Pet-friendly? No, pets are not allowed.

How to Get to the Trailhead

There are two trailheads for the Wall Street Mill Trail. The main paved parking area is known as the Barker Dam Parking Lot, and a dirt parking lot is located off of Queen Valley Road.

For the purpose of this blog, I will explain how to reach the Wall Street Mill from the Barker Dam Parking Lot. There are also vault toilets at this location. The other parking area is less than half a mile away from the main one if the latter is full.

Put this address in Google Maps: Barker Dam Parking Lot, California 92277

Google Maps of Wall Street Mill Trailhead located at the Barker Dam Parking Lot in Joshua Tree National Park.

Trail Directions

Wall Street Mill Trail (from Barker Dam Parking Lot)

Starting from the Barker Dam Parking Lot, head right and follow the trail signs towards Wall Street Mill. This parking lot also shares the trailhead for Barker Dam (hence the name of the parking lot).

Soon in the hike, you may or may not notice another trail veering off to the left. Take a short side quest to reach a place called Wonderland Ranch. Explore the ruins of this old homestead then head back to the main trail.

As you continue along the Wall Street Mill Trail, you will soon see an old wind mill at the Desert Queen Well. This well was used to support the operations of the Desert Queen Mine as well as livestock.

Along the way you will see various old rusty cars from the early 1900s. Amazing, right!?

Old rusty car located along the Wall Street Mill Trail in Joshua Tree National Park.

The next piece of history you will see as you continue hiking is a (replica) gravestone. It reads, “Here is where Worth Bagley bit the dust at the hands of W.F.Keys. May 11, 1943.”

The backstory behind this memorial is that William Keys had a property dispute with a guy named Worth Bagley. Long story short, Keys shot Bagley and killed him. Keys was convicted of murder and sent to San Quentin Prison. He was released after five years due to the judge ruling that Bagley was killed in self-defense. Keys returned to his home and created a memorial for Worth Bagley.

Replica gravestone that reads, "Here is where Worth Bagley bit the dust at the hands of W.F.Keys. May 11, 1943." — This is a replica! Not the real deal.

Keep hiking a little bit further until you reach the famous Wall Street Mill. Explore this well-preserved gold mill and learn more about its history with educational plaques posted in various locations around the site.