Bagdad-Chase Mine

Tucked into the Bullion Mountains of the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County, California, the Bagdad-Chase Mine was once the single largest producer of gold and copper in the county — a distinction that made it a significant operation in the region's mining history. It sits within the Steadman-Rochester-Buckeye Mining District and lies not far from the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms. Bagdad Chase Road, named directly for the mine, runs parallel to the Ludlow and Southern Railroad and remains one of the more tangible links to the site's past.

Visitors today are stepping into a desert ghost-town landscape rather than an active community. The setting is remote Mojave terrain, so expect little in the way of formal infrastructure. Those drawn to abandoned industrial history, desert photography, and off-highway exploration will find the area worth the detour, but come prepared — the Mojave's heat makes cooler months far safer for any visit.