20 Mule Team Canyon

The 20 mule teams (usually 18 mules and 2 horses, I'm told) passed through this canyon as they travelled from the Borax refining operation to the nearest railroad.

20 Mule Team Canyon is on the opposite side of the Black Mountains from Artist's Drive, and has some of the same multi-colored rock formations.

The mountains around Death Valley are full of old mine shafts.

Many of them have warning signs about the hazards of entering old mines.  

They convinced me; I took all my mine pictures from the outside.

Erosion has carved interesting patterns in the rock.

Looking Northwest through 20 Mule Team Canyon toward the valley floor.   My truck is visible on the right.