Tag: San Bernardino

San Bernardino County, located in Southern California, is renowned for its vast expanses of diverse landscapes ranging from rugged mountains to expansive deserts. Home to both bustling urban centers like Apple Valley and Barstow as well as serene natural wonders such as Joshua Tree National Park and the San Bernardino National Forest, the county offers a blend of urban convenience and outdoor adventure. Its economy is diverse, encompassing industries like logistics, healthcare, and tourism, buoyed by its strategic location between Los Angeles and the rest of the Inland Empire. With a rich history dating back to the days of Spanish missions and a vibrant cultural tapestry woven from its diverse population.

Desert Dandelion ( Malocothryx glabrata )

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The Desert Dandelion, also commonly known as Smooth Desertdandelion, is a striking annual wildflower native to the arid regions of western North America. It belongs to the sunflower family and is renowned for forming vibrant carpets of yellow blooms in sandy desert landscapes following wet winters. This report details its scientific taxonomy, plant and flower morphology, habitat, range, distribution, and ecological characteristics, drawing from botanical sources such as regional floras and field guides.

Desert Dandelion ( Malocothryx glabrata ) Photo by James L Rathbun
Desert Dandelion ( Malocothryx glabrata ) Photo by James L Rathbun

Scientific Taxonomy and Categorization

  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Clade: Tracheophytes (vascular plants)
  • Clade: Angiosperms (flowering plants)
  • Clade: Eudicots
  • Clade: Asterids
  • Order: Asterales
  • Family: Asteraceae (Aster or Sunflower Family) – characterized by composite flower heads and milky sap in many genera
  • Genus: Malacothrix (Greek: “soft hair,” referring to the pappus on seeds)
  • Species: Malacothrix glabrata (A. Gray ex D.C. Eaton) A. Gray
  • Binomial Authority: Named by Asa Gray; the epithet “glabrata” refers to the nearly hairless (glabrous) leaves and stems.
  • Synonyms: Malacothrix californica var. glabrata
  • Common Names: Smooth Desertdandelion, Desert Dandelion

This dicotyledonous annual herb is categorized within the tribe Cichorieae (chicory tribe) of Asteraceae, featuring ligulate (strap-shaped ray) florets only, with no disk florets—distinguishing it from true dandelions (Taraxacum spp.).

Detailed Plant Description

Malacothrix glabrata is a low-growing to erect annual forb arising from a taproot. Plants reach 10–40 cm (4–16 inches) tall, with stems that are mostly glabrous (smooth), occasionally sparsely puberulent near the base, and branched proximally and distally. The stems may appear ascending or upright and contain milky latex sap, a hallmark of the Asteraceae family.

Leaves are primarily basal in a rosette, green, linear, and pinnately lobed with narrow, filiform (thread-like) or stringy segments (6.5–12.5 cm long). Cauline (stem) leaves are alternate, reduced upward, and similarly lobed. The foliage is nearly hairless, contributing to its “smooth” common name.

Detailed Flower Description

The inflorescences are solitary or 1–3 per stem, daisy-like composite heads measuring 2.5–6.5 cm (1–2.5 inches) wide (up to 4.5 cm or more). Each head consists of 31–139 ligulate ray florets (strap-shaped, 5-lobed at the tip) that are pale yellow to white, often with purple-tinged undersides. The receptacle is bristly, and the involucre (base) is campanulate to hemispheric, with 20–25+ phyllaries in 2–3 series and 12–20+ lanceolate bractlets with translucent margins at the base.

Immature or young flower heads often display a distinctive orange-to-red “button” or spot in the center (composed of developing structures). The flowers are fragrant and open primarily in the morning, closing by early afternoon. In mass blooms, they create showy yellow displays across the desert floor.

Desert Dandelion ( Malocothryx glabrata ) - Photo by James L Rathbun
Desert Dandelion ( Malocothryx glabrata ) – Photo by James L Rathbun

Fruit and Seeds

The fruit is a single-seeded cypsela (often called an achene), cylindro-fusiform (cylindrical and tapered at both ends), sometimes weakly 5-angled. It bears a pappus of soft hairs for wind dispersal. Seeds mature from March to June.

Habitat

This species thrives in coarse, fast-draining soils (gravel, loam, sand, silt) in open areas, among shrubs, or in vegetation gaps. Preferred habitats include sandy deserts, plains, mesas, rocky hillsides, washes, and flats, often associated with creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) communities. It also occurs in foothill woodlands and desert shrublands. Elevation range: below 2,000 m (6,500 ft). It is highly responsive to winter rainfall, becoming abundant in “good wildflower years.”

Range and Distribution

Malacothrix glabrata is native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. It occurs across the Mojave, Sonoran, and Great Basin Deserts.

U.S. States: Arizona (AZ), California (CA), Idaho (ID), Nevada (NV), New Mexico (NM), Oregon (OR), Utah (UT). Broader Range: Southwestern Idaho and eastern Oregon south to southern California, much of Arizona, and into Baja California and northwestern Mexico.

It is particularly common in the Mojave Desert (including areas near Las Vegas, Nevada) and intermountain regions. Sporadic records exist in the Colorado Plateau and Chihuahuan Desert fringes.

Ecology and Biology

As an annual, Malacothrix glabrata germinates in response to cool-season precipitation and completes its life cycle rapidly. Blooming occurs February–July (peak March–June), with fruits maturing soon after. It is primarily insect-pollinated (e.g., by solitary bees such as Nomadopsis spp.) but may be self-compatible. Seeds are wind-dispersed.

Ecologically, it serves as an important nectar source for butterflies, moths, bees, and other insects, and provides forage for wildlife including desert tortoises and small mammals. Indigenous groups (e.g., Apache) historically used roots medicinally. It is an indicator species for productive desert bloom seasons and shows no recognized subspecies or varieties. Chromosome number: 2n=14.

In summary, Malacothrix glabrata exemplifies desert adaptation with its ephemeral beauty, glabrous form, and reliance on sporadic rains. Its presence signals healthy desert ecosystems in the American Southwest.

Ubehebe Crater

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Ubehebe Crater (pronounced “you-bee-HEE-bee”) is one of the most striking and geologically dramatic features in Death Valley National Park, California. Located in the northern part of the park at the base of the Cottonwood Mountains (near the Racetrack Playa area), it is the largest and most prominent of a cluster of volcanic explosion craters known as the Ubehebe Craters or Ubehebe volcanic field. This maar-type crater stands out amid the park’s predominantly sedimentary and tectonic landscape as evidence of relatively recent volcanic activity in an otherwise arid, non-volcanic region.

Ubehebe Crater, Death Valley National Park, California
Ubehebe Crater, Death Valley National Park, California

Geological Description

Ubehebe Crater is a classic maar—a broad, shallow volcanic crater formed primarily by explosive phreatomagmatic eruptions (interactions between rising magma and groundwater). It measures approximately half a mile (about 0.8–1 km) in diameter and reaches depths of 500–777 feet (152–237 m), with steep, unstable inner walls composed of layered ejecta.

  • Formation Mechanism: The crater resulted from basaltic magma rising toward the surface and encountering groundwater in porous sedimentary rocks (primarily Miocene fanglomerates and sandstones). The intense heat caused the water to flash-boil into superheated steam, building enormous pressure. This triggered violent steam-driven explosions that fragmented and ejected large volumes of country rock (pre-existing sedimentary material) along with juvenile basaltic material. The blasts pulverized rock into ash, lapilli, bombs, and blocks, hurling them outward in pyroclastic surges and fallout deposits. Unlike typical lava-flow volcanoes, maar eruptions produce little to no sustained lava flows; instead, they create wide, low-angle rims of mixed ejecta.
  • Composition and Deposits: The ejecta blanket covers roughly 40 km² (15 mi²) around the craters. Deposits consist of approximately one-third basaltic scoria, bombs, and spatter (dark, fresh-looking volcanic material) and two-thirds comminuted fragments of older sedimentary rock (light-colored sandstone, conglomerate clasts). Layers alternate in color—dark basaltic ash and lighter sedimentary breccia—creating vivid banding visible on the crater walls and rim. Pyroclastic surge deposits (dense, ground-hugging flows of hot gas and debris) extend unusually far (up to 9–15 km in some directions, based on recent studies), preserved better here due to the arid environment with minimal erosion.
  • The Cluster: Ubehebe is the northernmost and youngest crater in a group of about 7–12 overlapping maars aligned roughly north-south over 1.5 km, with additional smaller vents east-west and isolated features. Smaller nearby craters include Little Hebe Crater (a nested or satellite maar) and others with tuff rings.
  • Age: Estimates vary due to challenges in dating young maars, but most recent research places the main eruptive sequence (including Ubehebe Crater) at approximately 2,100 years ago (around 100 BCE), based on radiocarbon dating, paleomagnetism, and stratigraphic studies. Earlier estimates ranged from 800–7,000 years old, with some suggesting the entire cluster formed in a brief period (weeks to months) from a single magmatic pulse rather than over centuries.

The eruptions exposed colorful underlying sedimentary layers, revealing Death Valley’s deeper geologic history of ancient lake beds, alluvial fans, and tectonic basin fill.

A Panorama looking from Ubehebe Crater overlooking the cinder fields, Death Valley National Park
A Panorama looking from Ubehebe Crater overlooking the cinder fields, Death Valley National Park

History of Discovery, Naming, and Study

  • Indigenous Context: The area lies within traditional territories of the Timbisha Shoshone people. “Ubehebe” derives from a Shoshone term possibly meaning “big basket” or “big hole in the ground,” reflecting the crater’s appearance. Indigenous knowledge of the landscape predates European-American exploration.
  • Euro-American Discovery: Prospectors and explorers encountered the crater in the late 19th/early 20th century amid Death Valley’s mining booms. It was noted for its dramatic appearance but not initially recognized as volcanic due to the region’s focus on gold, silver, and borax.
  • Scientific Recognition: Early 20th-century geologists identified its volcanic origin. Detailed studies intensified in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Key research includes:
    • Stratigraphic and paleomagnetic work showing a short eruptive duration.
    • 2016 studies on the cluster’s sequence (phreatomagmatic followed by minor magmatic phases).
    • 2022 research (led by Greg Valentine, University at Buffalo) revealing wider pyroclastic surge runout than typical for maars, implying underestimated hazard zones around similar volcanoes worldwide. Deposits preserved far from the vent highlight risks in arid settings.
  • Modern Status: Ubehebe Crater is a popular, accessible viewpoint in Death Valley National Park. A paved road leads to a parking area and overlook at the rim, with a short trail along the rim offering panoramic views. The interior is extremely hazardous (loose, steep slopes prone to rockfall), and descent is prohibited without permits (rarely granted). It serves as an educational site illustrating explosive volcanism, groundwater-magma interaction, and recent geologic activity in a tectonically active region.

Ubehebe Crater stands as a youthful reminder that Death Valley’s geologic story is ongoing—its formation just a few millennia ago underscores the potential for future volcanic events in this dynamic landscape, even if probabilities remain very low. Visitors experience one of the park’s most otherworldly sights: a stark black-rimmed pit contrasting with multicolored badlands under vast desert skies.

Hiking

The road into Ubehebe serves as the starting points to the Race Track Valley Road, Teakettle Junction and Hunter Mountain Road.

There are a few separate hiking opportunities while exploring the crater.

The crater rim trail, which is about 1.5 miles long, circumnavigates the crater and allows access to Little Hebe crater. The trail has some slight elevation gain, however could be more difficult to hikes with balance issue due to the unstable soil.

There is also a trail down the the bottom of the crater. This is a short trail and very easy going down. The difficulty is hiking back up the 600 feet elevation lost on the way down, in loose volcanic soil.

Ubehebe Crater Trail Map

References

Doble California – San Bernardino Ghost Town

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Doble is a near-forgotten ghost town and mining site located near the dry bed of Baldwin Lake, east of Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains. It represents a later chapter in the region’s mining story, tied to the “second gold rush” of the 1870s.

In 1873–1874, brothers Barney and Charlie Carter discovered gold-bearing quartz on a hill overlooking Baldwin Lake (then part of Bear Valley). Word reached millionaire investor Elias J. “Lucky” Baldwin, a prominent figure from the Comstock Lode silver boom in Nevada. Baldwin acquired the claims, naming the site the Baldwin Mine (later Gold Mountain Mine). He invested heavily, building a 20-stamp mill in 1875 to process ore and surveying a townsite below the mine.

The town was initially called Bairdstown (possibly after an early partner or prospector) and later briefly Gold Mountain City or Bear Valley. By the mid-1870s, it boomed with saloons, hotels, restaurants, blacksmith shops, and residences—typical of Wild West mining camps. Fistfights, shootings, and a growing cemetery reflected the era’s lawlessness. A shelf road built by Chinese laborers improved access, hauling machinery through Holcomb Valley.

Despite the infrastructure, the ore proved low-grade and unprofitable. The mine and mill shut down after a few years, and the town was largely abandoned by the early 1880s. It sat dormant for about 17 years.

In the late 1890s–early 1900s, Baldwin’s son-in-law, Bud Doble (or possibly a relative/associate), reinvested, leading to a revival. A larger 40-stamp mill was constructed around 1900, and the town was renamed Doble. Operations continued intermittently into the early 20th century, with various owners attempting to extract gold. However, yields remained disappointing, and activity ceased by the mid-20th century (latest records around the 1940s).

Today, Doble is a true ghost town with scattered ruins: dilapidated wooden structures, mill foundations, tailings piles, shafts, and a small cemetery. The site is accessible via off-road trails like Holcomb Valley Road (high-clearance vehicles recommended). It’s part of the San Bernardino National Forest, popular for hiking and historical exploration, though vandalism has removed some markers over the years.

Doble Mine, San Bernardino County, 1930 - Photography by Adelbert Bartlett, UCLA Library Digital Collections
Doble Mine, San Bernardino County, 1930 – Photography by Adelbert Bartlett, UCLA Library Digital Collections

Doble Town Summary

NameDoble California
LocationBig Bear, San Bernarino, California
Also Known AsBairdstown, Gold Mountain
Latitude, Longitude34.2986169,-116.8216958
GNIS270883

History of Mining in the San Bernardino Mountains

The San Bernardino Mountains, part of the Transverse Ranges in Southern California, have a rich mining heritage primarily tied to gold, with significant activity in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Mining in this region was challenging due to rugged terrain, harsh winters with heavy snowfall, and limited water resources, yet it produced notable wealth, especially from placer and lode deposits.

Gold mining began in earnest in the 1860s, spurred by discoveries shortly after the California Gold Rush of 1849. The most prolific area was Holcomb Valley, north of modern Big Bear Lake. In May 1860, prospector William F. “Bill” Holcomb, while tracking a bear, discovered placer gold in a creek that now bears his name. This sparked Southern California’s largest gold rush, drawing thousands of miners. Holcomb Valley became the region’s top gold-producing district, yielding an estimated 350,000 troy ounces historically (valued at over $450 million in modern terms based on early 2010s prices), with potential untapped deposits.

A boomtown called Belleville quickly emerged near the discovery site, named after the first child born there. At its peak around 1861–1862, Belleville had a population of about 1,500–2,000, making it briefly the largest settlement in San Bernardino County. It featured saloons, stores, and even vied (unsuccessfully) to become the county seat. The town was notorious for its rough character—claim jumping, violence, and vigilante justice were common. Placer mining dominated initially, with miners panning streams and using sluices. By the late 1860s, as easy placer gold dwindled, operations shifted to hard-rock quartz mining, requiring stamp mills to crush ore.

Other notable mines in the mountains included the Mammoth, Olio, Pine Tree, Metzger, and Greenlead. Production peaked in the 1860s but declined rapidly due to low yields, difficult access, and environmental hardships. By 1870, most miners had left Holcomb Valley. Intermittent activity continued, including large-scale placer operations in the 1890s and dredging in the 1930s–1940s.

A “second gold rush” occurred in the 1870s around Baldwin Lake (then called Bear Valley), leading to the establishment of the town and mine discussed below. Overall, the San Bernardino Mountains’ gold era transitioned the area from mining to tourism and recreation by the early 20th century, with dams and roads built in the 1880s–1910s facilitating access to Big Bear Lake.

Today, remnants like tailings, shafts, and foundations are preserved in areas like Holcomb Valley (now a historic site with trails), but active gold mining has ceased. Modern extraction in the broader mountains focuses on industrial minerals like high-purity limestone and cement.

Doble Town Map

Referenes

Gold Mountain Mine – Gold Fever Trail

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Gold Mountain Mine, also known as the Baldwin Mine or Lucky Baldwin Mine (originally Carters Quartz Hill), stands as one of the most significant gold operations in the Big Bear area of the San Bernardino Mountains. Located east of Big Bear Lake at coordinates approximately 34.3026°N, 116.8291°W, it overlooks Baldwin Lake and the former townsite of Doble. The mine represented the last major gold discovery in the region during the 1870s and highlighted the transition from placer to quartz mining.

The remains of Gold Mountain Mine, "Lucky Baldwin Mine" overlook the townsite of Doble and Baldwin Lake.
The remains of Gold Mountain Mine, “Lucky Baldwin Mine” overlook the townsite of Doble and Baldwin Lake.

Discovery and Early Development (1873-1875)

In 1873, brothers Barney and Charley Carter discovered the site while traveling to the Rose Mine for silver prospecting. Camping along the north shore of Baldwin Lake, Barney investigated a shiny quartz ledge on a hill, revealing rich gold ore. They claimed it as Carters Quartz Hill. This find came amid a broader context where placer gold in nearby streams had been noted since 1855, but harsh conditions limited early efforts. The Carters sold the claim to mining tycoon Elias J. “Lucky” Baldwin for $30,000, who invested an additional $250,000 to develop it. Baldwin, known from the Ophir Mine in Nevada, renamed it and employed up to 180 workers.

Chinese laborers played a key role, constructing roads from the mine to Cactus Flat and a five-mile flume with a 300-foot granite tunnel to supply water for processing. Their expertise in blasting and ditch-building was crucial, reflecting broader involvement of Chinese workers in quartz mining across the mountains. By 1876, a 40-stamp mill was operational, crushing ore for gold extraction via sluicing. The arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad in Bear Valley boosted local prosperity, including the town of Belleville.

Operations and Challenges (1875-1895)

The mine ran for about eight months initially but faced a major setback in 1875 when Baldwin lost $2,500,000 in the Bank of California collapse, triggering a statewide economic downturn. Operations closed temporarily but reopened intermittently until 1895. Production figures are not precisely documented, but the site contributed to the region’s status as Southern California’s most productive gold district. In 1875, William F. Holcomb, whose 1860 discovery sparked the initial rush, returned to witness the decline of mining camps.

The Gold Mountain Mine
The Gold Mountain Mine

Later Years and Decline (1899-1940s)

In 1899, after resource depletion, J.R. DeLaMar partnered with Baldwin to build a second 40-stamp mill. The original mill operated until 1923, with hard-rock mining continuing until 1919. Various companies managed the site until the 1940s, but yields were disappointing overall. The mine’s concrete foundations and headframe remnants are still visible today.

Current Status and Legacy

Today, the dormant site lies within the San Bernardino National Forest, accessible mainly for hiking and part of the Gold Fever Off-Road Trail. It symbolizes the end of the major gold era in the mountains, with ongoing hobbyist mining in the broader area. The mine’s history underscores the economic volatility of 19th-century mining and the contributions of diverse laborers.

This report highlights how Gold Mountain Mine fits into the larger narrative of San Bernardino Mountains mining, which transformed the region from a frontier outpost to a key resource hub, leaving a lasting cultural and environmental legacy.

Overview of Mining in the San Bernardino Mountains

The San Bernardino Mountains, located in Southern California, have a storied mining history that dates back to the mid-19th century, driven primarily by gold discoveries amid the broader California Gold Rush era. This range, part of the larger Mojave Desert geophysical province, features rugged terrain with fault lines, basins, and arid conditions that influenced mining operations. Mining in the area encompassed a variety of commodities, including gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, tungsten, borates, and limestone, with gold being the most widespread and economically significant. San Bernardino County, which includes these mountains, hosts over 3,000 documented mines, with approximately 1,585 listing gold as the primary commodity. The history reflects cycles of booms and busts tied to economic events, technological advancements, and global demands, such as those during World Wars I and II.

Early placer mining began in the 1840s and 1850s, with gold strikes in streams and valleys like Bear and Holcomb Valleys as early as 1849-1855, often initiated by prospectors following the California Gold Rush. The shift to hard-rock lode mining occurred as placer deposits depleted, supported by laws like the 1872 General Mining Act. Key districts included Holcomb Valley, Clark, Providence Mountains, and Calico, with operations involving shafts, adits, mills, and infrastructure like railroads and water systems. By 1902, the county had 301 hard-rock quartz mines, producing 45 mineral commodities. The Great Depression revived small-scale gold mining due to higher gold prices, while World War II focused on strategic minerals like tungsten and iron. Post-war activity declined, though sites like the Mountain Pass rare earth mine emerged in the 1950s. Today, remnants such as mine ruins, tailings, and historical landmarks persist, managed by entities like the Bureau of Land Management, facing threats from modern development and recreation.

The mountains are particularly noted for skarn gold deposits and high-purity placer gold, with historical recoveries in Holcomb Valley estimated at around 350,000 troy ounces (valued at $457,660,000 in 2013 prices). Remaining deposits may hold up to 700,000 troy ounces in unmined areas. Limestone mining continues as a major modern resource, with operators like Omya and Mitsubishi Cement extracting from the north slope.

Timeline of Key Mining Events in the San Bernardino Mountains

PeriodKey Events and Developments
1840s-1850sInitial placer gold discoveries in Bear and Holcomb Valleys (1849-1855); Mexican miners extract significant gold from placers in Bear Valley.
1860sMajor gold rush sparked by William F. Holcomb’s discovery in Holcomb Valley (1860); boomtowns like Belleville emerge with populations up to 1,500; largest gold strike in Southern California.
1870s-1880sShift to quartz mining; Gold Mountain Mine discovered (1873); stamp mills built; economic downturns like the 1875 Bank of California collapse affect operations; gold deposits largely exhausted by 1880s.
1890s-1910sIntermittent revivals with new technologies like cyanidation; hard-rock mining at Gold Mountain continues until 1919; borate and tungsten discoveries; steady activity until World War I.
1920s-1940sDecline due to low prices; Depression-era reworking of tailings; WWII focus on iron and tungsten; sporadic operations.
1950s-PresentRare earth mining at Mountain Pass; limestone extraction; hobbyist claims and historical preservation; over 2,000 active claims in Holcomb Valley.

Mine Summary

NameGold Mountain Mine
Also known asLucky Baldwin Mine,
Carters Quartz Hill
LocationSan Bernardino County, California
Latitude, Longitude34.3026, -116.8291
Gold Fever Off Road Trail Marker No.12

Gold Mountain Trail Map

Colorado Steamships

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The Colorado River, flowing from the Rocky Mountains through the arid Southwest to the Gulf of California, was a challenging waterway—shallow, swift, and prone to sandbars, floods, and shifting channels. Despite these obstacles, steam-powered vessels played a vital role in its navigation from the mid-19th century until the early 20th century. Primarily operating on the lower Colorado River (from the Gulf of California upstream to areas near modern-day Nevada), steamboats transported military supplies, miners, settlers, and freight, fueling the development of Arizona, California, Nevada, and parts of Mexico. They were the most economical means of moving goods across the desert until railroads supplanted them.

View showing steamboat Cochan on the Colorado River near Yuma, Arizona in 1900 - U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
View showing steamboat Cochan on the Colorado River near Yuma, Arizona in 1900 – U.S. National Archives and Records Administration

Early Attempts and the Birth of Steam Navigation (1850–1854)

The need for reliable transport arose after the Mexican-American War (1846–1848), when the U.S. Army established Fort Yuma at the confluence of the Gila and Colorado Rivers to protect emigrants heading to California during the Gold Rush. Supplying the isolated fort overland from San Diego cost up to $500 per ton. River transport from the Gulf of California offered a cheaper alternative.

Initial efforts used schooners and barges. In 1850–1851, the schooner Invincible and longboats reached only partway upriver. Lieutenant George Derby recommended shallow-draft sternwheel steamboats.

The first successful steamboat was the small iron-hulled Uncle Sam, a 65-foot tug with a 20-horsepower engine, assembled at the river’s mouth in 1852 by Captain James Turnbull. It reached Fort Yuma in December 1852 but later proved unreliable and sank.

In 1853–1854, George Alonzo Johnson, partnering with Benjamin M. Hartshorne and others, formed George A. Johnson & Company. They brought parts for the sidewheeler General Jesup from San Francisco, assembling it at the river mouth. The General Jesup carried 50 tons of cargo to Fort Yuma in five days, reducing costs to $75 per ton and proving commercial viability.

Mohave II at Yuma, Arizona, with Sunday school group embarked, 1876 - Unknown author - MacMullen, Jerry, Paddle-Wheel Days in California, Stanford University Press, 1944
Mohave II at Yuma, Arizona, with Sunday school group embarked, 1876 – Unknown author – MacMullen, Jerry, Paddle-Wheel Days in California, Stanford University Press, 1944

Expansion and Exploration (1855–1860s)

Johnson’s company built wood yards staffed by Cocopah Indians and added vessels like the sternwheeler Colorado (1855, captained by Isaac Polhamus) and others. By the late 1850s, steamboats regularly serviced Fort Yuma and emerging mining camps.

Exploration pushed limits:

  • In 1857, Johnson took the General Jesup to El Dorado Canyon (near Las Vegas).
  • The U.S. Army’s 1857–1858 expedition, led by Lt. Joseph Christmas Ives, used the 54-foot iron steamboat Explorer (built in Philadelphia and reassembled on the river). It reached Black Canyon but struck a rock; Ives deemed further navigation impractical at low water. Johnson later bought the Explorer and converted it to a barge.

Mormon leader Brigham Young sought a sea-to-Utah route via the Colorado. In 1864–1866, Anson Call established Callville (near modern Lake Mead) as a potential port. Steamboats like the Esmeralda reached it in 1866.

Boom Years: Mining Rushes and Competition (1860s–1870s)

The 1862 Colorado River gold rush near La Paz (Arizona) and later discoveries in Eldorado Canyon and elsewhere created explosive demand. Ports like Ehrenberg, Hardyville, and Aubrey emerged. Steamboats hauled machinery, food, and ore, often towing barges for extra capacity.

George A. Johnson & Company dominated initially but faced rivals like Thomas Trueworthy’s Union Line in the 1860s. Competition ended when Johnson’s company absorbed opponents. In 1869, it reorganized as the Colorado Steam Navigation Company (C.S.N.Co.), expanding the fleet with vessels like Cocopah, Mohave, and larger ones like the 149-foot Mohave II (1876) and Gila.

Key captains included Isaac Polhamus (“Dean of the Colorado River”) and later Jack Mellon. Ocean steamships connected San Francisco to the river mouth at Port Isabel, feeding river traffic.

Colorado II in a tidal dry dock in the shipyard above Port Isabel, Sonora - MacMullen, Jerry, Paddle-Wheel Days in California, Stanford University Press, 1944
Colorado II in a tidal dry dock in the shipyard above Port Isabel, Sonora – MacMullen, Jerry, Paddle-Wheel Days in California, Stanford University Press, 1944

Peak and Decline (1870s–1900s)

The 1870s marked the peak, with scheduled services and luxurious boats offering passenger excursions. The C.S.N.Co. monopolized trade, profiting immensely from military contracts, mining,, and Mormon supplies.

Railroads spelled doom. The Southern Pacific reached Yuma in 1877, bridging the river. That year, Johnson and partners sold the C.S.N.Co. to Southern Pacific interests for a massive profit. Steamboats continued but focused on upper reaches and local freight.

Later vessels included the Cochan (1900, the last major sternwheeler) and Searchlight (1903–1909), hauling ore from Nevada mines.

End of an Era (1909–1916)

The 1909 completion of Laguna Dam (for irrigation) blocked navigation. Final operations involved limited freight and dam-related work. The last commercial steamboat, Searchlight, retired around 1916.

Attempts on the upper Colorado (e.g., Glen Canyon, Green River) were short-lived due to rapids and low water.

Legacy

For over 50 years, Colorado River steamboats connected isolated frontiers, enabling settlement and extraction in a harsh desert. They carried millions in gold, supplied forts and mines, and linked the Pacific to inland territories. Though overshadowed by railroads and dams, their era transformed the Southwest, leaving behind ghost towns, historic sites like Yuma Quartermaster Depot, and a romantic chapter in Western transportation history.

Colorado River Steamship Landings

The steamboat Mohave departing the landing in El Dorado Canyon.
The steamboat Mohave departing the landing in El Dorado Canyon.
Potholes, California, From 185918 mi (29 km)
La Laguna, Arizona Territory, 1860-186320 mi (32 km)
Castle Dome Landing, Arizona Territory, 1863-188435 mi (56 km)
Eureka, Arizona Territory, 1863-1870s45 mi (72 km)
Williamsport, Arizona Territory, 1863-1870s47 mi (76 km)
Picacho, California, 1862-191048 mi (77 km)
Nortons Landing, Arizona Territory, 1882-189452 mi (84 km)
Clip, Arizona Territory, 1882-188870 mi (110 km)
California Camp, California72 mi (116 km)
Camp Gaston, California, 1859-186780 mi (130 km)
Drift Desert, Arizona Territory102 mi (164 km)
Bradshaw’s Ferry, California, 1862-1884126 mi (203 km)
Mineral City, Arizona Territory, 1864-1866126 mi (203 km)
Ehrenberg, Arizona Territory, from 1866126.5 mi (203.6 km)
Olive City, Arizona Territory, 1862-1866127 mi (204 km)
La Paz, Arizona Territory, 1862-1870131 mi (211 km)
Parker’s Landing, Arizona Territory, 1864-1905
Camp Colorado, Arizona, 1864-1869		200 mi (320 km)
Parker, Arizona Territory, from 1908203 mi (327 km)
Empire Flat, Arizona Territory, 1866-1905210 mi (340 km)
Bill Williams River, Arizona220 mi (350 km)
Aubrey City, Arizona Territory, 1862-1888220 mi (350 km)
Chimehuevis Landing, California240 mi (390 km)
Liverpool Landing, Arizona Territory242 mi (389 km)
Grand Turn, Arizona/California257 mi (414 km)
The Needles, Mohave Mountains, Arizona263 mi (423 km)
Mellen, Arizona Territory 1890 – 1909267 mi (430 km)
Eastbridge, Arizona Territory 1883 – 1890279 mi (449 km)
Needles, California, from 1883282 mi (454 km)
Iretaba City, Arizona Territory, 1864298 mi (480 km)
Fort Mohave, Arizona Territory, 1859-1890
Beale’s Crossing 1858 –		300 mi (480 km)
Mohave City, Arizona Territory, 1864-1869305 mi (491 km)
Hardyville, Arizona Territory, 1864-1893
Low Water Head of Navigation 1864-1881		310 mi (500 km)
Camp Alexander, Arizona Territory, 1867312 mi (502 km)
Polhamus Landing, Arizona Territory
Low Water Head of Navigation 1881-1882		315 mi (507 km)
Pyramid Canyon, Arizona/Nevada316 mi (509 km)
Cottonwood Island, Nevada
Cottonwood Valley		339 mi (546 km)
Quartette, Nevada, 1900-1906342 mi (550 km)
Murphyville, Arizona Territory, 1891353 mi (568 km)
Eldorado Canyon, Nevada, 1857-1905
Colorado City, Nevada 1861-1905		365 mi (587 km)
Explorer’s Rock, Black Canyon of the Colorado, Mouth, Arizona/Nevada369 mi (594 km)
Roaring Rapids, Black Canyon of the Colorado, Arizona/Nevada375 mi (604 km)
Ringbolt Rapids, Black Canyon of the Colorado, Arizona/Nevada387 mi (623 km)
Fortification Rock, Nevada
High Water Head of Navigation, 1858-1866		400 mi (640 km)
Las Vegas Wash, Nevada402 mi (647 km)
Callville, Nevada, 1864-1869
High Water Head of Navigation 1866-78		408 mi (657 km)
Boulder Canyon, Mouth, Arizona/Nevada409 mi (658 km)
Stone’s Ferry, Nevada 1866-1876438 mi (705 km)
Virgin River, Nevada440 mi (710 km)
Bonelli’s Ferry, 1876-1935
Rioville, Nevada 1869-1906
High Water Head of Navigation from 1879 to 1887		440 mi (710 km
Soruce: Wikipedia

Colorado River Steamship Landings

Steamboats on the Colorado River

Gila Steamboat at the Yuma Crossing Arizona, 1873.
Gila Steamboat at the Yuma Crossing Arizona, 1873.
NameTypeTonsLengthBeamLaunchedDisposition
Black EagleScrew40 feet6 feetGreen River, Utah
June 1907		Exploded 1907
Charles H. SpencerStern92.5 feet25 feetWarm Creek, Arizona
February 1912		Abandoned
Spring 1912
Cliff DwellerStern70 feet20 feetHalverson’s Utah
November 1905		To Salt Lake
April 1907
CochanStern234135 feet31 feetYuma, Arizona
November 1899		Dismantled
Spring 1910
Cocopah IStern140 feet29 feetGridiron, Mexico
August 1859		Dismantled
1867
Cocopah IIStern231147.5 feet28 feetYuma, Arizona
March 1867		Dismantled
1881
Colorado IStern120 feetEstuary, Mexico
December 1855		Dismantled
August 1862
Colorado IIStern179145 feet29 feetYuma, Arizona
May 1862		Dismantled
August 1882
CometStern60 feet20 feetGreen River, Wyoming
July 1908		Abandoned
1908
EsmeraldaStern93 feet13 feetRobinson’s, Mexico
December 1857		Dismantled
1868
General JesupSide104 feet17 feetEstuary, Mexico
January, 1864		Engine Removed
1858
General RosalesSternYuma, Arizona
July 1878		Dismantled
1859
GilaStern236149 feet31 feetPort Isabel, Mexico
January 1873		Rebuilt as Cochan
1889
Major PowellScrew35 feet8 feetGreen River, Utah
August 1891		Dismantled
1894
Mohave IStern193135 feet28 feetEstuary, Mexico
May 1864		Dismantled
1875
Mohave IIStern188149.5 feet31.5 feetPort Isabel, Mexico
February 1876		Dismantled
Jan 1900
Nina TildenStern12097 feet22 feetSan Francisco, California
July 1864		Wrecked
September 1874
RettaStern36 feet6 feetYuma, Arizona
1900		Sunk
Feburary, 1905
St. VallierStern9274 feet17 feetNeedles, California
Early 1899		Sunk
March 1909
San JorgeScrew38 feet9 feetYuma, Arizona
June 1901		To Gulf
July 1901
SearchlightStern9891 feet18feetNeedles, California
December 1902		Lost
October 1916
Uncle SamSide4065 feet16 feetEstuary, Mexico
November 1852		Sunk
May 1853
UndineStern60 feet10 feetGreen River, Utah
November 1901		Wrecked
May 1902
Steamboats on the Colorado River 1852-1916 – Appendix A

Resources