Rand Mining District
The Rand Mining District consists of the communities of Randsburg, Johannesburg, Atolia, and Red Mountain. The discovery of gold in 1895 at the site of the Yellow Aster Mine resulted in the emergence of these boom towns. During the life of the Yellow Aster Mine, $16 million dollars in profit was returned to the operators.
During World War One, the area was mined for tungsten and scheelite ores, an important material for the creation of hardened steel used for the war effort. In 1919, a year after the war’s end, silver was discovered on Red Mountain. The resulting silver rush saw the creation and operation of more than 100 mines in the area by 1920. No longer in operation, the Yellow Aster Mine can be viewed from the Red Mountain Road. At the 3-mile point, a small “Point of Interest” sign guides you up the mountain to an information kiosk that tells the history of the mine and overlooks the mine itself.
Randsburg, a “living ghost town,” features a saloon, general store, museum (open weekends only), and several shops, restaurants, and a bed-and-breakfast. There is also a convenient OHV parking lot maintained by Friends of Jawbone. Paved roads, graded roads, and BLM Trail R110 end at the pavement one block west of the saloon. Gas is available in Johannesburg.
Please slow down and drive safely when around people and businesses.
- Cottage Inn Randsburg: Bed & Breakfast:
(760) 495-2069 - Randsburg General Store:
Open Monday – Saturday | 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sundays | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
(760) 374-2143 - Randsburg Inn:
(760) 374-2332
randsburginn.com - Rand Desert Museum:
Open Weekends and Holidays
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
(760) 371-0965

You can find this discovery point via GPS at N35.3681, W117.6565, or in section G-13 with the Jawbone Canyon OHV Map.
Dedicated to Ed Waldheim

Founder of the Friends of Jawbone (FOJ)
Friends of Jawbone is a non-profit corporation under section 501(c)(3). If you or your business would like to support Friends of Jawbone, please click here.
Special Thanks To:
Please join us in thanking our Supporters:
Sponsors of our 27th Moose Anderson Day:
Bakersfield UTV & Stereo
California Outdoor Recreation Foundation
CSI Electric
Desert Search and Rescue
Dirt & Destroy
Doug Varner
Funtime ATV Rentals
Happy Trails Data Management
High Desert 4 Wheelers
Indian Wells Brewing Company
J’s Maintenance
Jawbone Canyon Store
Jawbone Channel
Karl’s Hardware
Living Desert Zoo
Peak Productions
Precise RV Rentals
Rinco
RSI
Rocking MM Enterprises
Viking Bags
X-West
Bakersfield UTV & Stereo
Desert Search and Rescue
Doug Varner
Happy Trails Data Management
Indian Wells Brewing Company
Jawbone Canyon Store
Karl’s Hardware
Peak Productions
Rinco
Rocking MM Enterprises
X-West
Shaw Charitable Fund
PIONEER MEMBERSHIP
If you would like to sponsor this year’s events or a future event, please contact us at:
(760) 373-1146