#4 - Champion Spark Plug Mine Trail
White Mountains WildernessLength: 3.2 mi • Est. 1 h 17 m
This is a difficult trail from Black Eagle Camp of the Champion Spark Plug Mine. The Champion Spark Plug mine is also known as the Jeffrey Mine. As of 2020, several switchbacks on the East side of the original trail have been washed away by very loose talus accumulations. This necessitates a bypass from mile 0.9 to 1.0 that consists of a scramble up some loose rocks. It is probably unsafe, and there may be a better bypass somewhere else, but this trail shows the route I chose. Please assess your own safety and risk tolerance before and during this hike. At the end of this trail is a building built on the side of a cliff, as well as some mines, and tunnels through the mountainside.
Getting to the trail: It starts out as double track, but eventually transitions to single track. Once you see the old mining camp buildings, you have reached Black Eagle Camp (the trailhead for this trail). The cabins are dirty, but come with beds, blankets, and stoves, and there are two outhouses. There is a stream, and several water filters stored in the mining town. If you brought propane, you can cook, and there are a couple of outhouses. Please leave it nicer than you found it.
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