header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
July 3
1925 - By letter, Wyatt Earp beseeches his friend William S. Hart to portray him in a movie, to correct the "lies about me." Hart never did. [story]
Hart-Wyatt Earp


Commentary by Linda A. Castro
| Thursday, Jun 16, 2016
burroschmidt03

LindaCastroThere is an odd and mysterious tunnel in the Mojave Desert, specifically in the El Paso Mountains east of Highway 14 and north of the Redrock-Randsburg Road.

The tunnel cuts through about a half-mile of solid granite and does not lead anywhere. It merely emerges on a high ledge in the middle of nowhere.

This tunnel stands as a monument to one man’s perseverance, grit, and perhaps bizarre obsession.

It is believed that William Henry Schmidt, better known as “Burro” Schmidt, began building this tunnel so he could provide transportation to the railroad for his ore more easily. He had chosen to mine for gold in a mountain that required him to use a treacherous trail to haul ore to the smelter.

He decided to bore through the mountain instead.

Some accounts are that Schmidt began digging his tunnel in 1902, while others say it was as late as 1906. It is believed he was about 36 when he began digging the tunnel and about 68 when he finished. Depending on which account is accurate, Schmidt spent anywhere from 32 to 38 years accomplishing the task of single-handedly drilling a tunnel nearly half a mile long.

What is even more amazing is that the only tools he used were picks, hammers, hand drills and dynamite. He could not afford kerosene and instead used candles; he would make one candle last an entire day.

burroschmidt01On many occasions, he was seriously injured by his dynamite explosions while digging the tunnel because he refused to pay for long fuses which were more expensive. This earned him the name of “Jackass Schmidt” by some of the locals – which led him to take on the name of “Burro” later in life.

Schmidt removed rubble from the tunnel with a wheelbarrow and even carried it out on his back. Eventually, he installed iron tracks and a mine cart to transport debris. His leveling method was a bowl of water on the ore cart track he put down.

Today the tunnel is dead straight for 2,000 feet, with a sharp turn at the end that exists above Koehn Dry Lake and the town of Cantil.

Despite the construction of a road in 1920 that eliminated the need for his tunnel, he continued to dig. No one knows if he ever struck gold, but when he finally reached the other side of the mountain and reached daylight in 1938, he simply walked away from his life’s work. He packed up and left the mountain and lived the last part of his life in nearby Ridgecrest.

burroschmidt02Was Schmidt crazy? Many people thought so, since Schmidt claimed to be obsessed and unable to stop until the job was done. However, many believe he was following a substantial vein of gold through the mountain.

If you visit the tunnel today, you can walk upright through the entire tunnel in about 30 minutes. You will see a memorial plaque to Schmidt and will be treated to a spectacular view at the end of the tunnel.

Burro Schmidt Tunnel can be accessed by a dirt road (EP15) that is best driven with a high-clearance 4×4 vehicle. Signage for the tunnel is minimal and can often be missed. For example, the makeshift sign on Highway 14 is low to the ground and does not resemble an official Bureau of Land Management sign. There is, however, an official BLM route sign that marks EP15 at its juncture with Highway 14.

 

 

Linda Castro is a nature enthusiast and animal lover.  She is the Desert Field Organizer for the California Wilderness Coalition and serves on the board of the SCV-based Community Hiking Club.  Her commentaries relate to California’s deserts.

 

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

61 Comments

  1. Kevin says:

    There’s definitely gold there. My brother and I walked through the tunnel 10 years ago and found gold on the ceiling just by shining a flashlight on it. Maybe someday we’ll find out how much gold the old man found.

  2. Brian says:

    GPS coordinates to the sign/turnoff would be tremendously helpful…

  3. Adam Beltran says:

    I wanna go see that

  4. Definitely worth a trip to see, take a flashlight though!

  5. Keith Wilson says:

    Went through the tunnel 35 years ago…there was a small building in front with pictures and artifacts there was a lady that would answer your questions along with a guest book you could sign.

  6. Justin Gomez says:

    “El Chapo’? maybe ?

  7. Roger Rompal says:

    Is that burro Schmidt tunnel

  8. Nick Pavelka says:

    Great place to stop with your dirtbike out there .I’ve talk to the lady before she passed away

  9. The Trona Railway runs near there and had a tunnel that closed due to a fire in the early 80s. Could be related.

  10. Johnny Vm says:

    Jessica Razo lets go here

  11. Terry Is this the one we went through?

  12. Dan Seeder says:

    Yes. Burro Schmidt tunnel.

  13. Do the rails run the whole way through??

  14. James King says:

    I wanna go explore, can we Wendi?

  15. Jason Greil says:

    Gerry McCarney, remember that weekend we went off roading and dirt biking and found this?

  16. Susan Mitchell says:

    I have been through it back in the 80s. Plan on taking our grandkids! Interesting

  17. Grant Moore says:

    Don’t hit your head lol

  18. This tunnel was.dug by hand by the husband of the lady nick Pavelka mentioned, she never could give a reason as to why he dug it tho

  19. El Chapo remember that his wife is in Lancaster in also is getting ready when he came to United States it’s going to be ready by the time he arrives to escape

  20. And also they used to be Area 51 back in the days

  21. Casey Payne is this the tunnel that you took Josh and I to?

  22. Danny Dang says:

    I was just in this mine a few weeks ago!

  23. Great story – what a Jackass (JUST KIDDING!)

  24. Isn’t this the tunnel in Death Valley ? The tunnel was dug by William Burro Schmidt. Dude miss calculated and realized he dug the wrong way I think. Crazy what one person can do with his bare hands.

    • Matt Skipper says:

      Schmidt tunnel is in Redrock park. He thought there was a vertical gold spike in the mountain so he dug sideways to try and hit it. There was no such spike. Like a week or so after he finished he died.

  25. Brian Moen says:

    Road dirt bikes there many times from Dove springs.

  26. Oh hell ya I would go in a heartbeat

  27. Be careful out there, we used to live at the base nearby. Some of the mines are still privately owned.

  28. Tommy Prada Joe Bogna Zane Cassidy Michael Coleman our next hike?

  29. Ron Wachter says:

    Digging this tunnel saved his life go on line and read the story. Burro Schmidt tunnle

  30. Zachary Finney, Cassie Allison, Steven Allison

  31. Tom Coulombe says:

    Been in that tunnel many times on desert rides. His Wife used to give us the tour and tell her husbands story. Classic. I think he was looking for gems or silver. Its only been about 27 years lol

  32. Been there many times!

Leave a Comment


Opinion Section Policy
All opinions and ideas are welcome. Factually inaccurate, libelous, defamatory, profane or hateful statements are not. Your words must be your own. All commentary is subject to editing for legibility. There is no length limit, but the shorter, the better the odds of people reading it. "Local" SCV-related topics are preferred. Send commentary to: LETTERS (at) SCVNEWS.COM. Author's full name, community name, phone number and e-mail address are required. Phone numbers and e-mail addresses are not published except at author's request. Acknowledgment of submission does not guarantee publication.
Read More From...
RECENT COMMENTARY
Monday, Jul 1, 2024
By day, the sounds of music and laughter fill the streets as we celebrate Independence Day in true Santa Clarita fashion with the annual Fourth of July Parade.
Thursday, Jun 27, 2024
“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul.”
Monday, Jun 24, 2024
The 2023-2024 school year has come to a close and along with it a very successful year of high school athletics.
Monday, Jun 24, 2024
I know I speak for everyone when I say the passing of firefighter Andrew Pontious in the line of duty just one week ago was heartbreaking.
Monday, Jun 24, 2024
As a city manager, father and community member — the safety of Santa Clarita residents will always be my top priority - especially on the roads.
Thursday, Jun 20, 2024
Every summer, Santa Clarita’s very own Central Park, located at 27150 Bouquet Canyon Road, transforms into a premiere venue for live musical performances where friends, families and neighbors come together to sing and dance the night away.

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1925 - By letter, Wyatt Earp beseeches his friend William S. Hart to portray him in a movie, to correct the "lies about me." Hart never did. [story]
Hart-Wyatt Earp
With an excessive heat warning in effect this week, the city of Santa Clarita strongly urges residents to prioritize heat safety and preparedness during the Fourth of July Parade and the holiday weekend.
Stay Cool, Safe During the Fourth of July Holiday
California State Sen. Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita) hs announced his bill to make wildfire settlement payments tax-free cleared its first hurdle in the Assembly, passing out of the Committee on Revenue and Taxation.
Wilk’s Bill to Make Wildfire Settlements Tax-free Clears First Assembly Committee
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) recently presented deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department with the highly esteemed MADD Award. This award recognizes their unwavering commitment to road safety and dedication to preventing the devastating consequences of drunk driving.
MADD Awards Presented to Pair of SCV Sheriff’s Station Deputies
The First Presbyterian Church of Newhall is hosting an eight-week grief and loss recovery group, scheduled to run 2-3:30 p.m. on eight consecutive Sundays, Sept. 15 through Nov. 3.
Sept. 15: Presbyterian Church Hosts Grief, Loss Recovery Group
The California Department of Motor Vehicles has introduced a new online case management system that provides faster response times. The modern digital system provides drivers, as well as their attorneys, with a more convenient way to interact with the Driver Safety office at the DMV.
DMV’s Driver Safety Team Provides New Online Access
The city of Santa Clarita has issued a traffic alert for residents traveling to Central Park, 27150 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91350.
Main Entrance to Central Park Closed for Parking Lot Paving
As an excessive heat warning descends upon portions of North County this week, including the Santa Clarita Valley, Los Angeles County officials remind SCV residents of county resources that bring free or low-cost heat relief.
County Offers Cooling Centers, Summer Pool Program
The Santa Clarita Valley opera company, Mission Opera opens its seventh Season Oct. 26-27 with "Cold Sassy Tree" by Carlisle Floyd, an American opera in English, based on the 1989 historical American novel by Olive Ann Burns.
Oct. 26-27: Mission Opera Presents ‘Cold Sassy Tree
Thanks to the cooperation and diligence of Santa Clarita Valley area residents and local agricultural officials, the California Department of Food and Agriculture, working in coordination with the United States Department of Agriculture and the Los Angeles County Agricultural Commissioner, has declared an end to the Tau fruit fly quarantine following the eradication of the invasive pest.
Tau Fruit Fly Quarantine Lifted in SCV
The Hello Auto Group has announced its third annual Back-to-School Backpack Drive. This year, the Hello Auto Group will partner with three Santa Clarita Valley school districts, Sulphur Springs Union School District, Newhall School District and Castaic Union School District, to support students preparing for the upcoming school year.
Hello Auto Group Launches Annual Back-to-School Backpack Drive
The Regal Summer Movie Express is underway offering family movies for $1 a ticket now through Aug. 7.
Family Movies $1 During Regal Summer Movie Express
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Missing Persons Unit investigators are asking for the public’s help locating At Risk Missing Person Tim Paul Hood.
LASD Seeks Public’s Help Locating Man Missing from Canyon Country
1869 - Sanford Lyon (as in Lyons Avenue) appointed postmaster of Petroliopolis (today's Eternal Valley Cemetery area) [story]
Sanford Lyon
As a high schooler, Angelina Zuniga Kramer accompanied her stepfather to construction sites where he worked, and it inspired her to dream big.
CSUN Students Find Stable Living Situations Through CREA Scholarship
The Los Angeles County Health Officer has issued an excessive heat warning for the Santa Clarita Valley Wednesday through Monday, July 8 as high temperatures have been forecast.
Triple Digit Heat Coming to SCV
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, the largest and most diverse amusement park operator in North America, announced Monday the successful completion of the merger of equals between Cedar Fair, L.P. and former Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, effective July 1, 2024.
Merger Between Six Flags, Cedar Fair Complete
Organizers for the Santa Clarita Shakespeare Festival summer camp were so blown away by the performances from its young actors in the Comedy of Errors, that the camp has decided to lower the age range of its next camp, which begins July 8.
Shakespeare Festival Summer Camp Lowers Age for Next Session
Mark your calendars for Agatha’s Murder Mystery Dinner Party, as it comes to The MAIN in Old Town Newhall Aug. 9, 10, 11 and Aug. 16, 17, 18.
‘Agatha’s Murder Mystery Dinner Party’ Coming to The MAIN in August
In preparation for the Independence Day holiday, the California Highway Patrol is launching a statewide enforcement effort aimed at keeping the public safe on our roads.
CHP Maximum Enforcement Period Launches Wednesday
Santa Clarita-based Lief Labs, a premier formulation and product development innovator and manufacturer of dietary supplements, welcomes Randy Rosinski as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), leading Lief’s Sales and Marketing departments and joining the Executive Leadership team.
SCV-Based Lief Labs Names Randy Rosinski CCO
Saugus High School Instrumental Music Booster Club is inviting the community to help those in need with its Clothes for Cash campaign beginning Saturday, July 6, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Saugus High Music Club Clothes for Cash Campaign Begins July 6
The city of Santa Clarita’s Film Office has released the list of six productions currently filming in the Santa Clarita Valley for the week of Monday, July 1 - Sunday, July 7.
Six Productions Filming in Santa Clarita
By day, the sounds of music and laughter fill the streets as we celebrate Independence Day in true Santa Clarita fashion with the annual Fourth of July Parade.
Ken Striplin | Enjoy Fourth of July Responsibly
SCVNews.com