Entry No. 94 — the Grand Junction file — filed under: mine
Old Black Diamond Mine
Tucked into the rugged Book Cliffs region north of Grand Junction, the Old Black Diamond Mine is a historic, inactive mine site dating back to the area's early resource booms. Originally worked for coal and later uranium, the site is surrounded by steep desert canyons and sparse vegetation. Today, only faint traces of the old workings, tailing piles, and rugged access paths remain in the wilderness.
The story
The Book Cliffs look like an impenetrable shale wall guarding the northern edge of Grand Junction, but early resource prospectors punched right into them anyway. The Old Black Diamond Mine was originally carved out to pull coal during the valley's early energy booms, tapping into the dark seams cutting through the canyon stone.
When the atomic age arrived and the Colorado Plateau transformed into ground zero for atomic fuel, miners doubled back to scrape the same rugged canyon terrain for uranium. Today, the machinery is gone and the high desert is quietly swallowing what's left. All that remains scattered across the steep canyon walls are faint traces of old workings, gray tailing piles, and eroded access tracks cut into sparse desert vegetation.
What it's like
Don't expect a visitor center or a paved turnout. Visiting means navigating the remote desert canyons north of town, where public land cuts across private parcels with very little signage. You're here to hike the surrounding public trails, photograph the sweeping vistas of the Book Cliffs, and spot the weathered scars of the old workings from a safe distance. Keep your boots on the trail— legal access to the hazardous underground shafts remains unconfirmed, and the surrounding land sits on private property boundaries.
The move: Drive north toward the Book Cliffs to hike the surrounding public trails, taking in the sweeping desert vistas and photographing the rugged canyon landscape from a safe distance.
📍 Before you go The mine is located in a remote, rugged canyon where surrounding land parcels are privately owned, and the exact legal public access to the hazardous underground workings remains unconfirmed.
- 📍 Old Black Diamond Mine
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Old Black Diamond Mine, Colorado 81506, USA
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.
Pair it with
- Book Cliff Mine — Pair two coal-era ruins tucked into the same cliffside terrain just 1.6 miles apart.
- Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Range — Trade abandoned mining scars for 36,000 acres of protected desert range where wild bands roam free behind Mount Garfield.
- Scallywags Bar and Grill — Dust the desert off your boots and head over to Orchard Mesa for a cold drink and five real pinball tables.
Good to know
Can you go inside the Old Black Diamond Mine?
No. The underground workings are hazardous, unconfirmed for legal public access, and potentially located on private land. You should observe all traces and tailing piles from a safe distance on public trails.
What was actually mined here?
The mine was initially opened for coal during Grand Junction's early industrial expansion and was later worked for uranium ore.
Is the area public or private land?
It is a patchwork. The mine sits in a remote canyon surrounded by private land parcels, so you need to double-check route maps and stay strictly on public trails.
What should I bring for a visit?
Treat it like a remote backcountry hike: bring plenty of water, sun protection, sturdy boots for loose shale, and a camera with a zoom lens.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: westernmininghistory.com · anyplaceamerica.com · realtor.com · cogenweb.org
last checked: 2026-07-20