Wildrose Charcoal Kilns

Death Valley National Park, CA

Wildrose Charcoal Kilns are situated at 6890 feet in the Panamint Mountains, along Charcoal Kiln Road in Death Valley National Park. There are a total of ten beehive-shaped stone kilns at the site, each are about 100 feet in diameter and 25 feet tall. The Wildrose Charcoal Kilns were completed in 1877 by the Modoc Consolidated Mining Company and were in operation, intermittently, until around 1879. Charcoal produced at the Kilns, burning local pinyon and juniper, was used in operations at the nearby smelters. 

In 2024, Cornerstones entered into an agreement with the National Park Service to provide a series of preservation workshops aimed at stabilizing and repointing the stone kilns. Over the years, material loss and mortar erosion have left the kilns vulnerable to weather and moisture penetration. To prevent further deterioration of the Kilns, Cornerstones’ master stone mason, Alan Ash, will lead masonry training workshops focused on repointing the Kilns using a compatible NHL mortar and replacing missing areas of missing stone. Work on-site will begin in the spring of 2026 and continue through the coming years. 

2026 Volunteer Opportunity Info

Location and Background

The Wildrose Charcoal Kilns are in a very remote setting in Death Valley National Park, CA.

Cornerstones will be working to remove inappropriate portland cement mortars and repair the

Charcoal Kilns using a traditional hot lime mortar.

Scope of Work

  • Remove cement mortars

  • Repoint stone mortar joints with a lime-based mortar

  • Limited stone reconstruction

  • Harvesting stone and clay from nearby areas

  • Scaffolding a domed structure

Volunteer Requirements

This job is physically demanding and participants should be able to comfortably lift 35lbs

repeatedly. We will work approximately 7:30-5pm (includes time driving to site) each day.

Ideally, volunteers will join for a full session, but some exceptions can be made. We are hoping

to have 3-4 volunteers at a time. Priority will go to those who can join for longer periods of time.

Below are the listed work sessions for volunteers:

Sept 25-29, 2026

Oct 1-6, 2026

Oct 15-20, 2026

Oct 22-27, 2026

**Dates do not include travel, volunteers should plan to arrive by noon on the first day

(Sept 25, Oct 1, Oct 15, Oct 22) and leave the day after the session ends (Sept 30, Oct 7, Oct

21, Oct 27).

Volunteers will receive a free campsite at Wildrose Campground, including access to a pit toilet.

There will be very limited electricity, limited cell service and internet. We will have a communal

camp kitchen, starlink internet and batteries to charge devices, and other shared equipment.

Some volunteers may be eligible for a stipend to help cover expenses.

Please contact Issac Logsdon at issac@cstones.org if you are interested!


 

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