Eastern Nevada Overlanding Adventure: Ghost Towns, Mines & Trails
- Jens Brown
- Feb 22
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 1
In February 2025 I joined the OffRoad Overland Camping crew and Ron Channels for a run through Eastern Nevada. The plan was straightforward: explore old mines, ghost towns, and the kind of remote desert backcountry where you don’t see another soul for hours.
Getting There: Eastern Nevada’s Remote Backcountry
We met up north of Las Vegas along the Great Basin Highway. It’s one of those stretches of road that feels like it could go on forever — desert floor on either side, mountain ranges in the distance, and not much else. Everyone in the group had their rigs fueled, radios checked, and gear strapped down. Out here, the towns are few and far between, and once you leave pavement you’re on your own.
Eastern Nevada doesn’t ease you in. It’s wide-open country, dry and rugged, where the old mining roads cut through terrain that hasn’t changed much since the 1800s.
Exploring Ghost Towns & Mines (Comet, Delamar, Ghost Mine)
Our first stops took us straight into the mining past. The Comet Mine was active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, one of many small operations that sprang up during Nevada’s silver and gold rushes. What’s left today are collapsed shafts, rusting equipment, and scattered timbers. Standing among the ruins, it’s easy to imagine the smoke and clamor that once filled the canyon.
We made camp that first night high in the mountains near Comet Mine. The temperature dropped fast, and a light snow started to fall. Around the fire, the group settled in — swapping stories, warming hands, and testing our mettle against the cold. It was a mix of camaraderie and grit, the kind of night that reminds you why shared hardship is part of the fun. The Nevada night sky opened up between clouds, clear enough to show a horizon full of stars.
The next day, we visited the Delamar Cemetery. The nearby town of Delamar earned the nickname “The Widowmaker” because miners inhaled quartz dust that led to deadly silicosis. At its peak in the 1890s, the town had over 1,500 residents, a hospital, and dozens of saloons.
By the early 1900s the ore had run out, and today only stone foundations and weathered graves remain. Walking through the cemetery brings that history into sharp focus.
Later, we explored Ghost Mine and the remains of another small town — more reminders of Nevada’s boom-and-bust cycle. These were communities built almost overnight, then abandoned just as quickly when the money dried up.
The Matterhorn Trail: Rugged Driving Near Logandale
The highlight of the run was driving the Matterhorn Trail near Logandale. It cuts through sharp ridges and sandstone formations, with rocky sections that force you to pick your lines carefully. It isn’t extreme rock crawling, but it does demand attention. The reward is sweeping views over the valleys — the kind you only get after putting in the miles.
We also passed through Caliente, a small town with a railroad past. Founded in the early 1900s, it became an important service hub for the Union Pacific line. The mission-style depot, built in 1923, still stands today and remains one of the most distinctive railroad buildings in the state. Unlike the mining towns, Caliente endured because the rails kept it connected.
Wrap Up: Overlanding Across Nevada’s Harsh Desert
By the end of the trip, we had logged hundreds of miles across dirt tracks and open desert, explored the remains of towns long abandoned, and camped in conditions that reminded us how unforgiving the desert can be. Eastern Nevada doesn’t polish its history — it leaves it scattered across the land in timbers, stone, and rust. That rawness is what makes it worth exploring.
Overlanding here isn’t just about the drive. It’s about tracing the stories of people who tried to carve out a life in one of the West’s harshest landscapes — and sharing campfire moments that stick with you long after the rigs are packed and the trails behind you.
Key Stops & History
Comet Mine — Small silver and gold operation active in the late 1800s. Now mostly collapsed shafts and rusting debris.
Delamar & Cemetery — Once a bustling mining town of 1,500, nicknamed “The Widowmaker” due to deadly quartz dust. Abandoned by the early 1900s.
Ghost Mine & Town — Another short-lived settlement that flared up during the boom, then emptied as quickly as it rose.
Matterhorn Trail (near Logandale) — Rugged sandstone route with technical driving and wide valley views.
Caliente — Railroad town founded in the early 1900s. Survived thanks to the Union Pacific line and still marked by its 1923 mission-style depot.
Trail Notes
Length: Roughly 150–200 miles total, including pavement and dirt sections. Long distances between fuel stops.
Difficulty: Moderate. Mix of graded desert roads, rocky mining tracks, and technical spots on the Matterhorn Trail. High-clearance 4x4 recommended.
Best Season: Fall through spring. Summers are dangerously hot, and higher elevations can see snow in winter.
Time Needed: A long weekend. Allow time for slow travel on dirt and walking through the ghost town ruins.
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