Death Valley Ghost Towns & Mines

Death Valley, a land of stark beauty and unforgiving extremes, holds a secret history etched in the remnants of abandoned settlements and silent mines. Since the California Gold Rush ignited in 1848, this arid expanse has witnessed over a century and a half of dramatic boom-and-bust cycles fueled by the lure of mineral wealth. The hopeful prospectors who traversed this harsh landscape in 1849 could scarcely imagine the vast treasures of gold, silver, copper, and borax hidden within the mountains and beneath the valley floor, waiting to be unearthed. The echoes of their dreams and disappointments linger in the desolate Death Valley Ghost Towns & Mines, scattered like forgotten memories across the landscape.

The late 19th and early 20th centuries marked an era of sporadic mining endeavors in Death Valley. The region’s remote location and challenging environment hindered early development. The primitive technology, limited water and fuel resources, and daunting transportation logistics of the time made it economically viable to extract only the highest-grade ores. As a result, numerous settlements withered and vanished before the dawn of the 20th century, leaving behind names like Kasson, Rhodes Spring, Old Tecopa, Old Stovepipe Wells, Panamint City, and countless other forgotten mines. These early failures serve as a testament to the formidable obstacles faced by those who sought to conquer the desert’s riches. Yet, within this narrative of hardship and loss, there were glimmers of success.

One of the earliest triumphs in the Death Valley mining story was the Harmony Borax Works. From 1883 to 1888, this operation flourished, not for its precious metal deposits, but for its borax production. The Harmony Borax Works became synonymous with the iconic Twenty Mule Team wagons. These impressive teams of mules hauled massive loads of partially refined borax across the scorching desert, covering long distances to deliver their valuable cargo to the nearest railhead. The image of the Twenty Mule Teams became a symbol of Death Valley’s pioneering spirit and the relentless pursuit of economic opportunity.

The early 1900s saw a resurgence of interest in gold and silver mining, giving rise to a new wave of mines and settlements in the Death Valley region. Skidoo, Rhyolite (though technically just outside Death Valley), and Keane Wonder Mine emerged as large-scale operations, attracting significant investment and manpower. Boomtowns sprang up around these mines, bustling with activity and promise during the first decade of the 20th century. However, the Panic of 1907, a nationwide financial crisis, cast a shadow over the region’s prosperity. The economic downturn led to a decline in mining activity, and by around 1915, large-scale metal mining in Death Valley had largely come to an end. The fleeting boom left behind a legacy of abandoned infrastructure and the skeletal remains of once-thriving communities. These Death Valley Ghost Towns & Mines tell a story of ambition, hard work, and the unpredictable nature of fortune.

In February 1933, President Herbert Hoover signed a proclamation establishing Death Valley National Monument. This decision temporarily halted prospecting and the filing of new mining claims within the monument’s boundaries. However, due to prior agreements, Congress acted swiftly in June of the same year to reopen the monument to prospecting and mining activities. This reversal underscored the complex interplay between conservation efforts and the economic interests tied to the region’s mineral resources.

As mining technology advanced, enabling the processing of lower-grade ores, and new heavy equipment facilitated the movement of vast quantities of rock, mining operations in Death Valley underwent a transformation. Open-pit and strip mines for borax and talc began to dramatically alter the landscape. Multinational mining corporations acquired claims in highly visible areas of the national monument, leading to growing public concern about the environmental impact of these activities. The ensuing public outcry prompted increased protection measures for national park areas. In 1976, Congress passed the Mining in the Parks Act, effectively closing Death Valley National Monument to the filing of new mining claims. The act also banned open-pit mining and mandated that the National Park Service assess the validity of thousands of mining claims filed before 1976. Mining was permitted to resume on a limited basis in 1980, subject to stricter environmental regulations.

When the area was designated as Death Valley National Park in 1994, the park service gained jurisdiction over hundreds of additional unpatented mining claims. For the next decade, the Billie Mine, an underground borax mine located along the road to Dante’s View, was the only active mine within the park’s boundaries. In 2005, the Billie Mine ceased operations, marking the end of active mining in Death Valley National Park.

The legacy of mining in Death Valley is etched across the landscape in the form of over 100 ghost towns and mining camps. These remnants of a bygone era are gradually succumbing to the ravages of weather, vandalism, and neglect. The ruins of mills, metal and stone buildings, mine openings, and a few remarkably preserved townsites stand as silent witnesses to the dreams and struggles of the people who once called this unforgiving land home. Exploring these Death Valley Ghost Towns & Mines offers a unique glimpse into the region’s rich and complex history.

The Death Valley Ghost Towns & Mines are numerous, scattered across both California and Nevada. Here’s a glimpse into some of these locations, noting what remains at each:

Ghost Towns, Mining Camps, and Closed Mines:

• Amargosa, Nevada: Located east of Amargosa Valley, Nevada. Only the railroad foundation remains. (Note: The townsites of Original, Nevada, and Death Valley Junction, California, were also called Amargosa. Bullfrog, Nevada, was briefly called Amargosa City.)
• Amargosa Borax Works, California: Situated near Shoshone, California. Visitors can see the remaining foundations and low adobe walls.
• Arrastre Spring, California: Found on the eastern slope of the Panamint Mountains, overlooking Death Valley’s salt flats. Features an old, decaying arrastre (a primitive ore-grinding mill) and numerous petroglyphs.
• Ashford Mine and Mill, California: Located west of Shoshone, this site boasts several standing buildings and mining remnants.
• Ashton, Nevada: Situated southwest of Beatty, Nevada. Sadly, no remains are visible.
• Ballarat, California: Located northeast of Trona, California. A few residents remain, along with miners’ cabins, tumbling shacks, crumbling walls, and several foundations.
• Barker Ranch, California: Found within Death Valley National Park, offering ruins of a cabin and a small guest house.
• Beatty, Nevada: While not a ghost town, Beatty, located in Nye County, remains a vital part of Death Valley’s mining history.
• Bend City, California: Situated near Kearsarge, no visible remains exist.
• Beveridge, California: Located on the east side of the Inyo Mountain Range. Features mining remains and rock walls. This location is recommended only for experienced backpacking hikers due to its challenging terrain.
• Bonnie Claire, Nevada: Located northeast of Scotty’s Castle. This site has significant ruins and mining remnants.
• Bowlerville, Nevada: Located a few miles south of the Johnnie Mine in Nye County, Nevada. No remains can be found.
• Browne’s Camp, Nevada: Located in Nye County, Nevada, no remains are present.
• Bullfrog, Nevada: Near Rhyolite, Nevada. Remains include an icehouse, jail, and some small ruins. A cemetery is nearby.
• Bullfrog Mines, Nevada: Located near Rhyolite, Nevada. Some mining remains can be observed.
• Bullfrog Mining District, Nevada: Located in Nye County, Nevada, near Beatty. This district contains many mining remains and ghost towns, including Rhyolite, the Queen City of the district.
• Carrara, Nevada: Situated south of Beatty, Nevada. A few foundations are visible.
• Cartago, California: Located approximately three miles northwest of Olancha, California. This is a semi-ghost town with about 100 residents.
• Cerro Gordo, California: Near Keeler, California, numerous remains can be found. Checking in with the caretaker is recommended.
• Charleston City, Nevada: Located in Nye County, Nevada. Only rubble from the water tank remains.
• Chloride City, Nevada: Situated southwest of Beatty, Nye County, Nevada. Mining remnants are visible.
• Chrysopolis, California: Located south of Aberdeen, California. Visitors can find loose stone walls and mine tunnels.
• Claire Camp, California: About six miles east of Ballarat in Pleasant Canyon. Features a mill site and living quarters for the Radcliffe Mine, tram towers, and cables.
• Coso Junction, California: Located about 3.5 miles northeast of Ridgecrest, California. Likely no remains are present. Located within the boundaries of the United States Naval Weapons Center at China Lake.
• Cottonwood Charcoal Kilns, California: Located 14.4 miles south of Lone Pine on U.S. Highway 395. Two charcoal kilns were used by the Cerro Gordo mines.
• Currie Well, Nevada: Located north of Rhyolite, Nevada. Visitors can find debris, a low stone wall, and the ruins of a small beehive furnace.
• Darwin, California: Located approximately 24 miles southeast of Keeler, California. Many buildings and mining remains exist. The town is still occupied by about 50 people.
• Death Valley Junction, California: Located at the intersection of SR 190 and SR 127, just east of Death Valley National Park. The town still has many buildings.
• Dolomite, California: Located on California State Route 136 between Lone Pine and Keeler, California. Some old buildings and a working mine are present. The site is located on private property with no access.
• Dublin Gulch, California: Located in Shoshone, California. Dugouts are present on the side of clay cliffs.
• Dunmovin, California: Located south of Olancha, California. The site has several old buildings.
• Eagle Borax Works, California: Located south of Bennett’s Well, California. Only low foundations remain.
• Echo, California: About four miles southwest of Lee, California. No remains are present. Requires 4-wheel drive.
• Emigrant Springs, California: Located about seven miles northwest of Harrisburg, California. A few mining remnants exist.
• Furnace, California: Located 6.5 miles northwest of Funeral Peak. No remains can be found.
• Furnace Creek Inn, California: Located in Furnace Creek, California. Is now an operating resort with a borax museum.
• Furnace Creek Ranch, California: Located in Furnace Creek, California. Is an operating resort.
• Gladstone Mine, California: See Kasson, California. Very little remains.
• Gold Bar, Nevada: Near Rhyolite, Nevada. Mining remains and large mill foundations are visible.
• Gold Center, Nevada: Located near Tonopah, Nevada. Visitors can find the foundations of a stamp mill and brewery.
• Gold Hill Mining District, California
• Goldbelt Spring, California: Once located southeast of Teakettle Junction. Very little remains today. The actual spring is marked by an old dump truck.
• Gold Valley, California: About ten miles south of Greenwater, California. Visitors can see very little tailings and leveled tent sites.
• Grant, California: Located 1 ½ miles south of Olancha. A few old buildings are present.
• Greenwater, California: About 27 miles southeast of Furnace Creek, California. None at new Greenwater; a few at the original site of Kunze.
• Greenwater Mining District, California: About 27 miles southeast of Furnace Creek, California. Very little remains.
• Harmony Borax Works, California: About a mile north of the Furnace Creek Visitor Center along Highway 190. Ruins of the refinery, outbuildings, and a 20-mule team wagon are present.
• Harrisburg, California: About two miles down the dirt road to Aguereberry Point off Highway 178. Nothing of the townsite, but Aguereberry’s camp and mine remain.
• Ibex Springs, California: About two miles south of Ibex Pass. Buildings, mining ruins, a stamp mill, and a smelter can be found.
• Inyo Mine, California
• Johnnie, Nevada: Located 16 miles north of Pahrump, Nevada. Many remains exist, but the site is located on private property, which allows no visitors.
• Kasson, California: About 12 miles northwest of the old town of Tecopa, California. A few stone buildings are present.
• Keane Springs, California: East of Furnace Creek, California. A few mining ruins are visible.
• Keane Wonder Mine, California: East of Furnace Creek, California. Many remains exist; however, the site is closed by the National Park due to instability.
• Kearsarge, California: High on Kearsarge Peak. No remains can be found.
• Keeler, California: Located 11.5 miles southeast of New York Butte, California. It is a semi-ghost town with current residents.
• Keynot, California: North of Beveridge, California. Mining remnants are visible. Access should only be made by experienced backpackers.
• Kunze, California: About 27 miles southeast of Furnace Creek, California. A rock dugout, low rock walls, and mining remnants can be found.
• Laws, California: Four miles north of Bishop, California. Is now a museum and historic site with many buildings.
• Leadfield, California: On the Titus Canyon Road. Scattered mining remains are visible. Requires 4-wheel drive.
• Lee, California/Nevada: At the California/Nevada state line, 30 miles south of Rhyolite. Stone walls and foundations, mine shafts and tunnels, and rubble can be found.
• Leeland, Nevada: About 17 miles south of Beatty, Nevada. A foundation and railroad debris are present.
• Lila C/Old Ryan: Located 6.25 miles southwest of Death Valley Junction, California. Only tailings remain.
• Little Lake, California: 38 miles south of Keeler on U.S. Route 395. None.
• Long Street Cabin, Nevada: Located in the National Wildlife Refuge in Amargosa Valley, Nevada. A reconstructed cabin is present.
• Lookout City, California: About 15 miles southeast of Panamint Springs, California. Low walls, foundations, and mining ruins are visible. Accessible by 4-wheel drive only.
• Loretto, California: Off of Loretto Mine Road, southeast of Deep Springs, California. Remains include low stone walls, mining portals, and equipment.
• Manse Ranch, Nevada: Near Pahrump, Nevada. A ranch and dairy farm are present.
• Mexican Camp, Nevada: 13 miles west of Rhyolite, Nevada. None
• Monarch Canyon Mine, Nevada: West of Beatty about 17 miles – requires about a one-mile hike – Many – Mill, machinery, adits, foundations.
• Original, Nevada: Near Rhyolite, Nevada. None
• Panamint City, California
• Pioneer, Nevada: Near Rhyolite, Nevada. Some mining remains are visible.
• Rose’s Well, Nevada: 17 miles south of Beatty – Ruins of the well
• Ryan, California: 14.6 miles southeast of Furnace Creek Ranch, California – Numerous old buildings and mining remains.
• Rhyolite, Nevada: 5 miles west of Beatty – Many buildings
• Scotty’s Castle, California: Esmeralda County, Death Valley National Park – Mansion and outbuildings
• Skidoo, California
• Springdale, Nevada: 10 miles north of Beatty, Nevada – Mansion and outbuildings
• Stirling, Nevada: 20 miles north of Pahrump, Nevada – Scant remains.
• Strozzi Ranch, Nevada: 16 miles northwest of Rhyolite, Nevada – Old cabin, shacks, fencing, fruit trees.
• Telluride, Nevada: 4.5 southeast of Beatty, Nevada – A few mine tailings
• Transvaal, Nevada: 12 miles north of Rhyolite, Nevada – Mine dumps
• Willow Creek, California: About ten miles south of Greenwater, California – Very little, tailings, leveled tent sites.

Exploring the Death Valley Ghost Towns & Mines offers a poignant reminder of the transient nature of prosperity and the enduring power of the desert landscape. These silent ruins stand as a testament to the human ambition, resilience, and ultimately, the humbling force of nature.

Updated March 2025.