Labor Day 2025 – Central Nevada Backroads Adventure
Over the long Labor Day weekend in 2025, I explored a fascinating stretch of central Nevada through Nye and Lander counties. From volcanic craters to old mining camps and stage stations, this remote loop delivered plenty of history and stunning desert scenery.
Tybo
Tybo is a well-preserved silver mining camp from the early 1870s. The town boomed quickly with stores, saloons, a school, and a large mill complex. Several stone and wooden buildings still stand along the main street, giving visitors a good feel for what life was like during its peak. The mine ruins up the canyon are also worth exploring. Tybo remains one of my favorite central Nevada ghost towns.
Lunar Crater
Lunar Crater is one of the most dramatic volcanic features in Nevada. This large maar crater was formed by a powerful steam explosion thousands of years ago. Standing on the rim and looking down into the barren bowl feels like you’ve stepped onto another planet. It’s easily accessible and makes for fantastic photos against the surrounding high desert landscape.
Silverton
Silverton was a small, short-lived silver mining camp in the hills. Like many early camps, it had a brief burst of activity before fading away. Today only scattered foundations and mining debris remain, but the site offers peaceful views and a quiet stop along the backroads.
Lockes
Lockes is a remote spot along the old highway with a handful of historic buildings and ruins. It once served as a small settlement and stage stop area. The location is a nice place to pull over, stretch your legs, and soak in the vast, open Nevada desert.
Kate Spring
Kate Spring provided reliable water in this dry region and supported a small settlement area. Located between Lockes and Grant City, it was a welcome resource for travelers and miners alike.
Grant City
Grant City was an early silver mining camp in the Grant Range, active in the 1860s and 1870s. The town had a respectable population during its heyday. Today visitors can find foundations, mine workings, and beautiful high-desert scenery in a scenic mountain setting.
Seymour & Central City
Seymour is a lesser-known mining site with limited visible remains. It’s a quick stop for those tracing the many small mining camps that once dotted this region. The surrounding countryside makes the detour worthwhile.
Central City was part of the broader silver boom that swept through central Nevada in the 1860s–1870s. Scattered ruins and mine tailings are all that remain of this once-active townsite. It’s a good example of the many hopeful mining communities that rose and fell in the area.
Troy
Troy lies in the Troy Mining District and features interesting ruins and remnants of mining activity. The drive into the area is scenic, and the site rewards those willing to explore a bit further off the main routes.
Project Faultless
Project Faultless is a unique Cold War landmark. In 1968, the Atomic Energy Commission conducted an underground nuclear test here as part of the Plowshare Program to explore peaceful uses of nuclear explosives. Interpretive signs explain the history of this remote and secretive site.
Moore’s Station
Moore’s Station was an important stage and telegraph stop on the old route. Remnants of the station and interpretive information help tell the story of travel and communication across central Nevada before automobiles dominated the landscape.
Pritchard’s Station
Pritchard’s Station is another early stage stop with limited but interesting ruins. These stations were lifelines for travelers and freight moving through the harsh desert terrain.
Learn more about Pritchard’s Station.
Morey
Morey is a quiet ghost town located in the beautiful Hot Creek Range. Founded in the 1870s for silver mining, it supported a post office and a small population. Foundations and mining relics scattered across the site make it a pleasant stop in a scenic mountain setting.
Hot Creek Charcoal Kilns
The Hot Creek Charcoal Kilns are impressive stone beehive structures built in the 1870s–1880s to supply charcoal for area mines and smelters. Several kilns still stand tall and are excellent examples of the industrial support infrastructure that fueled Nevada’s mining booms.
Hot Creek
Hot Creek offers a refreshing contrast to the surrounding arid landscape. Both the lower and upper sections feature riparian vegetation, small canyons, and ranching/mining history. It’s a peaceful spot to enjoy nature and the quiet beauty of central Nevada.
Hot Creek is a private ranch; permission is required to visit.
Keystone
Keystone was a small mining camp tied to the regional silver activity. Limited ruins and prospects remain, making it another interesting stop for ghost town enthusiasts exploring the backcountry.
Banner Lode
The Banner Lode area includes a few remote mining cabins with beautiful mountain views. The site gives a glimpse into the lives of prospectors who worked these isolated claims.
Pactolus
Pactolus is an obscure and lightly documented mining site. Remains are minimal, but it appeals to dedicated explorers tracing the many small camps that once filled these hills.
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