Lahontan Valley is the largest valley in Nevada. It was formed by Lake Lahontan, 20,000-9,000 years ago. The valley mostly consists of playa and the Carson Sink, terminus of the Carson River which flows from the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Lahontan Valley
Emigrants traveling to California during the Gold Rush crossed Lahontan Valley on the California Trail. The valley was referred to as the Forty-Mile Desert, a notoriously difficult and barren passage. Consumable water was not available for a forty mile stretch from the Humboldt to Carson Rivers. In 1850 the Forty-Mile Desert was already dotted with 953 graves and thousands of animal remains.
Lahontan Valley can be difficult to cross due to the playa and water from the Carson River. Several town and mining camps dotted the Stillwater Ranch including Coppereid, Cox Canyon and Shady Run.
Prospectors began exploring the Stillwater range in the late 1860s and in 1869 the White Could Mining District was formed. Mines required water for personal use and processing claims and travelers required fresh water at the north end of Lahonton Valley. Rockwell Station was developed and likely used as a station stop and water station.
A post office by the name of Clemens was established in October 29, 1892 to serve the north end of the valley. Mining declined and the post office was closed on June 26, 1895.
Today, Clemens remains an active well. Solar panels operate a well that fills stock tanks and a small pond for livestock use.
I visited Clemens with friends Shonna and Austin from Nevada Expeditions. We spent a day in the valley visiting Green and Wonderstone Mountains, Cox Canyon and Copperied. Don’t bother washing your vehicle before the trip, I had playa dust everywhere.
Visited: 3-7-2021
References
- Gamett, James & Paher, Stanley. Nevada Post Offices: An Illustrated History. Las Vegas: Nevada Publications, 1983. Page 50.
- Lincoln, Francis Church. Mining Districts and Mineral Resources of Nevada. Stanley Paher, 1982. Pages 13-14.
- Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology: Mineral Resource Inventory
- Nevada Expeditions: Clemens
- Paher, Stanley. Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps. Nevada Publications, 1970. Pages 91-93.
- Paher, Stanley. Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps: Volume 1 North. Nevada Publications, 2020. Page 24-27.
- Wikipedia: Lahontan Valley
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