Nevada’s landscape is stitched with the bones of boomtowns; mining camps, railroad stops, and hopeful homesteads that sprang up overnight and faded just as fast. If you love wide skies, old brickwork, and the storytelling that happens when you stand where history happened, Northern Nevada has excellent, and surprisingly accessible, ghost towns to explore. Below are a few that are easy to reach in Northern Nevada, a short history for each, and practical ways to enjoy them using Leave No Trace ethics and the rules that protect our shared heritage.
Tuscarora | A Stubborn Survivor
Tuscarora sits in Elko County and began after word of a gold strike in 1867. At one point during its 19th-century boom it supported thousands of miners, mills, and businesses; later cycles of activity and quiet left the town with the weathered wooden buildings and mill ruins you can still see today. Although it slowed from a true boomtown, Tuscarora never completely disappeared, there’s still a small living community nearby and lots of visible historic fabric to imagine life here in the 1800s.
Metropolis | The Agricultural Experiment that Failed
Metropolis (near Wells) is not a mining boomtown so much as a failed agricultural colony. Founded in 1910 by a reclamation company that hoped dry-land farming would succeed here, the town grew infrastructure (school, hotel, store) but the climate and economics didn’t cooperate. By the 1920s most settlers left; today you’ll find the ruins of the school, hotel foundations, and a small cemetery.
Ruby Hill | The Mining Camp Near Eureka
Ruby Hill grew up in the 1870s around rich silver and lead strikes near Eureka. The boom peaked in the late 1870s; later revivals occurred but natural events (like a 1910 storm that washed out a railroad) and the usual market swings led to decline. Today Ruby Hill’s remains sit close to Eureka and give a vivid sense of the mining economy that powered much of Nevada’s early development.
Belmont — Classic 1860s Silver Era
Belmont (south of Tonopah regionally, often included in central/northern Nevada routes) was a silver boomtown whose discoveries helped shape Nevada’s reputation in the 1860s and 1870s. Brick archways, graveyards, and the old saloon ruins make it one of Nevada’s more photogenic ghost towns, and you can still feel the scale of that 19th-century boom walking the historic center.
Jarbidge | Remoteness and Frontier Stories
Up near the Idaho line, Jarbidge is famous for its remoteness and for being one of the last places in Nevada to see a big gold rush. It’s rugged country, snow can hang late and the access roads are often rough, but the town’s wooden storefronts and mountain setting are unforgettable. Jarbidge also illustrates the human side of frontier life, including conflicts and hardships that accompanied mining in isolated country.
Leave No Trace at Ghost Towns
Ghost towns are cultural sites: many are on public BLM land or state land and are protected by laws and policies that prohibit collecting artifacts and damaging sites. The following are both Leave No Trace principles and concrete practices recommended by BLM and preservation agencies.
1. Leave artifacts where you find them
Do not take bottles, nails, tools, or other historic objects. Removing artifacts destroys the story the site tells and in many places is illegal without a permit. If you want a memento, take photos (or a quick sketch), not the object.
2. Don’t enter unstable buildings
Old foundations, collapsed roofs, and rotten floors are hazardous. Many ghost-town structures are dangerous; admire them from a safe distance and discourage any kids in your group from running in and out of doorways. Guides and park managers often note that ghost towns are not theme parks, treat them seriously.
3. Travel and park on durable surfaces
Use established roads and parking areas. Off-road driving damages historic landscapes and fragile soils. BLM regulates routes and Designated OHV routes must be respected. Park so your vehicle doesn’t block emergency or maintenance access.
4. Pack it in, pack it out
Bring all trash and food waste home. Even seemingly biodegradable items (banana peels, bread) attract animals and change local ecosystems and wildlife behavior. Follow the Leave No Trace “Pack it out” ethic.
5. Respect signage and private property
Some sites sit on private land or have areas closed to visitors for safety or preservation reasons. Observe signs, gates, and any posted rules. If in doubt, contact the local BLM or county visitors’ office before you go.
6. Be mindful of archaeology and Native cultural sites
Ghost-town areas can overlap with older archaeological sites or places of cultural significance. Don’t disturb rock art, shelter sites, or artifacts; report discoveries to BLM or the State Historic Preservation Office rather than removing them. It’s illegal to collect archaeological or historic resources on public lands without a permit.
7. Plan for safety and remoteness
Cell coverage is unreliable in much of northern Nevada. Bring water, a basic first-aid kit, spare tires, extra fuel, maps (paper and digital), and tell someone your route and expected return. Ghost towns are often near old mine shafts and open pits, stay alert and keep pets and kids close.
Responsible Ghost Town Experiences
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Photography outings: shoot at golden hour and leave the site exactly as you found it.
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History walks: bring a short printout or guidebook and read historical notes instead of rearranging things for a staged photo.
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Citizen reporting: if you find significant vandalism or unsafe hazards, report them to BLM or the county historic office.
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Support local museums: many nearby towns have small museums that preserve local collections, visit those to deepen your understanding and support preservation.
Ghost-town visiting is an amazing way to touch Nevada’s past, but it’s a privilege that depends on care. Use Leave No Trace principles as your baseline (they apply everywhere), respect federal and state protections for historic sites, and treat these places as classrooms and archives—beautiful, fragile, and worth passing on to the next visitor intact.
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