10 Ghost Towns Near Reno

Discover 10 ghost towns near Reno that are yours for exploring

Sutro Tunnel

Distance from Reno: 45 Miles | 52 Minutes

Closest Town: Dayton

Road Conditions: Paved and accessible without 4WD

Highlights: Walk 50 feet into an underground mining pipeline

In the 1870s, the Sutro Tunnel was constructed as a drainage pipeline and underground exit route for miners working on the largest silver strike in history. Beginning in Virginia City, the tunnel snaked through almost four miles of mountains before terminating in Dayton. Now, thanks to the dedication of Friends of Sutro Tunnel, guided tours take folks into the first 50 feet of the tunnel. Outside the entrance, almost a dozen historic buildings—including a mule barn, carriage house, and machine shop—are on display, with more artifacts and structures set to be restored.

Fort Churchill State Historic Park

Distance from Reno: 48 Miles | 55 Minutes

Closest Town: Fernley

Road Conditions: Paved and accessible without 4WD

Highlights: Adobe army fort and Buckland Station

Fort Churchill State Historic Park is a former military fort dating back to 1861. Its adobe ruins have stood the test of time thanks to Nevada’s arid, high desert climate, and a number of sizable structures continue to impress. Nearby, Buckland Station offers a glimpse into early pioneer life.

This ghost town’s close proximity to Reno, NV, makes it perfect for short excursions and family day trips. Photographers flock here for golden hour and astrophotography, when the ruins come alive beneath wide-open skies. And with 3,200 acres along the Carson River, it’s a little slice of paradise for hikers, bikers, birdwatchers, anglers, canoers, campers, and even ghost hunters. That’s right: Fort Churchill is a rumored active paranormal hotspot, so follow the designated trails to get up close and personal with its spirited past.

Seven Troughs District

Distance from Reno: 121 Miles | 2.75 Hours

Closest Town: Lovelock

Road Conditions: High-clearance, 4WD vehicles recommended for two dirt road drives (one well maintained, one not) after getting off the highway

Highlights: Three ghost towns in one area

Consider it a win-win-win. The Seven Troughs District is home to three former boomtowns—Seven Troughs, Mazuma, and Tunnel. Destructive flash flooding put an end to mining operations in the area, especially after most residents chose to chase the next opportunity instead of rebuilding.

Several structures and ruins still stand today in Seven Troughs, including a stamp mill, miner cabins, and a handful of old cars. Nearby, Tunnel also boasts cabins and a stamp mill in addition to a large brick building and mine tailings. Only a few foundations are left in Mazuma, but visitors can find a cemetery in the area.

Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park

Distance from Reno: 158 Miles | 2.5 Hours

Closest Town: Fallon

Road Conditions: Paved and accessible without 4WD

Highlights: Tons of well-preserved ruins and ichthyosaur fossils

Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park delivers a double dose of adventure. This one-of-a-kind state park houses both a sprawling ghost town and the highest concentration of the largest ichthyosaur fossils ever found. 

Stroll the ruins of Berlin and you’ll see historic buildings, homes, mining structures, and relics of all kinds—including a must-see Model T and a genuine Westinghouse winch. Inside the Fossil House, you’ll get a peek at the up-to-50-feet-long marine reptiles that swam in the waters covering the Silver State 225 million years ago.

Candelaria Ghost Town

Distance from Reno: 180 Miles | 3 Hours

Closest Town: Hawthorne

Road Conditions: Pavement and 6 miles of dirt road accessible without 4WD

Highlights: Original Wells Fargo building and massive storm windows

Just off the Free-Range Art Highway, Candelaria’s convenient location makes it the perfect add-on to any adventure. This ghost town was lucratively mined for silver in the 1880s and the 1980s, and both its off-the-beaten-path location and more modern-day security helped preserve the site. 

Visit today to take in an original Wells Fargo building and a stone mercantile building with massive window frames still equipped with metal storm windows. More mining remains, cabins, and a cemetery await in the surrounding landscape.

Marietta Ghost Town

Distance from Reno: 181 Miles | 3.5 Hours

Closest Town: Hawthorne

Road Conditions: High-clearance, 4WD vehicles required after getting off the highway, along with the ability to navigate a paper map (no cell service)

Highlights: Boundary Peak and wild burros

Unlike most Nevada boomtowns, Marietta wasn’t in the business of mining gold or silver. Its wealth came from borax, a specialized salt used in cleaning, medicine, ceramics, and metallurgy. A few hundred residents called Marietta home after the 1877 borax discovery, but the town busted in the 1890s when better deposits were found near Death Valley. Today, you’ll find a handful of standing structures in good condition and a half dozen foundations, plus a cemetery.  

Shortly after turning onto dirt, you’ll be in the Marietta Wild Burro Range, a 66,500-acre tract of desert wilderness home to around 85 burros. Don’t forget your binoculars, as there are plenty of excellent vantage points to do some spotting. After winding down into an alkaline flat valley, you’ll be rewarded with a view of Boundary Peak—Nevada’s tallest mountain. The remains of Marietta are scattered along the north end of the valley.

Unionville Ghost Town

Distance from Reno: 156 Miles | 2.5 Hours

Closest Town: Lovelock or Winnemucca

Road Conditions: Pavement and 6 miles on a well-maintained dirt road

Highlights: Mark Twain’s cabin and the Old Pioneer Garden Country Inn

Founded in 1861, this little hamlet served as the county seat for Humboldt County, with a major boom between 1863 and 1870. While less than two dozen people reside here today, the town boasted a population of 1,500 in its heyday—including a short residency by Samuel Clemens (better known as Mark Twain). Typical to most boomtowns of the era, once the ore ran out, Unionville fell into a slow decline before retiring into something of a “living” ghost town.

Today, there are still plenty of ghost town remains to explore—including the picturesque remnants of the general store and Clemens’ cabin. Best of all, visitors can stay at the only business in town: Old Pioneer Garden Country Inn. This charming overnighter sits near a shaded creek and offers all the comforts of home in between bouts of exploring the town and verdant canyon.

Paradise Valley Ghost Town

Distance from Reno: 200 Miles | 3 Hours

Closest Town: Winnemucca

Road Conditions: Paved and accessible without 4WD

Highlights: Micca House

Prospectors originally came to this remote valley for the gold, but many stayed to farm hay in its fertile soil. That tradition continues to this day as descendants of the early settlers still live and work in this beautiful slice of northern Nevada. Plenty of old wood buildings survive in this historic community, making it a well-preserved relic of a 19th-century farm. 

The town and surrounding environs are still home to around 100 residents, so visitors will find a tiny—yet active—community here. Be sure to check out the Micca House, a historic home built in 1885 that went on to become a department store, post office, and government office. Afterwards, stop in at the Paradise Valley Saloon Bar & Grill (a legendary Sagebrush Saloon) for a Basque chorizo burger.

Midas Ghost Town

Distance from Reno: 227 Miles | 3.5 Hours

Closest Town: Winnemucca or Battle Mountain

Road Conditions: Pavement and 30 miles on a well-maintained dirt road

Highlights: Midas Saloon & Dinner House

Named for the mythological king whose touch turned everything to gold, the boomtown of Midas certainly lived up to its name for a short time. Between 1907-1908, it erupted into a tent town of around 2,000 residents. Mining kept the town afloat for the next four decades before most mines closed in the 1940s.

Like Unionville, Midas is still home to a handful of residents who work hard to maintain their historic community. When visiting, park on Main Street and check out the remains of an assay office, drug store, and a charming collection of false-front structures. Afterwards, relax with some comfort food and a refreshing beverage at the Midas Saloon & Dinner House.

Metropolis Ghost Town

Distance from Reno: 350 Miles | 5 Hours

Closest Town: Wells

Road Conditions: Pavement and 6 miles of well-maintained dirt road

Highlights: Schoolhouse archway

In 1909, East Coast investors purchased a parcel of the Nevada desert intending to build a modern farming town. In fact, much of the community was built in advance of the first residents, including a railroad station, sidewalks, streetlamps, fire hydrants, parks, and a four-block commercial district. 

Attracted by advertisements of cheap farmland, many settlers soon arrived, and the town reached a peak population of around 2,000. Unfortunately, the good times were not to last. Water is precious in the desert, and Metropolis’ proposed 40,000 acres of farmland left very little for other communities. In 1914, farmers downstream sued for water rights, and the young town was granted only 10 percent of the water it desired. Metropolis entered a slow decline and was abandoned by the 1940s. 

Park near the substantial ruins of the Hotel Metropolis. It’s a short walk to the town’s most conspicuous—and photogenic—landmark: the schoolhouse archway. Wander further past dozens of foundations and relics, and up the road, you’ll find a well-kept cemetery.