Delamar Ghost Town Road

The crumbling concrete foundations of the Delamar mill rise from the desert like ancient monuments, marking the end of a 12-mile dirt road that cuts through classic Nevada basin-and-range terrain. This route follows an old mining road to one of Nevada’s most isolated ghost towns, where gold fever killed more miners from silicosis than gunfights ever did. The final approach drops into Delamar Canyon past tailings piles and rusted machinery, ending at the haunting cemetery perched on a hillside overlooking the Pahranagat Valley.

The road demands high-clearance 4WD for the rocky sections and water crossings in the canyon, especially after winter rains when the normally dry washes can become impassable. Spring through fall offers the best conditions, but summer heat makes this a dawn or dusk run. No permits needed on this BLM route, but bring all your water and fuel—the nearest services are 45 miles away in Alamo. You’ll earn one of Nevada’s most authentic ghost town experiences, complete with mill ruins you can explore and cemetery headstones that tell the real story of the mining West.