Nevada Ghost Town Rides
Nevada ghost towns make tempting ATV and UTV destinations, but a historic building on a map does not automatically mean you can ride right up to it. Routes may cross private claims, protected land, or roads closed to motorized travel. This guide explains how to choose a ride, check access, and plan a safer trip to ghost-town country.
How to Plan a Nevada Ghost Town Ride
Choose a town and a legal riding area separately
Start by picking the historic destination, then plan the ride around routes that are open to motorized vehicles. These are two different decisions. A ghost town may be accessible by public road but not connected to a legal off-highway vehicle route. Or a trail may pass nearby without allowing riders to enter the historic site itself.
Nevada’s mining history is spread across enormous, sparsely populated areas. Places such as Rhyolite near Beatty, Gold Point south of Goldfield, Belmont in Nye County, and Berlin in central Nevada can look close together on a state map while being separated by long distances, rugged roads, and limited services. Don’t assume you can make a casual loop between them in one day.
Use official land-management maps and local information to understand which routes are open. The guide to [Riding BLM Land in Nevada] explains why being on public land is not the same as having permission to ride anywhere across it. Travel plans should follow designated routes and respect closures, private property, and posted restrictions.
Use maps to confirm access, not just distance
A navigation app can help you visualize a route, but a line on a screen is not proof that it is legal or passable. Check road and trail status with the responsible land manager, and compare your proposed route with official travel-management information. The [Using the Nevada Trail Finder] guide is a useful starting point for locating riding areas and exploring route information.
Some riders use onX Offroad to review mapped routes, save trip details, and prepare for limited cell service. Treat it as a planning aid rather than the final word on access: confirm closures and motorized-use rules through the relevant public agency before you go. Download maps for offline use, and make sure everyone in the group knows which route is the approved one.
It also helps to study a broader [Nevada Trail Maps Worth Downloading] before choosing a particular town. Look for route designations, land boundaries, trailhead locations, and places where roads end or change status. If a map is unclear, contact the local office instead of treating uncertainty as permission.
Match the destination to the trip
A ghost-town ride can mean a short outing near a developed community or a remote day with few services and no reliable phone signal. Be honest about your group’s experience, vehicle range, and appetite for rough terrain. A scenic destination is not worth pushing a machine, passenger, or rider beyond their limits.
For a first outing, choose a route with a straightforward return plan and nearby support. For a more remote trip, plan fuel, water, navigation, recovery gear, and a check-in schedule before leaving. [Nevada Ghost Towns You Can Ride To] can help you think about destinations, but you still need to verify the current route and riding rules for the specific place you choose.
Ghost Town Areas to Consider
Not every historic Nevada town is a ride-through destination. Some are best visited by road vehicle or on foot, while riding happens on nearby routes where it is permitted. These examples can help you narrow your search, but always confirm the exact access conditions before setting out.
| Area | Nearby base or landmark | Planning consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Rhyolite | Beatty and the Goldwell Open Air Museum | Visit the historic area by an appropriate public access route; verify where motorized riding is allowed |
| Gold Point | Goldfield and Lida Junction region | Remote desert setting; check the route, property boundaries, and fuel plan |
| Belmont | Central Nye County | Historic buildings and surrounding roads require separate access checks |
| Berlin | Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park | State park rules apply; confirm where OHVs may be operated before bringing a machine |
| Nelson | Eldorado Canyon and the Colorado River region | Some attractions and roads have specific access arrangements; don’t assume a public trail enters private sites |
| Delamar | East of Pioche | Remote mining country with substantial route, hazard, and navigation considerations |
Rhyolite and the Beatty area
Rhyolite is one of the best-known historic sites in Nevada, near Beatty and the Goldwell Open Air Museum. Its proximity to town can make it seem like an easy place to incorporate into an ATV outing. Still, distinguish between driving to the historic area, riding on an open route nearby, and operating an OHV within the site. Those are not interchangeable activities.
A practical plan is to arrange the historic-site visit separately from the off-road ride unless you have confirmed that the route and destination are open to your vehicle. Check local access information, obey signs, and park only where permitted. If your group wants to explore the old buildings or artwork, walking from an appropriate parking area may be the right choice.
Beatty is also a useful place to organize supplies and confirm your route before heading into the desert. Don’t count on finding fuel, water, repairs, or a working phone signal once you leave town. Build the ride around a clear turnaround point rather than assuming every road visible on a map continues through.
Gold Point and the Goldfield region
Gold Point sits in remote mining country south of Goldfield. Its isolation is part of the appeal, but it also means a ride needs more deliberate preparation than a quick trip from a busy trailhead. Study the access road, check whether your planned route crosses private land or mining property, and avoid treating old mine tracks as public riding routes.
Goldfield can serve as a practical place to orient yourself and check supplies, but don’t assume that roads between Goldfield, Gold Point, and other historic locations are suitable for every ATV or UTV. Conditions can vary with weather, maintenance, and surface type. A route that looks manageable for a full-size vehicle may be difficult for a lower-clearance machine, and a rough road may not be an approved OHV trail.
Keep your intended route conservative, especially if your group is unfamiliar with the area. Save an offline map, share your itinerary with someone who is staying behind, and set a firm turnaround time. For this kind of trip, [Water and Fuel Planning in Nevada] is not a minor checklist item; it can shape which route is reasonable in the first place.
Belmont, Berlin, and other historic sites
Belmont is a historic mining town in Nye County, while Berlin is part of Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park. Both can be appealing additions to a central Nevada trip, but each requires its own access check. A route that reaches the general area does not necessarily authorize OHV use within a historic district or park.
At Berlin, check the park’s rules before planning to ride through or near the historic site. State parks can restrict where vehicles may travel, and protected resources need to be left undisturbed. The safest plan may be to trailer to a suitable riding area, take a permitted route, then visit the historic site by the means allowed there.
Belmont and other mining towns can present a different challenge: old roads may cross private parcels, active or abandoned claims, or hazardous mine workings. Resist the urge to follow a faint track toward a building just because it appears to shorten the route. The overview of [Nevada Mining Road Hazards] covers why mine openings, unstable ground, and unmarked routes deserve serious caution.
Check Access, Hazards, and Ride Conditions
Confirm land status and route rules
Mining history makes land boundaries especially important. A route may pass through public land and still cross a private claim, a closed area, or a route where motorized travel is prohibited. Respect gates, signs, and barriers. Do not enter a road simply because it looks abandoned or because another vehicle has used it.
A ranch road is not automatically open to the public, either. Before riding across or along private land, get permission from the owner or land manager. The guide to [Nevada Rules for Riding a Ranch Road You Do Not Own] is a helpful reminder that access cannot be inferred from the road’s appearance.
Check for temporary and seasonal closures close to your trip date. Weather, fire restrictions, maintenance, sensitive habitat, or other land-management needs can affect access. Review [Nevada Trail Closures to Check Before You Go] and contact the office responsible for the area if the status is unclear. If a route is closed, choose another one rather than attempting to ride around the closure.
Treat mine sites as serious hazards
Old mining areas can contain open shafts, unstable structures, tailings, hidden drop-offs, and debris that is difficult to see from a moving vehicle. A faded road or old building is not a safe place to explore on foot or by machine. Keep a generous distance from mine openings and do not enter structures or tunnels.
Dust and changing light can make hazards harder to spot, especially when several machines are traveling close together. Slow down around historic sites, stay on the authorized route, and keep enough space to stop safely. If you cannot tell whether a track is open or whether the ground is stable, turn back.
The same caution applies to photographs. It can be tempting to park close to a dramatic building or climb onto a crumbling structure for a better view. Leave the site as you found it, keep vehicles out of fragile areas, and follow posted instructions. A ghost town is a historic place, not an obstacle course.
Plan for desert conditions and limited services
Nevada’s remote riding areas can be hot, dry, windy, and far from help. Temperatures may feel manageable at a trailhead and become punishing later in the day, particularly when riders are exposed to sun, dust, and reflected heat. Carry more drinking water than you expect to need, and take breaks before anyone feels depleted.
Fuel range should include the return trip and a reserve for delays or detours. A route that reaches a ghost town may not offer any fuel at the destination. Check where you can refuel before leaving a nearby community, and avoid stretching your machine’s range based on ideal conditions. More practical preparation guidance is available in [Nevada Desert Riding in Summer Heat].
Tell someone where you are going, when you expect to return, and what you will do if the group is delayed. Carry a first-aid kit, basic tools, recovery equipment suited to your vehicle, and a reliable way to navigate offline. Keep the group together at intersections and agree on a stop-and-wait rule if anyone loses sight of the others.
Build a Responsible Ghost Town Itinerary
Plan a ride with a clear start and finish
Begin by identifying a legal trailhead or route, not by drawing a line between two historic sites. Then check distance, terrain, vehicle suitability, access rules, and the nearest place to get help. If the route depends on an uncertain road or crosses land you have not confirmed, revise the plan before leaving.
Create a simple itinerary with the day’s start time, planned stops, turnaround time, and expected return. Save the route offline in your navigation app, including onX Offroad if that is part of your planning setup, but keep a second map source available. A paper map or downloaded official map can be valuable if a device battery fails or the group separates.
For a mixed-experience group, choose the least experienced rider’s comfort level as the limit for the day. Let everyone know whether the outing includes a historic-site visit on foot, a short ride on established routes, or a longer backcountry loop. Clear expectations prevent the common problem of one person expecting a relaxed scenic ride while another has planned an ambitious all-day exploration.
Make a practical go-or-no-go decision
Before loading the machines, confirm weather, access, and vehicle readiness. Check tires, brakes, lights, belts or chains, cooling systems, and fuel. Pack enough food and water for a delay, not just the planned ride time. If conditions have changed or the route is unclear, select a safer alternative.
Use the following questions to make the decision:
- Is the route open to the type of OHV you are bringing?
- Have you confirmed that the historic site itself permits the activity you have planned?
- Does the route avoid private property, closed roads, and sensitive areas?
- Can every vehicle complete the route and return with a reasonable fuel reserve?
- Does the group have offline navigation, water, recovery gear, and a check-in plan?
- Is there a clear turnaround point if weather, terrain, or timing becomes a concern?
A “no” or “not sure” does not have to cancel the whole day. It may mean visiting the town by road, choosing a shorter nearby ride, or saving the remote destination for a better-planned trip. The best ghost-town ride is one that lets you enjoy Nevada’s history without risking a breakdown, trespass problem, or preventable injury.
Leave the place better than you found it
Ride only on routes open to motorized travel, pack out trash, and keep noise and dust in mind around nearby residents and visitors. Do not disturb artifacts, move rocks, enter unstable buildings, or leave marks on historic structures. If you encounter wildlife or livestock, slow down and give them room.
Keep machines parked in designated areas and avoid blocking roads or access points. A group that spreads out across the landscape can damage fragile ground and make it harder for others to use the area responsibly. Staying on the route protects both the historic site and the riding opportunities around it.
A little restraint makes these outings better. Take time to learn the story of the place, enjoy the landscape, and leave enough room in the schedule to turn back without rushing. Nevada’s ghost towns reward careful planning, but they are not worth ignoring a closure or pushing past your group’s limits.
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Laws, prices and regulations vary by location and change over time. Consult a qualified professional for guidance on your specific situation.
