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Things to do in Nye County Nevada

Nye County Nevada

Nye County Nevada Overview

Nye is Nevada’s largest county by area and the third-largest county in the contiguous United States, behind Coconino County of Arizona and San Bernardino County of California.

The county has several environmentally sensitive areas, including Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, the White River Valley, several Great Basin sky islands, and part of Death Valley National Park. 

Year Established/Founded

1864

Nye County Nevada History

Nye County was established during the American Civil War in 1864 and named after James W. Nye (1815 – 1876), the first governor of the Nevada Territory and later a U.S. Senator after it was admitted as a state.

The county’s first boom came in the early 20th century, when Rhyolite and Tonopah, as well as Goldfield in nearby Esmeralda County, had gold and silver mining booms. 

Timeline

  • 1864 – The county was established from part of Esmeralda County and the first county seat was Ione
  • 1867 – County seat changed to Belmont
  • 1905 – County seat changed to Tonopah 
  • 1910 – The population had plummeted to about 7,500 before sinking to nearly 3,000 in the middle of the century

Towns in Nye County Nevada

Below are the unincorporated towns and communities:

  • Amargosa Valley
  • Beatty
  • Carvers
  • Crystal
  • Currant
  • Duckwater
  • Gabbs
  • Hadley
  • Manhattan
  • Mercury
  • Pahrump
  • Round Mountain
  • Scotty’s Junction
  • Sunnyside
  • Tonopah (county seat)
  • Tybo
  • Yomba 

Hiking in Nye County Nevada

Amargosa Valley

  1. Crystal Marsh Loop is a 0.9-mile loop trail

Beatty

  1. Bailey’s Hot Springs is a 2-mile loop trail
  2. Beatty Overlook Trail is a 1.1-mile loop trail
  3. Oasis Valley South Meadow is a 1.2-mile loop trail
  4. Rhyolite Ghost Town is a 1.1-mile moderately trafficked out-and-back trail 
  5. Thimble Peak Trail is a 3.2-mile lightly trafficked out-and-back trail 
  6. Titus Canyon Road is a 26-mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail 

Round Mountain

  1. Arc Dome Trail is a 26.1-mile lightly trafficked out-and-back trail 
  2. Mount Jefferson Trail is an 18-mile moderately trafficked loop trail 
  3. Trail North Twin River Road Trail is a 6.5 mile out and back trail 
  4. Pine Creek (Alta Toquima Wilderness) is an 11.6-mile moderately trafficked out-and-back trail 
  5. Stewart Creek Trail is a 7.6-mile moderately trafficked loop trail 
  6. Toiyabe Crest Trail is a 36.9-mile lightly trafficked point-to-point trail

Historical Points of Interest in Nye County Nevada

Nye County is home to multiple historical places on a state and national level. Below are the ones we are aware of:

National Register of Historic Places

Below are the places that are on the National Register of Historic Places in Nye County, Nevada with the name on the register, the date it was listed, the location, and the town.

National Register of Historic Places in Austin, Nevada

  1. Gatecliff Rockshelter – April 27, 1979 – Southeast of Austin 

National Register of Historic Places in Berlin, Nevada

  1. Berlin Historic District – November 5, 1971 – Off State Route 23 

National Register of Historic Places in Fish Springs, Nevada

  1. James Wild Horse Trap – November 19, 1974 – About 5 miles east of Fish Springs 

National Register of Historic Places in Manhattan, Nevada

  1. Manhattan School – March 8, 2006 – Gold St. between Mineral St. and Dexter Ave. 

National Register of Historic Places in Mercury, Nevada

  1. Sedan Crater – March 21, 1994 – Area 10, Nevada Test Site 

National Register of Historic Places in Round Mountain, Nevada

  1. William H. Berg House – January 11, 1984 – Mariposa and Davis Sts. 

National Register of Historic Places in Tonopah, Nevada

  1. Arthur Raycraft House – May 20, 1982 – Booker – St. Tonopah
  2. Bass Building – May 20, 1982 – 119 St. Patrick – Tonopah
  3. Belmont – June 13, 1972 – 46 miles northeast of Tonopah off State Route 82 – Tonopah
  4. Board and Batten Cottage – May 20, 1982 – Edwards St. – Tonopah
  5. Board and Batten Miners Cabin – May 20, 1982 – Burro Ave. – Tonopah
  6. Brann Boardinghouse – May 20, 1982 – Bryan St. – Tonopah
  7. Brokers Exchange – May 20, 1982 – 209-251 Brougher – Tonopah
  8. Cada C. Boak House – May 20, 1982 – Ellis St. – Tonopah
  9. Cal Shaw Adobe Duplex – May 20, 1982 – 129 Central – Tonopah
  10. Cal Shaw Stone Row House – May 20, 1982 – Central St. – Tonopah
  11. Campbell and Kelly Building – October 13, 1982 – Corona and Main Sts. – Tonopah
  12. Charles Clinton Stone Row House – May 20, 1982 – 151 Central – Tonopah
  13. Combellack Adobe Row House – May 20, 1982 – Central St. – Tonopah
  14. Dr. J.R. Masterson House – May 20, 1982 – Ohio Ave. and 2nd St. – Tonopah
  15. E.E. Burdick House – May 20, 1982 – 248 Prospect St. – Tonopah
  16. E.R. Shields House – May 20, 1982 – 351 St. Patrick – Tonopah
  17. Frame Cottage – May 20, 1982 – 183 Prospect St. – Tonopah
  18. Frank Golden Block – May 20, 1982 – Brougher and Main Sts. – Tonopah
  19. George A. Bartlett House – May 20, 1982 – McQuillan and Booker Sts. – Tonopah
  20. H.A. McKim Building – May 20, 1982 – Main and Oddie Sts. – Tonopah
  21. Hugh H. Brown House – October 13, 1982 – 129 Ellis St. – Tonopah
  22. Irving McDonald House – May 20, 1982 – 191 Booker – Tonopah
  23. Jim Butler Mining Company Stone Row Houses – May 20, 1982 – 314 Everett Ave. – Tonopah
  24. John Gregovich House – May 20, 1982 – 101 Summit – Tonopah
  25. Judge W.A. Sawle House – May 20, 1982 – 155 Central St. – Tonopah
  26. Mizpah Hotel – July 7, 1978 – 100 Main St. – Tonopah
  27. Nevada-California Power Company Substation and Auxiliary Power Building – July 26, 1982 – Corner of Knapp and Cutting Sts. – Tonopah
  28. Nye County Courthouse – May 20, 1982 – McCulloch St. – Tonopah
  29. Nye County Mercantile Company Building – May 20, 1982 – 147 Main St. – Tonopah
  30. Samuel C. Dunham House – May 20, 1982 – Belmont Ave. – Tonopah
  31. St. Marks P.E. Church – May 20, 1982 – 210 University Ave. – Tonopah
  32. State Bank and Trust Company – May 20, 1982 – 102 Brougher – Tonopah
  33. Stone Jail Building and Row House – May 20, 1982 – Water St. – Tonopah
  34. Tonopah Liquor Company Building – May 20, 1982 – Main St. – Tonopah
  35. Tonopah Mining Company Cottage – May 20, 1982 – Queen St. – Tonopah
  36. Tonopah Mining Company House – May 20, 1982 – Queen St. – Tonopah
  37. Tonopah Public Library – May 20, 1982 – 171 Central – Tonopah
  38. Tonopah Volunteer Firehouse and Gymnasium – May 20, 1982 – Brougher and Burro Sts. – Tonopah
  39. Tonopah-Extension Mining Company Power Building – May 20, 1982 – Main St. – Tonopah
  40. Uri B. Curtis House – May 20, 1982 – 169 Booker St. – Tonopah
  41. Uri B. Curtis House/Tasker L. Oddie House – May 20, 1982 – Ellis St. – Tonopah
  42. US Post Office-Tonopah Main – February 28, 1990 – 201 Main St. – Tonopah
  43. Verdi Lumber Company Buildings – May 20, 1982 – Main St. – Tonopah
  44. Water Company of Tonopah Building – May 20, 1982 – Burro and Brougher Aves. – Tonopah
  45. Wieland Brewery Building – May 20, 1982 – Mineral St. – Tonopah
  46. Zeb Kendall House – May 20, 1982 – 159 University Ave. – Tonopah

National Register of Historic Places in Tybo, Nevada

  1. Tybo Charcoal Kilns – November 19, 1974 – About 55 miles northeast of Tonopah off U.S. Route 6 – Tybo

Nevada Historical Markers in Nye County Nevada

Nye County is home to thirteen Nevada Historical Markers.

As we visit each we will link the articles below for you to learn more about the history of the site the marker represents.

  1. #173 Beatty (Center of the Gold Railroads—”Chicago of the West”)
  2. #138 Belmont 
  3. #42 Big Smoky Valley 
  4. #171 Chief Tecopa (Peacemaker of the Paiutes)
  5. #159 Ione 
  6. #97 Manhattan “The Pine Tree Camp” 
  7. #165 Nevada Test Site 
  8. #58 Old Boundary (Nevada’s Southern Boundary 1861-1867) 
  9. #64 Ophir 
  10. #96 Round Mountain 
  11. #217 Tate’s Stage Station (1886-1901)
  12. #15 Tonopah 
  13. #172 Tybo 

Protected Areas

Wilderness Areas

  1. Alta Toquima Wilderness Area was created, protecting approximately 38,000 acres in the upper elevations of the Toquima Range in northwestern Nye County.
  2. Arc Dome Wilderness Area was created, protecting approximately 115,000 acres in the upper elevations of the Toiyabe Range in northwestern Nye County.
  3. Far South Egans Wilderness (partly in Nye County, NV)
  4. Grant Range Wilderness Area was created, protecting approximately 50,000 acres in the upper elevations of the Grant Range in northeastern Nye County.
  5. Quinn Canyon Wilderness Area was created, protecting approximately 27,000 acres in the upper elevations of the Quinn Canyon Range in northeastern Nye County.
  6. Red Mountain Wilderness (Humboldt NF) partly in Nye County, NV
  7. South Egan Range Wilderness (partly in White Pine County, NV; Nye County, NV)
  8. Table Mountain Wilderness Area was created, protecting approximately 98,000 acres of the Monitor Range in north-central Nye County.
  9. Weepah Spring Wilderness (partly in Nye County, NV)

Natural Springs in Nye County Nevada

There are a lot of warm and hot springs in Nye County, Nevada. Click here to view all of the hot springs in Nye County and listed below are the more popular hot springs to visit:

  1. Ash Meadows is home to several hot and warm springs
  2. Bailey’s Hot Springs
  3. Big Water Spring
  4. Diana’s Punchbowl
  5. Duckwater Hot Spring
  6. Warm Springs

Ghost Towns and Mines in Nye County, Nevada

Nye County, Nevada has the most ghost towns in Nevada compared to other counties. Below are the mining camps, mining districts, and ghost towns in Nye County, Nevada.

  1. Adaven
  2. Allred
  3. Amargosa
  4. Amargosa Valley
  5. Ames Camp 
  6. Ancram
  7. Antelope
  8. Antelope Springs
  9. Archer
  10. Arrowhead
  11. Ash Meadows
  12. Ashton
  13. Athens
  14. Atwood
  15. Barcelona
  16. Barrett
  17. Baxter Spring
  18. Beatty
  19. Bellehelen
  20. Belmont
  21. Berlin
  22. Black Spring
  23. Blake’s Camp
  24. Blue Eagle Spring
  25. Bonita
  26. Bonnie Claire
  27. Bowlerville
  28. Box Springs
  29. Breyfogle
  30. Browne’s Camp
  31. Bullfrog
  32. Butterfield Spring
  33. Cactus Springs
  34. Canyon
  35. Carrara
  36. Cedar Spring
  37. Central
  38. Central City
  39. Centrasville
  40. Chloride
  41. Clarkdale
  42. Clear Creek Mining District
  43. Clifford
  44. Cloverdale
  45. Craig Station
  46. Currant
  47. Danville
  48. Darrough Hot Springs
  49. Death Valley Junction
  50. Deep Well Station
  51. Downeyville
  52. Duckwater
  53. Duluth
  54. East Manhattan
  55. Eden
  56. Ellendale
  57. Ellsworth
  58. Frazier Wells
  59. Gabbs
  60. Georges Canyon
  61. Glen Hamilton
  62. Globe Mining District
  63. Gold Bar
  64. Gold Center
  65. Gold Crater
  66. Gold Flat
  67. Golden
  68. Golden Arrow
  69. Goldyke
  70. Granite
  71. Grant City
  72. Grantsville
  73. Hannapah
  74. Harriman
  75. Hick’s Hot Springs
  76. Hick’s Station
  77. Horseshoe
  78. Hot Creek
  79. Idlewild
  80. Indian Springs
  81. Ione
  82. Jackson Mining District
  83. Jacksonville
  84. Jamestown
  85. Jefferson
  86. Jett
  87. Johnnie
  88. Junction
  89. Juniper (Juniper Springs)
  90. Kawich
  91. Keystone
  92. Knickerbocker
  93. Lauville
  94. Learville
  95. Leeland
  96. Liberty
  97. Lockes – A town in northeastern Nye County on US 6 that was also known as Ostonside.
  98. Lodi – A town, also known as Lodival, near the Mammoth Range in northwest Nye County, near the Churchill County line, in a valley of the same name. A mining district in the region, discovered in 1863.
  99. Logan Station
  100. Longstreet
  101. Lower Town
  102. Manhattan
  103. Manse Ranch
  104. Marysville
  105. Mccann Station
  106. Meikeljon
  107. Mellan
  108. Mexican Camp
  109. Midway
  110. Millett
  111. Milton
  112. Minnimums
  113. Monarch
  114. Moore’s Station
  115. Morey
  116. Mud Spring Station
  117. Mule Lick
  118. North Manhattan
  119. Northumberland – A mining district in the Toquima Range in northern Nye County, organized in 1866 and named for a county in England.
  120. Nyala – A town on the west slope of the Quinn Canyon Range, south of Lockes, and named as a derivative of Nye.
  121. Oak Springs – A mining district located at Oak Spring on the east flank of the Belted Range near its southern end.
  122. Ophir Canyon
  123. Original
  124. Orizaba
  125. Pactolus
  126. Paradise Peak
  127. Park Canyon
  128. Peavine
  129. Penelas
  130. Petersgold
  131. Phonolite
  132. Pine Creek
  133. Pioneer
  134. Potomac
  135. Potts
  136. Pritchard’s Station
  137. Pueblo
  138. Quartz Mountain
  139. Ralston – Named in honor of Judge James E. Ralston, who died in the valley in 1864.
  140. Ray
  141. Reveille
  142. Reveille Mill
  143. Rhyolite – A town 5 miles west of Beatty in the Bullfrog Hills that was settled in 1904. In the Bullfrog Mining District. Named for rhyolite, the predominating rock in the district.
  144. Rose’s Well
  145. Round Mountain – A town in northwest Nye County on the west slope of the Toquima Range and a mining district in the town.
  146. Royston
  147. Rye Patch
  148. San Antonio – A mining district discovered in 1863 and named for the Texas city.
  149. San Carlos
  150. San Juan
  151. Sawmill
  152. Shamrock
  153. Silver Bow
  154. Silver Glance
  155. Silverton
  156. South Bullfrog
  157. Spanish Spring
  158. Springdale
  159. Springfield Mining District
  160. Stargo
  161. Stirling
  162. Stone House
  163. Stonewall
  164. Sulphide
  165. Summit Station
  166. Sumo
  167. Sunnyside – A town in northeast Nye County near the Lincoln County line in the White River Valley. Named for its physical features.
  168. Tate’s Station
  169. Telluride
  170. Tolicha – A mining district on the north slopes of Tolicha Peak and Quartz Mountains. A Yokut tribal name.
  171. Tonogold
  172. Tonopah
  173. Toyah
  174. Transvaal
  175. Trappman’s Camp
  176. Troy
  177. Twin Springs
  178. Tybo – A town on the west slope of the Hot Creek Range 40 miles southeast of Belmont. A mining district adjoining the Hot Creek District to the north was discovered in 1870 and the town was started in 1874. The word is Shoshone, meaning “white.”
  179. Van Ness
  180. Wagner
  181. Wahmonie
  182. Warm Springs
  183. Washington
  184. Wellington
  185. White Caps
  186. White Rock Spring
  187. Willow Creek
  188. Willow Springs
  189. Wilson’s Camp

Adjacent Counties

Area Size

  • Land 18,182 square miles
  • Water 17 square miles
  • Total 18,199 square miles

Accessibility

  • Interstate 11 (Future)
  • U.S. Route 6
  • U.S. Route 95
  • State Route 160
  • State Route 267
  • State Route 318
  • State Route 361
  • State Route 372
  • State Route 373
  • State Route 374
  • State Route 375
  • State Route 376
  • State Route 377
  • State Route 379
  • State Route 844

Click here to read about what safety items to pack for your next adventure. Also, check out how to remove cactus spines if you should encounter them.

The Population of Nye County Nevada

In 1906, Goldfield had 30,000 residents, Tonopah nearly 10,000, and Rhyolite peaked at about 10,000. These cities were linked by the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad.

After the boom died, Nye County withered. By 1910, the population had plummeted to about 7,500 before sinking to nearly 3,000 in the middle of the century.

Today, Nye County is home to approximately 52,000 residents as of the 2020 United States Federal Census.

Things to do in Nye County Nevada

Nevada Historical Markers

Ghost Towns in Nye County Nevada

Hot Springs in Nye County Nevada

Points of Interest in Nye County Nevada

State Parks in Nye County Nevada

References Used

Nye County Nevada