Category: Destination4x4

Bonnie Claire Nevada – A Nye County Ghost Town

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Located off highway 267 East of Death Valley National Park Gold, Bonnie Clarie Nevada is a mine site and ghost town that is easy to explore from the highway in Nye County, Nevada.   Bonnie Claire began life with a 5 stamp mill located in Thorp’s Well,  in the early 1880s.  The mill in Thorp’s Well processed ore for three active mines in the area for twenty years.  At this point, the mill was purchased by the Bonnie Clarie Bullfrog Mining Company to process materials from the Gold Mountain District.

Long Team in front of the Bonnie Claire Mine, Nevada
Long Team in front of the Bonnie Claire Mine, Nevada

In 1904 a second Mill, the Bonnie Claire mill, was built near the stage stop in Thorp which service travelers from Goldfield and Bullfrog and a post office followed in 1905.

The railroad reached the area in 1906 and the Bonnie Claire Nevada townsite was founded.   First a tent city house the population until 1907 when the first wooden structures were built which hosted 100 people and several saloons.  The location languished with the founding of Rhyolite to the south.  The town survived serveral years past it prime and served to ship building materials for Scotty’s Castle.

Bonnie Claire Trail Map

Fish Canyon Escape Trail

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William Lewis Manly (April 6, 1820 – February 5, 1903)
William Lewis Manly (April 6, 1820 – February 5, 1903)

The Fish Canyon Escape Trail is a route discovered by William Manly as an escape route from Death Valley in 1849.  The group tried to navigate the hot and dry Mojave desert with hand drawn maps, which supposedly showed short cuts across the desert. After being lost of months in the wilderness of Death Valley, William Manly and a group of emigrants headed to California. William Mandy set off and finally discovered a route out of Death Valley.  

William Many was like many man of the era. He made his living as a guide, fur hunter, farmer and later in life a writer. In 1849, he followed thousands of other young men and travelled to California to join the Gold Rush. He was 29 years old at the time.

Near Provo Utah he joined other travels to cross the great basin to Southern California. In December, the group became lost following the inaccurate maps which they brought with them. For three weeks they struggled in Death Valley. With food supplies depeleted. Manly and John Haney Rogers walked the Mojave for 250 miles, finally reaching Rancho San Fernando.

On his return with food and horses, he discovered that only two families, the Bennett and Arcane, survived his absence. This trail is part of his route.

The trail is mildly rocky and suitable for most SUV’s

Further Reading

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Wildrose Campground

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Wildrose Campground is located at 4100 feet above sea level in the Paramint Mountains within Death Valley National Park. This semi-primative campground is located off of the migrant Canyon Road. This free campground is open all year and sites are available on a first come first server bases. The location of the campground allows access to wide open spaces, many points of interest in the Panamint Range and beautiful scenery

Wildrose Campground is in Death Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park

Featuring 23 sites, with tables, fireplaces, and pit toilets and campground offers great opportunities for vistas and quiet nights for those wanting to venture and camp away from the larger crowds.

Drinking water is available during the Spring, Summer, and Fall. The higher elevation of this campground allows for this campground to remain open in the hotter summer months of this notorious hot area.

Fires are permitted in NPS provided pits only. Charcoal grills are prohibited. Gas burning stoves are permitted. Fires are typically prohibited between June 15 and September 15 or during periods of high fire danger.

Campground Summary

NameWildrose
LocationDeath Valley National Park, California
Latitude, Longitude36.265848, -117.188184
Sites23
Elevation4100 feet
AmenitiesVault Toilets, Water, Firepits, Tables

Wildrose Campground Map

References

NPS.gov

Mahogany Flat Campground

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Mahogany Flat Campground lies at 8,200 feet in the Panamint Mountain Range in Death Valley National Parl. The campground provides access to hiking and backpacking, as well as mountaineering opportunities.

Mahogany Flat Campground in Death Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park

The campground is located near to Thorndike Campground along Emigrant Canyon Road. The privative camp sites are nestled among a Pinyon Pine and Juniper forest along the ridgeline of the Panamint Range.

The trail leading to Telescope Peak and down Tuber Canyon begins at this campground. This campground offers some of the best views in Death Valley, and lots of opportunity to hike, explore and enjoy the nature within the park.

The site is open from March to November and makes a good place to escape the summer heat of the valley below it. There are ten individual camping sites, each with a table and fireplace. Pit toilets are maintained on site.

Fires are allowed at NPS fire pits only. No firewood collecting is permitted; bring your own wood. Fires are prohibited June 15-September 15 and periods of high fire danger.

Campground Summary

NameMahogany Flat Campground
LocationPanamint Mountains, Death Valley National Park, California
Latitude, Longitude36.22996, -117.068193
Sites10
Elevation8200 feet
AmenitiesTables, Fire Pits, Vault Toilets, NO Water

Mahogany Flat Campground Map

References

Emigrant Campground

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Emigrant Campground is a tent only campground located next to CA Route 190 near the boundary of Death Valley National Park, California. The campgrounds is located at about 2150 foot elevation and overlooks the cottonwood mountains, which are part of the Panamint Range.   

Emigrant Campground in Death Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park

Typical campground amenities with more services to the north-east at Stovepipe Wells Village. The elevation of the park at over 2000 feet offers some views and hints at the dynamic landscape below.

This small, little campground is not much more beyond a clearing by the side of CA 190 with 10 campsites outlined in rocks. The campground is literally just off of the highway, and those with children of pets should be on watch.

The campsites are primarily dirt with pavement at picnic area. Due to its proximity with the park boundary, this campground could serve as a staging campsite at the park boundary and allow access to further deeper exploration within the National Park.

Gas burning stoves are permitted. Fires and charcoal grills are prohibited.

Campground Summary

NameEmigrant Campground
LocationDeath Valley National Park, California
Latitude, Longitude36.496552556, -117.227519732
Elevation2150
Sites10
Amenitiespotable water, flushing toilets

Emigrant Campground Map

References