Tag: Colorado Mining District

Lucky Jim Camp, Nevada

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Seal of Clark County Nevada
Seal of Clark County Nevada

Lucky Jim Camp, sometimes referred to as Lucky Camp, was a short-lived mining camp and ghost town site in Clark County, Nevada. It is situated in El Dorado Canyon (also known as Eldorado Canyon) within the Colorado Mining District (later called the Eldorado Mining District) in the Eldorado Mountains. The site lies on the north side of the canyon, south of the Techatticup Mine, at an elevation of 2,444 feet (745 m), directly above the mouth of January Wash where it joins El Dorado Canyon.

Geographic coordinates are approximately 35°42′08″N 114°48′12″W. When established, the area was part of New Mexico Territory; it later became part of Nevada Territory and then the state of Nevada. The camp formed in a rugged desert canyon environment along the Colorado River corridor, which offered steamboat access for supplies in the 1860s.

Early History/Founding

Mining activity in El Dorado Canyon began intensifying in the early 1860s following discoveries of mineral deposits after the California Gold Rush waned. Lucky Jim Camp was founded in 1862 amid this boom. The origin of its name remains unknown.

The camp gained prominence during the American Civil War as a gathering place for miners sympathetic to the Confederate (Southern) cause. Roughly one mile up the canyon (above Huse Spring) was the rival Buster Falls camp, where Union (Northern) sympathizers congregated. The miners in the Colorado Mining District divided into these two separate communities based on their political leanings, though tensions remained largely verbal with no major hostilities reported. This split reflected national divisions even in remote desert mining areas. The broader district saw its population swell to around 300–500 workers in the early 1860s (and reportedly up to 1,500 at peak), with some individuals drawn to the lawless frontier to avoid military service elsewhere.

The camp’s location above the canyon floor also served a practical purpose: it acted as a refuge during the destructive Great Flood of 1862 (part of the widespread “Great Flood of 1861–1862” that affected the Western United States and Colorado River Basin). Lower camps near the Techatticup Mine, such as Alturas and Louisville, were destroyed or damaged, while Lucky Jim’s elevated position kept it safe. The name of nearby January Wash may commemorate the January 1862 flooding event.

Economic Activities

Lucky Jim Camp functioned as a transient support settlement for individual or small-party miners rather than a large organized town. The primary economic driver was prospecting and mining of high-grade silver chloride ores in the canyon (with gold becoming more prominent at greater depths). Ore was typically hand-sorted, sacked, and shipped—initially overland or by steamboat to San Francisco for processing—before local stamp mills were built.

No large-scale mills or smelters operated directly at Lucky Jim itself. Instead, it relied on the district’s emerging infrastructure. By late 1863, nearby El Dorado City (also called Eldorado City) was established a short distance down-canyon on the same side, featuring a stamp mill that supported ore processing. The camp’s residents likely worked claims in the surrounding Eldorado Mountains, contributing to the district’s output of silver and associated minerals. Supplies reached the area via the Colorado River, which served as a key transportation route.

Decline/Abandonment

Lucky Jim Camp was inherently temporary and declined rapidly after the Civil War. The establishment of El Dorado City in late 1863—with its stamp mill—likely supplanted the smaller camp, as mining operations consolidated. Following the end of the war, the district experienced a period of idleness and reduced activity. Many early mining camps in the canyon faded as richer surface ores were depleted and miners moved on to new strikes elsewhere in Nevada or the West.

By the mid-to-late 1860s, Lucky Jim had largely been abandoned as a distinct settlement. The Colorado Mining District continued sporadic operations into later decades (with revivals in the early 20th century at nearby Nelson), but the original 1860s camps like Lucky Jim did not persist.

Legacy/Current Status

Today, Lucky Jim Camp exists only as a historical site with no visible ruins or structures. Satellite imagery shows the area as barren, with no remaining traces of buildings, tents, or mining infrastructure. It stands as a reminder of the Civil War’s reach into Nevada’s remote mining frontiers and the boom-and-bust cycles of 1860s silver mining in the Eldorado Canyon region.

The broader Eldorado Canyon area retains historical significance through preserved sites like the Techatticup Mine (now a tourist attraction near the modern ghost town of Nelson) and connections to Colorado River steamboat navigation. Lucky Jim’s story highlights themes common to Clark County’s early mining history: political divisions, flood risks, and the transient nature of desert mining camps. The site is located on public or undeveloped land near modern-day Nelson and is accessible via backroads in the Eldorado Mountains, though it offers little for on-site exploration.

Buster Falls, Nevada – Clark County Ghost Town

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Ghost towns of Clark County, Nevada
Ghost towns of Clark County, Nevada

Buster Falls is a historic ghost town and former mining camp located in El Dorado Canyon (also spelled Eldorado Canyon) within Clark County, Nevada, in the Colorado Mining District. Situated in a remote desert canyon along the west side of the Colorado River, it lies above Huse Spring and the Techatticup Mine, approximately one mile upstream from Lucky Jim Camp and near the confluence of El Dorado Canyon with Copper Canyon. Today, its site is occupied by buildings about 0.4 miles southwest of the center of Nelson, Nevada, along Nevada State Route 165. The origin of the name “Buster Falls” remains unknown. Though short-lived, the camp played a colorful role in Nevada’s mining history, particularly as a reflection of national divisions during the American Civil War.

Early History of El Dorado Canyon

Mining in El Dorado Canyon dates back to at least 1857, with silver, gold, and copper lodes discovered around 1861 by prospectors including John Moss. The canyon’s proximity to the Colorado River made it accessible via steamboats starting in 1858, which supplied miners and shipped high-grade ores (often silver chlorides yielding up to 400 ounces of silver per ton) to markets like San Francisco. Early camps included San Juan (upper canyon, near modern Nelson), Alturas and Louisville (mid-canyon near the Techatticup Mine), and Colorado City at the river landing.

By the early 1860s, the district saw rapid growth, with hundreds of mineral claims recorded. Infrastructure developed, including wagon roads and stamp mills. However, challenges like high transportation costs, Indian raids by Paiute groups, and the need for military protection shaped the area’s development. The U.S. Army later established Camp El Dorado at the canyon mouth (1867–1869) to safeguard river traffic and miners.

Founding and the Civil War Era (1862–1865)

Buster Falls was founded in 1862 amid the American Civil War. It quickly became home to miners sympathetic to the Union cause. Just one mile down the canyon, at the base of the Techatticup Mine above January Wash, stood Lucky Jim Camp, populated by miners who favored the Confederacy. These rival camps emerged as the broader El Dorado Canyon population swelled to around 1,500 (with 300–500 active miners in the district earlier), including many deserters from both armies seeking refuge in the isolated desert.

The division reflected national tensions but remained largely non-violent. Miners quarreled verbally and flew opposing flags, but “powder was used only in mining prospect holes and stopes,” with no significant bloodshed reported. One colorful incident involved Bill Piette, a miner and hired gun from Buster Falls, who reportedly enjoyed shooting holes in the Confederate flag at Lucky Jim Camp. The camps’ inhabitants were often avoiding military service, and some volunteer troops from the Army of the Pacific (many miners themselves) prospected in the area while stationed at nearby forts.

In late 1863, Colonel John R. Vineyard (a California state senator) built the canyon’s first ten-stamp mill just below Lucky Jim Camp, which halved ore-processing costs and boosted local activity. Steamboat operations on the Colorado River supported the mines, though disputes over freight rates arose. By 1865, the canyon had its own post office (under Mohave County, Arizona Territory, until the area became part of Nevada in 1866).

Post-War Decline and Abandonment

The end of the Civil War in 1865 removed the political divisions that had defined Buster Falls and Lucky Jim Camp. Both were largely abandoned shortly afterward as miners no longer split along Union/Confederate lines. However, mining in El Dorado Canyon persisted. A post office operated in the canyon from 1879 to 1907, and operations at sites like the Techatticup Mine continued on a smaller scale into the 20th century, with activity lasting until World War II.

The canyon’s remote, harsh environment—described as desolate and foreboding—contributed to the camps’ short lifespans. High-grade surface ores were quickly depleted, and sustaining large populations proved difficult without ongoing military or economic support. Buster Falls, like many Nevada mining outposts, faded into obscurity as attention shifted to more productive strikes elsewhere.

Legacy and Current Status

Buster Falls is now a true ghost town with no permanent residents. Its site blends into the modern landscape near Nelson, a small community that preserves the canyon’s mining heritage. The Techatticup Mine (one of the canyon’s oldest and most productive) operates today as a tourist attraction offering tours, highlighting the area’s Wild West history. El Dorado Canyon itself remains a draw for history enthusiasts, with remnants of old mines, mills, and camps visible amid the rugged desert scenery.

The story of Buster Falls illustrates how even remote corners of the American West were touched by the Civil War. It stands as a footnote in Nevada’s rich mining history, symbolizing how national conflicts influenced frontier life—from divided loyalties to the boom-and-bust cycles of silver and gold rushes.

Buster Falls may be small in scale, but its brief existence captures the spirit of Nevada’s 19th-century mining frontier. If visiting from nearby Las Vegas (roughly 50 miles northwest), the area around Nelson offers a tangible link to this era.

Colorado City, Nevada

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Colorado City was a short-lived 19th-century mining camp and steamboat landing in what is now Clark County, Nevada. Situated at the mouth of El Dorado Canyon on the Colorado River, the settlement served as a key support point for gold and silver mining operations in the surrounding canyon. Today, it is a submerged ghost town, lying beneath the waters of Lake Mohave, created by the construction of Davis Dam in 1951. The former site is located offshore from Nelson’s Landing (approximate coordinates: 35°42′27″N 114°42′42″W).

El Dorado Canyon itself was renowned for rich silver and gold deposits and hosted multiple mining camps over the decades, but Colorado City stood out as the river-accessible hub at the canyon’s lower end.

Founding and Early Development (1861)

Colorado City was established in 1861 during the early days of organized mining in the region. It began as a mining camp within the Colorado Mining District, originally part of the New Mexico Territory. The location was chosen for its strategic position on the Colorado River, which allowed it to function not only as a mining settlement but also as a steamboat landing. Ore, supplies, and equipment could be shipped efficiently via riverboats, connecting the remote canyon mines to broader trade networks.

The area had seen earlier Spanish exploration in the 1770s, when prospectors sought gold and silver, but sustained American mining activity intensified in the mid-19th century after discoveries in El Dorado Canyon. By 1861, Colorado City supported miners working claims higher in the canyon, including sites that later became associated with the Techatticup Mine and other productive claims.

Territorial Changes

The town’s administrative status shifted several times due to rapidly changing territorial boundaries in the American Southwest:

  • 1861–1863: Part of the Colorado Mining District in New Mexico Territory.
  • 1863: Transferred to Mohave County, Arizona Territory.
  • 1867: Became part of Lincoln County in the newly formed state of Nevada (Clark County itself was not carved out of Lincoln County until 1909).

These shifts reflected the broader political reorganization of the region following the Civil War and Nevada’s statehood in 1864.

Economic Activities and Infrastructure (1860s)

Colorado City’s economy centered on mining support and river transport. In 1866, two steam-powered stamp mills were established to process ore from the canyon mines:

  • The Colorado Mill (relocated down the canyon from El Dorado City and refurbished).
  • The New Era Mill (a newer installation).

Both mills relied on locally available wood as fuel for their steam engines, an advantage given the town’s riverside location. The mills crushed ore to extract gold, silver, and other minerals, making Colorado City a small but vital industrial node in southern Nevada’s mining economy.

The settlement was never large, functioning primarily as a functional camp rather than a permanent town with extensive civilian infrastructure. It coexisted with other canyon camps such as San Juan (Upper Camp), Alturas, and Louisville. Military presence was briefly established nearby in 1867 with Camp El Dorado at the canyon mouth to protect miners from Paiute attacks and secure river traffic; the outpost was abandoned by 1869.

Mining in El Dorado Canyon (and thus support from Colorado City) experienced periods of boom and bust but remained active into the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with renewed interest during the early 1900s and even World War II.

Decline and Submersion (20th Century)

Like many remote mining outposts, Colorado City declined as richer surface deposits were exhausted and transportation patterns changed. By the mid-20th century, the site had long been abandoned and was already considered a ghost town.

The final chapter came in 1951 with the completion of Davis Dam by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The dam created Lake Mohave, a reservoir on the Colorado River that flooded the lower canyon mouth, including the former location of Colorado City and the adjacent steamboat landing. The town’s remains now lie underwater, along with other historical features such as an old stamp mill site.

Nearby Nelson (higher in the canyon) survived as a small community and later became a modest tourist destination focused on the Techatticup Mine, but Colorado City itself disappeared beneath the lake.

Legacy and Significance

Though small and short-lived, Colorado City illustrates the rapid development and equally rapid abandonment typical of the American West’s mining frontier. It highlights the importance of river transport in the pre-railroad era and the role of steamboat landings in sustaining isolated mining districts. Its submersion under Lake Mohave also serves as a reminder of how 20th-century dam projects transformed the Colorado River landscape, creating recreational reservoirs while erasing earlier historical sites.

Today, the area around El Dorado Canyon and Lake Mohave attracts visitors interested in ghost towns, mining history, and outdoor recreation. While Colorado City itself is inaccessible except perhaps to divers, the broader canyon’s mining heritage remains visible at sites like Nelson and the Techatticup Mine. The settlement’s story is preserved in historical records, maps, and regional histories of Clark County and southern Nevada’s mining era.

Sources: Information drawn primarily from historical summaries on Wikipedia and related Nevada mining histories. No standing structures or surface ruins of Colorado City remain due to flooding.

Louisville Nevada

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Seal of Clark County Nevada
Seal of Clark County Nevada

Louisville was a short-lived mining camp and ghost town site in El Dorado Canyon (also spelled Eldorado Canyon) within the Colorado Mining District (later known as the Eldorado Canyon District) of Clark County, Nevada. The camp sat midway down the canyon near the Techatticup Mine, one of the canyon’s oldest and most productive operations. At the time of its founding, the area was part of New Mexico Territory; it later became part of Clark County, Nevada. Coordinates for the general site are approximately 35°42′42″N 114°48′16″W. The canyon drains into the Colorado River (near the former Nelson’s Landing), and supplies historically arrived via steamboat at Colorado City at the canyon’s mouth.

The surrounding landscape is rugged desert canyon terrain typical of southern Nevada’s mining districts, characterized by steep walls, arid conditions, and proximity to the Colorado River, which once supported limited steamboat navigation up to this point (about 65 miles above Fort Mohave).

Early History and Founding

Mining interest in El Dorado Canyon dates to at least 1857, when steamboat captain George Alonzo Johnson named the canyon after gold and silver discoveries. Prospecting intensified in the late 1850s, with major lode discoveries (silver, gold, and some copper) credited to John Moss and others in April 1861—just as the American Civil War began. News of the strikes triggered a rush of miners to the Colorado Mining District.

Louisville, along with the nearby camp of Alturas, was established in 1861 as one of the earliest permanent mining settlements in the canyon, positioned near the Techatticup Mine. It served as a small support camp for miners working the surrounding claims. Some sources suggest the name may derive from Nat S. Lewis, a key figure who served as superintendent of the Techatticup Mine in the 1860s and as the local camp doctor.

The broader canyon quickly developed a rowdy reputation during the Civil War era, with a population that included many deserters and miners divided by sectional loyalties. Steamboats provided critical freight service, delivering supplies and equipment while shipping ore downstream.

Economic Activities

Louisville’s economy was entirely tied to hard-rock mining in the Eldorado Canyon district. The primary focus was extracting gold and silver (with minor copper) from veins near the Techatticup Mine and associated claims. Ore was initially shipped out for processing, though stamp mills later appeared elsewhere in the canyon (such as El Dorado City’s ten-stamp mill in late 1863). Steamboat access via the Colorado River was essential for transporting heavy equipment, food, and ore, reducing reliance on overland desert routes from Los Angeles.

The canyon as a whole became one of southern Nevada’s richest early mining areas, but Louisville itself was a modest tent-and-shack settlement supporting day-to-day operations rather than a major commercial hub. Activity reflected the district-wide boom of the early 1860s, fueled by wartime demand for metals.

Decline and Abandonment

Louisville’s existence was extremely brief—roughly 1861 to 1862. The camp, along with Alturas, was destroyed or rendered uninhabitable by the Great Flood of 1862, a catastrophic event that surged through the Colorado River Basin (affecting areas from Utah to Arizona in January 1862). Survivors relocated to higher ground above January Wash, where Lucky Jim Camp was established in 1862 as a direct replacement for the lower-elevation settlements. Lucky Jim itself became associated with Confederate sympathizers, while a nearby camp (Buster Falls) drew Union supporters—highlighting Civil War divisions even in this remote canyon.

By the end of the war or shortly thereafter, mining activity in the immediate area shifted or idled, and Louisville was fully abandoned. The flood likely washed away structures and made the low-lying site untenable.

Legacy and Current Status

Louisville is classified as a ghost town with no visible ruins or structures remaining today; satellite imagery and historical accounts describe the site as barren. It represents the transient, flood-prone nature of early Nevada mining camps during the Civil War period. While Louisville itself vanished quickly, the surrounding El Dorado Canyon continued producing ore (primarily from the Techatticup, Wall Street, and other mines) into the 20th century, with intermittent activity through World War II. The Techatticup Mine area now operates as a historic site with guided tours, preserving the canyon’s mining heritage and attracting visitors interested in southern Nevada’s Wild West history.

The story of Louisville fits into the larger pattern of Clark County ghost towns shaped by mining rushes, river navigation, natural disasters, and Civil War-era migrations—many of which were later affected by dam construction and reservoir flooding elsewhere in the region.

Sources and References.

  • Townley, John M. “Early Development of El Dorado Canyon and Searchlight Mining Districts.” Nevada Historical Society Quarterly 11, no. 1 (Spring 1968).
  • Carlson, Helen S. Nevada Place Names: A Geographical Dictionary. University of Nevada Press, 1974.
  • Additional context from Nevada historical markers and steamboat histories of the Colorado River.

Nelson Nevada and Eldorado Canyon – Clark County Ghost Town

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Nelson, Nevada, is a small unincorporated community in Clark County, located in the rugged hills of El Dorado Canyon about 45 minutes south of Las Vegas along Nevada Highway 165. The canyon itself drains into the Colorado River (now part of Lake Mohave) and is best known for the historic Techatticup Mine—one of the oldest, richest, and most famous gold mines in southern Nevada. Together, Nelson and El Dorado Canyon represent a classic chapter in Nevada’s mining heritage: from early Spanish exploration and a violent 19th-century gold rush to 20th-century wartime production and today’s preserved tourist site. What began as a remote, lawless mining district became one of the most productive areas in the state’s southern history.

Rock spires carved by erosion located in Eldorado Canyon, Nelson, Nevada.
Rock spires carved by erosion located in Eldorado Canyon, Nelson, Nevada.

Pre-European History and Early European Contact

Long before miners arrived, the area was home to Ancestral Puebloans, followed by Paiute and Mojave tribes who lived along the Colorado River corridor for centuries. In 1775, Spanish surveyors exploring the canyon along the Colorado River discovered rich deposits of gold, silver, and lead. They named the canyon “Eldorado” (Spanish for “golden”) and established a small settlement at the river’s mouth, but the silver quantities proved too low to sustain operations, and they soon moved on—missing the far richer gold veins hidden in the canyon walls.

The Southwest Mining Company Quartz mill located just off the Colorado River.
The Southwest Mining Company Quartz mill located just off the Colorado River.

The 19th-Century Mining Boom (1850s–1870s)

Serious prospecting began in the 1850s when American miners sluiced streams feeding the Colorado River. In 1857–1858, steamboat captain George Alonzo Johnson formally named the canyon El Dorado after noting gold and silver deposits. The real rush ignited in April 1861 when Mojave Chief Irataba guided prospector John Moss to a rich silver (and gold/copper) vein. Word spread rapidly, triggering one of the largest mining booms in southern Nevada history and the formation of the Colorado Mining District (later called the Eldorado Canyon District).

The Salvage Vein—a vertically stacked ribbon of ore—became the focus. The most famous operation was the Techatticup Mine (named from Paiute words meaning “hungry” or “bread,” because local Paiutes came to the camps begging for food). Other key mines included the Wall Street, Queen City, Gettysburg, and Savage. These produced millions of dollars in gold, silver, copper, and lead over decades. Ore was initially shipped by steamboat down the Colorado River to Yuma, Arizona, and then to San Francisco. A 10-stamp steam-powered mill (the first in the canyon) was built in 1863 at El Dorado City near the river, cutting transportation costs.

Several mining camps sprang up: San Juan (upper canyon, near modern Nelson), Alturas and Louisville (mid-canyon near Techatticup), and Colorado City/El Dorado City at the river landing. During the Civil War, the area even hosted rival camps—Lucky Jim (Confederate sympathizers) and Buster Falls (Union)—highlighting the national divisions that spilled into the remote desert.

Many structures are still standing, Nelson, Nevada.
Many structures are still standing, Nelson, Nevada.

Lawlessness and the “Wild West” Reputation

El Dorado Canyon earned a notorious reputation for violence that rivaled Tombstone, Arizona. Its extreme isolation—hundreds of miles from the nearest sheriff in Pioche or Hiko—meant law enforcement rarely ventured in. Claim-jumping, shootings over ownership and labor disputes, greed, and vigilante justice were daily occurrences. Many miners were Civil War deserters seeking anonymity. Murders were so common that they barely made headlines. The U.S. Army established Camp El Dorado in 1867 at the canyon mouth to protect steamboat traffic and deter Paiute raids, but it was abandoned two years later.

Infamous figures included Paiute renegade Ahvote and Cocopah serial killer Queho, who murdered over 20 people in the early 1900s (one victim near the Techatticup Mine in 1919). Locals formed posses for justice when authorities could not respond.

The Rise of Nelson and 20th-Century Operations

The original riverfront town of Eldorado gradually declined after the 1870s. In 1905 a new hub emerged about seven miles up-canyon and was named Nelson (after early settler Charles Nelson). A 50-ton smelter was built, sparking a second boom. Mining slowed in the early 1900s but revived in the late 1930s to supply ore for the U.S. military during World War II. The Techatticup Mine—the longest-lived and most productive in the district—finally closed around 1941–1945 due to rising labor costs.

The construction of Davis Dam in the 1950s created Lake Mohave, flooding the old Nelson’s Landing, stamp mill site, and lower canyon. The historic cemetery was relocated one mile upstream to avoid inundation

The steamboat Mohave departing the landing in El Dorado Canyon.
The steamboat Mohave departing the landing in El Dorado Canyon.

Modern Era and Tourism

Today, only about 35 people live in Nelson, a quiet cluster of homes and remnants of the mining past. The Techatticup Mine site (51 acres) was purchased in 1994 by Tony and Bobbie Werly and their family. They restored buildings, cleared tunnels, installed lighting and safety features, and opened guided tours that explore both above- and below-ground sections (about 500 feet deep). The site now functions as a museum and living-history attraction with antique vehicles, mining artifacts, a gift shop, and even a wedding chapel. It has also served as a filming location for movies such as Breakdown (1997) and 3000 Miles to Graceland (2001), whose crashed airplane prop remains on display.

El Dorado Canyon is no longer an active mining district but a scenic desert landscape popular with hikers, photographers, and history buffs. Visitors can explore the preserved “ghost town” feel—rusting machinery, weathered buildings, and canyon views—while remembering its turbulent past of riches, bloodshed, and resilience.

Mill in Eldorado Canyon, circa 1890
Mill in Eldorado Canyon, circa 1890

Founded in 1905 Nelson, Nevada is located some seven miles west at the head of Eldorado Canyon. The town of Nelson slumped for two decades beginning in 1909, but the 1930’s found a resurgence in gold production. By 1941, the three cyanide mills processed 220 tons of ore daily. The population reached 600 persons, however increased costs caused the gold production to slow and eventually cease. The Techatticip mine produced over half of the total gold produced in the area. The gold produced by the region has an estimated valued at $10,000,000.00.

In 1951, Davis Damn is completed. The original town site in Eldorado canyon was buried and drowned by the rising waters of Lake Mojave.

A visitors center and store are open to those who travel here. Nelson, Nevada
A visitors center and store are open to those who travel here. Nelson, Nevada

Today

Today, the town of Nelson hosts some 37 people in the 2010 census. The older section of town hosts many old buildings, ruins, cars, mining equipment and all in all is an eclectic collection of mining and western history. The current occupants have a wonderful collection of old mining gear and western history, mixed with an eclectic collection of art.

Nelson, Nevada

Conclusion

From Spanish dreams of El Dorado in 1775 to the chaotic gold rush of the 1860s, Civil War tensions, and World War II production, Nelson and El Dorado Canyon encapsulate the boom-and-bust cycle of Nevada mining. The Techatticup Mine’s millions in precious metals helped shape the American West, even as lawlessness and isolation defined daily life. Today, the restored site offers a safe window into that wild history—just a short drive from Las Vegas—preserving the stories of the miners, outlaws, and dreamers who once called this canyon home. For those interested in touring, reservations are required through Eldorado Canyon Mine Tours.

Nelson, Nevada is a quiet destination worthy of a few hours if you are in the area.
Nelson, Nevada is a quiet destination worthy of a few hours if you are in the area.

Nelson and El Dorado trail map