Bristol Wells Town Site

Bristol Wells Town Site is an abandoned mining settlement on the west side of Bristol Mountain, featuring stone buildings and two standing charcoal kilns from the mining era. The site also includes a cemetery and the foundations of several other structures from that period.

The settlement started in 1870 with mining claims and went through several name changes as silver and lead ore were extracted from the region. The town grew during the height of mining activity and left behind structures reflecting this era of expansion.

The stone buildings and cemetery show how miners lived and worked in Nevada's harsh desert, with structures that reflect their daily routines and survival strategies. These ruins reveal the close connection between industrial work and family life in remote mining settlements.

The site sits roughly 35 kilometers northwest of Pioche and requires a vehicle with good clearance for rough dirt roads, especially during winter weather. Plan extra travel time for unpaved roads and bring water and supplies for the desert environment.

An aerial tramway built in 1908 carried ore from this settlement to a nearby processing point and then to a railroad connection. This transportation system reveals how isolated mining camps connected to broader commercial networks.