In the Ghost Town of Logan City, Nevada. Photo by Kathy Alexander.
In 2021, we had a mountain adventure in Nevada to the ghost town of Logan City.
According to Lincoln County Tourism, this area of Nevada was home to the Southern Paiute when, in 1863, Missionary William Hamblin scouted the area for settlements. A tribesman showed Hamblin some rocks that he called “panagari” or “panacker”, which turned out to be silver ore. Hamblin returned the following year and established claims in the region, subsequently creating the Meadow Valley Mining District.
The town of Logan was settled in 1865 after the discovery of silver on the eastern slope of Mount Irish, about 2.5 miles south of Mount Irish Peak. It was also known as Logan, Logan Springs, and Logans’ Springs due to a small spring called Logan Springs, which provided the necessary water for survival. Some reports indicate the Paiute drove away the original prospectors; however, they quickly returned and forced the tribe out of the area.
A stone house built later in Logan City, Nevada
Within a few months of setting up, the mining camp had a population of over 100. There was a bit of excitement in 1866 when Nevada Governor Henry Blasdel, along with 20 people, decided to venture from Carson City with the intention of organizing Lincoln County at nearby Crystal Springs. During the trip, they made their way through Death Valley and eventually ran out of supplies and food. One man died, and others survived on lizards and other desert animals. Governor Blasdel and another man saved the group after racing to Logan City to obtain supplies to transport them to Crystal Springs. It would be another year before Lincoln County was organized, with Hiko in the valley below Logan City as the County Seat.
By 1868, a mill was built in Hiko to process the Logan City mining. That same year, Logan City gained a post office and had a population of 300.
Logan City’s population began to decline in 1869 due to the silver veins lacking depth and the discovery of new veins in Pioche. Declining further, the town was abandoned and the Post Office closed by 1871.
Logan City (aka Logan Springs), Nevada, in 1871.
Petroglyphs in the Mount Irish, Nevada Wilderness.
Getting to the ghost town of Logan City is an adventure in itself. If you take Highway 318 out of Crystal Springs and up to Nesbitt Lake, there is a dirt road through BLM land called Logan Canyon Road. You really should map it first, as you might not see it from the highway. A gate is at the entrance that asks you to close it on your way through. We hope you are in a high-clearance vehicle with four-wheel drive for this adventure.
As you near the Mt. Irish Wilderness, you’ll find areas of Petroglyphs. There are some Bureau of Land Management markers nearby to help you find them, so be on the lookout.
After a jaunt of about 9 miles (that takes over 20 minutes) up into the mountains, you’ll reach Logan City, which has quite the view. Today, Logan City and Mount Irish Wilderness are frequented by off-road vehicles and hikers. There are several remains and ruins of the original settlement, mainly foundations. There is also a stone house that was built by someone who prospected again in the area around the 1950s.
While you are in the area, take a drive down the Extraterrestrial Highway out of Crystal Springs and see the Alien Research Center just outside of town. You are near the infamous Area 51 here.
The view from the Ghost Town of Logan City toward Hiko and Crystal Springs in the valley below.
©Dave Alexander/Legends of America, updated September 2025.
Extraterrestrial Highway Sign near Crystal Springs by Kathy Alexander.
Also See:
Giant Rabbits and an Off-Road Nail Biter in Nevada (Travel Blog)
Ghost Towns & Mining Camps of Nevada
Pioche, Nevada – Wildest Town in the Silver State
Caliente, Nevada – Steeped in Railroad History
Silver Mining in the United States
See Sources.