Trail Overview

A mostly sandy and sometimes rocky run through a canyon where you'd expect the Jawa to ambush you at any moment (star wars reference)The trail is loose, sandy and occasionally gets rocky throughout with one technical section. Once you emerge on the SW east end it opens into wide-open trails and a big network of trails. There is LTE service in and out the whole time.The trail takes you from the Big Smokey Valley through the canyon and ends at the abandoned ghost town of Coalville. There is LTE service most of the way except in the narrows of the canyon.

Photos of Cutting Through the Jawa Canyon

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Difficulty

Mostly easy graded trail but in the narrows of the canyon, it gets rocky and off-camber, wash crossings are sandy and could be deep after heavy rain.

History

Coaldale--a small town in Esmeralda County that lies 30 miles west of Tonopah--sprang to life in the 1880's due to an increase in coal mining (hence its name.) During its heyday, this now-abandoned town boasted a market, general store, post office, gas station, railroad depot, hotel, and small residential area. By the 1930's, this small town was more of a roadside stop than an actual destination. After EPA testing in 1993 found the service station's underground fuel storage tanks were leaking, the town's residents quickly "closed house" and abandoned their homes and businesses. The real story remains a mystery.

Technical Rating

Ben K

Jul 07, 2025

Open

Went reverse from Coaldale to 265. The first bit out of Coaldale is generic desert washboard with some slightly bigger than average whoops - I believe my front tires went airborne for one. One cautionary note - in a few spots there were chunks of scrap steel sticking out of the berm just waiting to destroy a sidewall. Once you get to the canyon, it's deep pea gravel. I would guess 2' deep, maybe a bit more in places. Momentum was my friend - I maintained 25mph through this stretch and there were a few spots where I got a bit bogged, but never lost it. Note that I was definitely using my skid plate to groom the crown. But nothing that would startle if you have any experience with this kind of gravel. Out of the canyon you go back to badly graded washboard, with one short spot of talc-consistency sand. Otherwise smooth (rough) sailing, but kicking up enough dust to be a hazard when getting onto 265. Stock Pajero on 31's, 4wd without the CDL engaged. Rated 3 if experienced, 4 for newbies.