Trail Overview
The Trail Canyon Spur is a captivating and technical out-and-back that carries travelers high into the rugged interior of the Toiyabe Range. This route is an essential choice for those seeking to escape the desert heat. As you ascend, the typical sagebrush gives way to a dense, fragrant forest of Pinyon Pine and Utah Juniper, eventually offering a much cooler mountain climate. The spur provides some of the most impressive vistas in the district, featuring unobstructed views of the jagged Masket Peak and the vast, shimmering expanse of the Monitor Valley far below. The drive is engaging with some off-camber sections and washouts. Along the way, you’ll pass the weathered remains of an abandoned mining camp, featuring a remarkably well-preserved cabin made of corrugated steel and the stone foundation of a second structure. Upon reaching the upper terminus, the trail opens into several outstanding dispersed camping areas. These sites are equipped with established rock fire rings and offer flat, level ground paired with stunning views. With its profound sense of solitude and the "ghost-mine" atmosphere, this is a quintessential Nevada backcountry experience.
Expect zero cell service, even at the very top of the spur. The high peaks of the Toiyabe Range create a total signal shadow. Download offline maps before leaving the Tonopah area.
Difficulty
Rated a 3 due to sustained off-camber sections, deep water-carved ruts, and several short, punchy hill climbs. This route has no winter maintenance. Due to the high elevation and north-facing slopes, snowpack often lingers well into the spring, making travel impossible for wheeled vehicles during the colder months.
History
The corrugated steel cabin on this spur represents the mid-20th-century era of Nevada mining. While the 1860s used stone and hand-hewn timber, the miners of the early 1900s utilized more modern, portable materials like corrugated steel to brave the high-altitude winters near Masket Peak. This spur likely served as a dedicated exploratory track for a small mining crew searching for the northern extension of the silver and turquoise leads that defined the region. Today, these ruins stand as silent monuments to the incredible grit required to live and work at 8,000+ feet in the Nevada wilderness.
