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Ghost Towns & Mines

An Epic Backroads Ghost Town Adventure Through Eastern California

There are trips you plan because you know what you’ll find, and then there are trips that completely surprise you. This one was the latter. I had plotted a rough 95-mile route through remote backroads east of the Sierra Nevada, linking a handful of mines and ghost towns that had caught my curiosity on the onX satellite map. I’d never driven this route before, it was pure exploration with just me, my Gladiator, and Luna (my 10-month-old Springer Spaniel) riding shotgun. What I found out there completely blew me away.

A Journey into California’s Forgotten Past

The adventure begins in Bridgeport, a small mountain town framed by the towering Eastern Sierra. After topping off the tank and double checking gear, Luna and I rolled east toward a landscape that feels like a time capsule. Within minutes, the paved roads fade and the trail begins to climb through open sagebrush country. 

Our first destination: Success Mine. There is not much left here, just a filled-in shaft, a long tailing pile and bits of timber scattered around. Standing there, it’s easy to picture the life that once pulsed through this now-silent canyon.

From Success, the route threads deeper into the high desert. Each turn seems to reveal another hidden relic: Chemung Mine, its weathered timber framing the skyline; Serita Mine, half-swallowed by the earth; and the old Masonic Mine Camp, where crumbling stone walls outline what used to be a bustling town.

Everywhere, nature has taken back the land. Wildflowers sprout through collapsed roofs. Marmots dart between rusted ore carts. The only sounds are the wind and the occasional creak of old boards shifting in the sun.

Into the High Country

As the miles add up, the trail becomes more rugged and less defined. I love that kind of driving:  slow, deliberate, focused. The Gladiator crawls up loose rock and across narrow ledges as we climb toward Belfort, one of the most striking ghost towns in the region.

Perched high in the Sweetwater Mountains, Belfort is a collection of cabins and mining ruins clinging to the slope as if time forgot to sweep them away. A few of the structures are still standing, weathered but proud, with the Sierra crest stretching behind them. It’s a hauntingly beautiful stop, and it marks the beginning of the most dramatic leg of the journey.

Beyond Belfort, the trail steepens and the landscape transforms. Red volcanic soil and scattered wildflowers replace the sage in an otherworldly mix that feels more like Mars than California. The climb toward Mt. Patterson, at 11,654 feet, is slow and demanding, but every foot of elevation brings a bigger reward.

At the summit, the world opens up. The ridgelines roll into infinity, the air is thin and still, and the views of the Eastern Sierra are breathtaking. This area is known as “Mars with flowers,” and that’s exactly what it felt like—raw, alien, and alive all at once. It’s one of the most spectacular places I’ve ever found in California.

Ghost Towns in the Sky

From the top of Mt. Patterson, I descended toward the Stone Cabin, perched in rugged isolation with jaw-dropping views across the valley. After an incredible drive down the mountain and the start of our drive along the next leg, we found camp tucked in the woods next to a stream along the Desert Creek Loop trail. Luna curled up beside me and the stars came out by the thousands, bright enough to cast shadows on the ground.

Pine Grove: The Final Chapter

The next morning, I pointed the Gladiator toward Pine Grove, the last ghost town on my route. The drive there was smoother, until it wasn’t, winding through alpine meadows and tight pine trees. I encountered a few more ruts and rocks than I expected, nothing crazy hard, but enough to keep things interesting and the payoff was worth it. Pine Grove is one of those places where history feels tangible. Dozens of structures remain, including cabins, a stamp mill, and what looks like the remains of a saloon. Walking through the ruins, I thought about the determination it must have taken to live and work out here in the late 1800s. No roads, no supply chains, just grit and hope.

That’s what I love about exploring these forgotten places—they’re time machines. Every collapsed cabin and rusted can tells a story about the people who came before us. It’s impossible not to feel connected to them in some small way.

The Practical Side

This adventure covered roughly 95 miles of rugged terrain, and while it’s breathtaking, it’s not a route for the unprepared. Here’s what I learned:

• Fuel: Bridgeport is your last reliable stop. Fill up before heading out there’s nothing beyond it.
• Navigation: The trails are remote and sometimes faint. The onX Offroad App was my lifeline. I had downloaded the entire route as an Offline Map, which was crucial since there’s no cell service for most of the trip.
• Vehicle: A high clearance 4×4 is required. Know how to self recover and bring traction boards, a full-size spare, and a winch. Even in good conditions, these trails will test your setup.
• Camping: Dispersed camping is abundant, and the views are world class. Just remember, you’re on your own out there, so bring plenty of water, food, and fuel.
• Season: Late summer to early fall is ideal. Snow lingers on the higher passes into June, and storms can move in quickly by October.
• Mindset: This isn’t a trip to rush. Give yourself time to explore, to take the wrong turn, to stop and breathe in the silence. That’s where the magic happens.

Reflection

When I set out on this route, I expected a fun exploration. What I didn’t expect was to find some of the most beautiful and haunting landscapes I’ve ever experienced in California. The climb to Mt. Patterson, the rusted relics of Pittsburg Mine, the windswept cabins of Belfort—each stop felt like a chapter in a story that’s still unfolding.

Traveling alone with Luna, there’s a quiet rhythm that takes over. The drive, the discovery, the stillness, it becomes meditative. Out there, miles from anyone, surrounded by history and silence, I was reminded why I love off-road adventure: it’s not about conquering the trail, it’s about connecting with the places that time forgot.

If you’re looking for an unforgettable trip that blends history, challenge, and the kind of solitude that only the backcountry can offer, this one’s it. Just be ready, the ghosts of the Sierra still have stories to tell.