Exploring historic Tunnel Camp, Vernon, Nevada

Hanging lamp at a small cemetery in the foothills of the Seven Troughs Range: historic Tunnel Camp can be seen further back in the “trough.” The cemetery (I counted 7 crosses) holds the remains of those who tragically died in a flash flood in nearby Mazuma.  

Once you have crossed the Trinity Range northwest of Lovelock in Nevada and are driving downhill into Sage Valley, you can spot a cluster of dark-colored structures in the foothills of the Seven Troughs Range. These are buildings of Tunnel Camp—also known as New Seven Troughs [1]—a historic mining camp dating from the area's early 20th-cenrury mining boom. Tunnel Camp is the best preserved mining camp of the Seven Troughs District, which also includes Vernon and Mazuma.

Bunkhouse, storage building or assay lab?

When I was visiting the area with a friend in September 2024 we parked near the cemetery with the hanging lamps (one featured above) and did a one-mile-plus loop hike—counterclockwise, uphill the dirt road, crisscross through the camp and back downhill to the cemetery. 

Tunnel Camp was actually alive for only a short time (1927-1934). Within that time it “grew to include thirty structures, including stores, a brick mine office, bunkhouses, bathhouses, powerhouses, and homes for the superintendents and higher-level employees. Many of the structures in the new town were relocated from nearby Vernon. Additionally, trees were planted, watered with drainage from the tunnel.” [1].

Here, I am showing a few snapshots, followed by a brief description on how to get to Tunnel Camp. The listed references and selected websites provide additional information to further get to know the Seven Troughs District and its time [1-3] .

The five stamps of the “5-stamp” mill.

Upper structure of the “5-stamp” mill

Uphill from the “5-stamp” mill: view of Sage Valley

Tunnel Camp's brick mine office

Graffiti inside the brick building: a ghost is watching you

“Mining apparel” left behind in one of the smaller buildings

Getting to Tunnel Camp

Paved road section. Tunnel Camp is located at the southern end of the Seven Troughs Range about 14 miles northwest of Lovelock. From the round courthouse in Lovelock head eastward on Central Ave, which continues as N Meridian Rd. Turn west onto Pitt Road (continuing as Seven Troughs Rd). This is the beginning of State Route 399 (Ruta Estatal de Nevada 399). Follow this road over Trinity Pass (elev. 5387 ft.). 

Y-junction sign

Dirt road section. At the Y-junction, where State Route 399 continues as a paved road to Eagle Picher Mines, take the right fork, which is the continuation of Seven Troughs Rd—now a dirt road taking you into Sage Valley. When arriving at another Y-junction, where a sign gives the left-side direction “Seven Troughs - Vernon - Porter Springs” and the right side direction “Stonehouse - Placeritas - Rosebud-Sulphur.” Follow the latter until arriving at the “hanging lamps cemetery” or directly in “central ghost-town.”

References and more to explore

[1] Tunnel Camp, Nevada Ghost Town. December 30, 2021. URL: https://nvtami.com/2021/12/30/tunnel-camp-nevada-ghost-town/.

[2] Tunnel Camp and the Seven Troughs District, Vernon, Nevada. URL: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/tunnel-camp-and-the-seven-troughs-district.

[3]  Tunnel Camp - Lovelock, Nv. - 7 Troughs Mining District. URL: https://www.greatbasinbicycles.com/new-blog/2018/10/25/tunnel-camp-lovelock-nv-7-troughs-mining-district.