Panamint City
This Panamint Range ghost town sprung up after silver and copper was found nearby in 1872.
Plan Around Panamint City
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Panamint City Details
This Panamint Range ghost town sprung up after silver and copper was found nearby in 1872. Within two years, Panamint had swelled to include 2,000 inhabitants living largely along a mile-long main street lined with mills, saloons, stores, and whorehouses. The city's colorful history includes the fact that the silver was initially discovered by bandits hiding out in nearby Surprise Canyon, and Panamint never really shook its reputation as a lawless place. The town began emptying out in 1875 as the sliver vein largely ran dry (although some mining continued), and a flash flood the next year wiped out most of the town. As a result there's not much left to see for modern visitors; the most prominent remnant is the chimney of the town's ore smelter. Panamint City is accessible via a 5-mile hike from Chris Wicht's Camp, which in turn is located 6 miles northeast of the ghost town of Ballarat.
Difficulty
Low
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Nearby Parks Around Panamint City
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Nearby Points of Interest Around Panamint City
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Panamint City while the map context is still fresh.
3.6 mi away
Panamint Range
The 100-mile long Panamint Range forms the mountainous western side of Death Valley.
3.6 mi away
Telescope Peak
The 11,000-foot Telescope Peak was first climbed when the U.S. Civil War was still in progress.
4.8 mi away
Surprise Canyon
The strenuous trail to Surprise Canyon used to be shared with off-road vehicles, but the route was closed to vehicles after the road was washed out.
6.0 mi away
Hungry Bill's Ranch Trail
The site of the historic, 1870s Hungry Bill's Ranch is a destination for both backpackers and off-road drivers.
6.9 mi away
Rogers Peak
At nearly 10,000 feet high, Rogers Peak is among the highest points in the Panamint Mountains.
