Potosi Spring Road

Potosi Spring Road is a short, dead-end spur road leading to the site of the Potosi mine and mining camp, the oldest mine in southern Nevada. Originally located in 1856, when a Paiute Indian showed Mormon miners where they could find heavy rock, the mine had several rises and falls over the next 75 years as it pulled zinc and lead out of the ground. Today, the area has few remains, with mostly concrete foundations and a few collapsed mine shafts. The road up to the mining camp climbs sharply from Potosi Pass Road and is relatively rough and rocky, with grapefruit-sized rocks and several 6''-10'' ledges to contend with. The road is 1.5 vehicles wide and could present passing challenges if meeting oncoming traffic, but there are several wide spots and good line of site along the trail. Just before the building remains, you can find 2-3 small campsites along the ridgeline overlooking Sandy Valley. The road dead-ends at the camp, but to reach the mine site, you will need to hike 0.5 miles southeast along the top of the ridge.

This road is suitable for any high-clearance 4x4 and is not recommended for low-clearance AWD vehicles.