WARD CHARCOAL OVENS

Giant structures stand sentinel over a landscape ripe with adventure.

Tucked back in the Egan Mountains about 30 miles south of Ely—and an hour from Great Basin National Park—is Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park. As you approach, you’ll spot its six massive beehive-shaped charcoal ovens peeking over the hills, a sign you’re in for a very different state park experience.

Get it stamped! The Nevada State Parks Passport can be picked up at any Nevada State Park and serves as a travelogue for visitors. It includes photos, park descriptions, amenity lists, and spaces for validation stamps. Once you have your booklets stamped at 15 different parks, you earn one free annual pass to all Nevada State Parks! Call 775-684-2770 for more information.

Coming Soon

Nearby Cave Lake State Park is undergoing a major dam restoration project, and while the two campgrounds remain open for use, the lake is closed to the public. The project is expected to be completed by summer 2024.

The ovens date back to 1876, when they were used to turn pinyon pine and juniper into charcoal, which was crucial to the smelters used in ore processing for the nearby Ward Mining District. After the mining boom ended, the ovens were abandoned but used by travelers as shelter and—according to legend— a hiding place for stagecoach bandits. The state was given the land in 1969 and designated it a historic monument. Ward Charcoal Ovens became a state park in 1994.

surrounded by pinyon and juniper forests—plus lots of sagebrush—and there are many camping options including two large pull-through spots. Even if you’re not staying a few days, make sure to stop at one of the day-use areas after viewing the ovens for a picnic. Grills, restrooms, and endless views await.

With this state park as your base camp, many recreational opportunities await in the surrounding hills. For the anglers in your party, the park’s own Willow Creek is stocked with rainbow, German brown, and brook trout. Hikers and mountain bikers have their pick between seven nearby trails, each with varying degrees of difficulty, that can be chained together for a longer excursion. This is also an excellent trailhead for OHV exploration, and the thousands of acres of surrounding Bureau of Land Management land will have you returning every year.

State Parks

Stay Another Day

Great Basin National Park is Nevada’s only national park and so close to Ward Charcoal Ovens,

Flip to pg. 97 for the entire list of Nevada state parks along with their amenities, recreational activities, and more.