There are roughly 600 abandoned towns in Nevada, and each one tells a hauntingly beautiful tale of Nevada’s past. In the early 1900s, the tiny town of St. Thomas was a thriving little community founded by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before succumbing to rising river waters. Over the next century, waters have receded now you can take to this once underwater town in Nevada on a scenic hike that’s fairly short and sweet. Let’s check it out:

Founded in 1865, St. Thomas had a population of almost 500 people.
billy kerr/Flickr
The town was made up of farms and small businesses.
The town was originally formed by Mormon settlers who eventually left when it was "moved" from Utah to Nevada with a redrawn land survey.
Lake Mead NRA Public Affairs/Flickr
The state of Nevada tried to collect back taxes from the settlers who decided to leave for the "real" Utah instead.
The abandoned homes were taken over by new Mormon settlers in the 1880s.
Lake Mead NRA Public Affairs/Flickr
The town continued to thrive with the new residents.
With the construction of the Hoover Dam, the waters from the Colorado River began to rise.
Lake Mead NRA Public Affairs/Flickr
Residents were forced to evacuate their homes for good. The last resident of the town left on June 11, 1938, after he set fire to his house and took to his row boat.
At one point the water was 60 feet higher than the tallest building in the town.
Lake Mead NRA Public Affairs/Flickr
Over the years the town remained underwater, becoming just another one of the many Nevada ghost towns. In 2002, Lake Mead's water level dropped, revealing a town that hadn't been seen in almost a century.

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Visitors to the town today can see the foundations of buildings and streets that have been underwater for over 60 years.
James Marvin Phelps/Flickr
The hike itself is fairly level.
email4saundra1/TripAdvisor
It's about a 2-1/2 miles loop and is accessible from September to May.
Visitors can download a "field guide" to the town from the National Park Service website. You can use the guide as you walk around the remains to decipher how the town was once laid out.
James Marvin Phelps/Flickr
Here are the remains of the Hannig Ice Cream Parlor.
St. Thomas has peeked from the depths of Lake Mead a few times since it was first flooded.
Kare4Ever/TripAdvisor
While it is totally exposed now, a change in the drought conditions in Southern Nevada could lead to the town becoming submerged once again. Mother Nature always gets her way, so plan a trip to see this abandoned town in Nevada before it gets flooded again.
To reach the trail from Las Vegas, take the I-15 North to exit 75 (about 50 miles).
Kare4Ever/TripAdvisor
Continue on the Valley of Fire Highway. You will cross Northshore Road - continue along Old Saint Thomas B Road. You can hike into the town from the paved road. There is an alternate dirt road route that is often washed out. If you plan on taking the dirt road, contact the Lake Mead Park service for an update on the road conditions.

Once you’ve checked out this underwater town in Nevada, hop in the car and take this epic road trip that’ll bring you to even more Nevada ghost towns. 

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More to Explore

Abandoned towns in Nevada

Jackie Ann | July 12, 2022

Can I hike to abandoned places in Nevada?

There’s something about exploring an abandoned area that just draws us in. With so many ghost towns in Nevada, you’ll have plenty of options for hiking to abandoned spots. One of our favorite spots is the Stanley B Springs Trail in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area. The trail clocks in at just shy of 2.5 miles and has a little bit of everything, including mountain views, plenty of shade, and even an abandoned mine shaft towards the end of the trail. It’s been barred off for safety reasons, so you won’t be able to explore inside, but you can take a peek if you have a flashlight and see what’s lurking behind the darkness. A little further down the trail, you’ll find two more caves that were turned into mines. These are not barred off, but we wouldn’t recommend venturing in, you never know what critters have claimed it as their home.

Are there any ghost towns in Nevada?

There are over 600 abandoned towns in Nevada, a byproduct of the mining boom. When the mines dried up, the towns dried up as well, leaving many to move on to other towns and start over. Delamar is just one of the many Nevada ghost towns you can visit, and this one, in particular, has a paranormal past to boot. While it was once a successful mining town from 1895-1900, the mine was notorious for the high number of deaths that occurred in the mine. The town even earned the unfortunate nickname of “The Widow Maker” because of this.

What are the best outdoor adventures in Nevada?

While you’re visiting St. Thomas, don’t forget to check out all of the other amazing attractions within Lake Mead National Recreation Area, America’s first and largest national recreation area. From historic railroad hiking trails to kayaking around the lake, you’ll never fun out of things to do at this epic 1.5 million acre natural beauty that’s both in Nevada and Arizona.

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Saint Thomas, St Thomas, NV 89040, USA