If you’ve spent any time exploring Death Valley, California, then you know that there’s so much to see across this incredibly interesting and hopelessly vast desert landscape. Here’s one place you especially need to know about: Panamint City. Once a successful mining town, the remains of this long-abandoned community are an eerie reminder of what once was. You should know, though, that it’s only accessible via a 7.5-mile-long, strenuous hike. The hike is no joke, but seeing this old ghost town for yourself is so worth it, we promise. This is one of the coolest abandoned places in Southern California! Check it out and see for yourself:

Once a silver and copper boomtown near Death Valley, all that remains of Panamint City are a few dilapidated buildings and rusting artifacts.
Carla Fedde/AllTrails
To find them, you'll have to take on a strenuous, 7.5-mile trek through a canyon. And yes, it's worth every step! It's tough, but it's quite literally as awe-inspiring as it is difficult.
Founded in 1873 or 1874, Panamint City had a reputation as a lawless city that was rife with the "bad and wicked."
Jasmine Star/AllTrails
In fact, Wells Fargo refused to open an office here due to its infamy! During its time, the town had a population of around 2,000 residents. Things were a little wild... to say the least.
The trailhead to the abandoned town can be found along Surprise Canyon Road at Chris Wicht Camp, just northeast of Ballarat.
Jasmine Star/AllTrails
Parking is available at the trailhead, where you'll set off immediately into the canyon's rugged setting.

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Both Surprise Canyon Road and Panamint City are located in a "cherry stem", which means that these areas are excluded from the officially designated wilderness area.
Robert Pelletier/AllTrails
This designation ensures that the historic town will continue to be publicly accessible.
Vehicular access to Panamint City is blocked by a BLM gate, so you can only access it via the hiking trail.
Zach Wilson/AllTrails
The trail steadily gains elevation as it winds through canyon narrows and ledges. It's rated as difficult, so only attempt if you are an experienced hiker. There's a lot of climbing and scrambling involved, so be ready.
Upon reaching the ghost town, you'll be struck by how many of the buildings and structures are still fully intact.
Kirk Kittell/Flickr
There's a large smokestack, miner's cabins, and lots of old mining equipment. Some hikers even camp inside the cabins. Remember to use caution when exploring these old buildings - their sturdiness is not guaranteed.
The hike to Panamint City is certainly a challenge, but most hikers are so enamored with the lush scenery and fascinating history that it's hard to notice!
Douglas Heder/AllTrails
See the trail map and plan your adventure to this ghost town on the official BLM website.

Did you know about this long-abandoned ghost town in Southern California? Will you be adding this ghost town hike to your bucket list? Let us know in the comments!

If you can’t get enough of all the amazing hiking trails in Southern California, you might also want to check out some of the best scenic hikes in Southern California (one for every month of the year).

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Panamint City Hike

Tori Jane | January 09, 2023
  1. How long is the Panamint City hike in Southern California?  

The “Panamint City Hike” is actually a 12.6-mile, challenging adventure by the name of Surprise Canyon Trail. It’s open year-round, and we strongly recommend it for a day trip, as it takes around eight and a half hours to complete. It’s worth every step, we promise!  

2. What was Panamint City?  

Nowadays, Panamint City is a ghost town in Southern California nearby Death Valley. Once upon a time, it was a booming mining town after copper and silver was discovered in the area in 1872. At its peak, the town had around 2,000 residents. Panamint City is just one of more than 300 ghost towns in California, and it just so happens to be one of our favorite abandoned places, too. Other ghost towns in Southern California include:  

 

3. What are some other interesting abandoned places in Southern California? 

Of course, the list of abandoned places in Southern California doesn’t end with just the ghost towns. There are plenty of other interesting abandoned places in Southern California worth mentioning, such as:  

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