Virginia City Wild West Day Trip

Silver, saloons and a steam train

⏱ Full day (about 8-10 hours)👤 All ages$$

The Comstock Lode was discovered in 1859 and by the 1870s Virginia City had around 25,000 people, opera houses, a stock exchange and a newspaper that employed a young writer named Samuel Clemens, who took the name Mark Twain here. The boom ended, the population fell to a few hundred, and the town froze in time. Today C Street is a National Historic Landmark of brick storefronts, wooden boardwalks, saloons and gift shops, with the old mine buildings and cemetery still on the hillside above.

A day trip from Lake Tahoe handles the driving, which is a plus on the steep road up from the Carson Valley. The tour crosses the Sierra crest and drops into Nevada, with commentary on the route, and then gives you time on foot in town. Most visitors spend the time wandering C Street, ducking into saloons, touring a historic mansion or mine, and having a meal. When the Virginia and Truckee Railroad is operating, the day often includes a steam or heritage train ride along a stretch of the old line to Gold Hill, one of the nicest short train rides in the West.

Know the season. The train and some attractions operate in the warm months, and winter days can be cold, snowy and quiet, with some businesses closed on weekdays. The town sits at about 6,200 feet, so dress for wind and sun. Wear comfortable shoes for the steep boardwalks, bring cash for small shops and be prepared for a full day of 8 to 10 hours depending on the itinerary. If you drive yourself rather than join a tour, allow about 90 minutes each way from South Lake Tahoe and keep Mount Davidson and the Carson Valley views in mind. Pair it with an evening back at the lake to compare the two Wests, silver and sapphire.