Located near Ely, NV, in the Egan Mountain Range, the park is known for its six beehive-shaped charcoal ovens. At an elevation of 6,000 to 7,000’, hiking, picnicking, and camping are other activities for visitors here. Below is a map of the park.
Silver ore was discovered here in 1872 prompting the Martin & White Company of San Francisco to invest in mining claims and smelters to extract silver ore. The Ward Charcoal Ovens were built in the mid-1870s, to provide the charcoal to fuel the smelters.
Here are some stats I found fascinating:
Dimensions: 27’ diameter x 30’ tall
Capacity: 35 cords of wood per oven
Lumber: 6 acres of trees needed to fill one oven
Produced: 50 bushels of charcoal/cord, 1,750 bushels/oven, 10,500 total bushels
The wood was piled into each oven through the side window and top. The door, window, and top were cemented shut after the fire was started. Openings near the bottom of the oven supplied oxygen to feed the fire that burned for 12 days.
As railroads moved westward, coke made from coal replaced charcoal for the smelting process. This ended the charcoal industry here. These carefully built ovens were in operation from 1876-1879, and the forest was stripped of its trees for about 35 miles.
Once abandoned, the ovens were sometimes used by stranded cowboys and travelers for shelter. Stagecoach bandits also reportedly used them as a hideouts on occasion.
We continued on the trail to where the remains of several lime kilns can be seen.
The lime (made from crushed limestone) was mixed with sand, crushed volcanic tuft, and water to create mortar used to build the ovens.
Large sagebrush bushes dominate the desert, and pinyon/juniper forests grow in higher elevations.
Several covered picnic areas (with grills) are available at the park. A campground can also be found here.
It’s always a treat to see flowers in a desert!
Our next stop was nearby Cave Lake State Park, where we parked near the Cave Springs Trailhead. A kiosk provides trail information and marks the beginning of the trail.
Our sweet doggy, Sadie, was thrilled to find a creek where she could cool down.
The trail gained altitude providing views of the surrounding landscape.
I always enjoy checking out the plants that grow in the various places we hike.
This black moss is so strange looking, but seems to thrive here.
Cave Lake came into view as we hiked a little higher on the trail. Also shown is the view from the opposite side of the mountain.
After hiking, we made a quick stop at Cave Lake where many more hiking trails, fishing, water activities, and a campground can be found. Below is a map of the park.
Families were fishing from the dock and enjoying the beach on the lake. In the distance was the campground.
Day-use fees ($5) are required at both parks. For additional information about Nevada state parks, go to www.parks.nv.gov.
Just love the charcoal ovens. Beautiful pictures. Has to have been a nice experience. Wish we were there to see the desert flowers. Angela
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