An authentic 1920s ranch cookhouse houses the Battle Mountain Cookhouse Museum. The building originally came from the Battle Mountain area and offers a glimpse into different aspects of local history.
Ranching, Railroads and Churches: Discover the History
The museum displays artifacts from local Paiute and Shoshone groups, remnants of cattle ranching, and items from the local schoolhouse. A collection of cameras and old copper stills round out the exhibits. Here, you can explore a range of subjects—from the region’s cultures to ranching, education and everyday objects.
The railroad history is also precisely dated: Battle Mountain was the operating headquarters of the Central Nevada Railway from 1880 to 1938, and of the Battle Mountain and Lewis Railroad from 1881 to 1890. These two periods give the town a clearly defined historical connection to these railroad companies.
Austin was established after William Talcott discovered silver on May 2, 1862; in 1863, the town became the seat of Lander County. Three churches that are nearly 150 years old are also part of Austin’s history. St. Augustine’s Catholic Church was built in 1866 with local bricks and stone fired or worked at the Austin Brickyard. St. George’s Episcopal Church was consecrated in 1878 and still holds weekly services. Both churches are currently active.
Stokes Castle was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. Admission is free, but the grounds are surrounded by a fence. Check in advance whether a visit is possible.
Peaks, Canyons and Wildlife
At 9,678 feet, Mount Lewis is the highest peak in Lander County. A rocky, remote OHV route winds through Lewis Canyon and climbs to the summit. You can also explore the canyon on foot via the gravel road to the summit. This gives you two different ways to get around: the OHV route or the gravel road.
Wild horses live in the Bald Mountain Herd Management Area, along with mule deer, sage-grouse, chukar, pronghorn, coyotes and mountain lions. The area encompasses steep mountain ranges, broad valley floors and elevations of 5,500 to 8,500 feet. Its landscape and wildlife give the area its own distinctive character.
Lander County has 2.6 million acres of public land managed for multiple uses, including hiking, biking, fishing and wildlife viewing. Biking is also connected to State Route 305 in a specific way: the World Human Powered Speed Challenge uses a five-mile stretch of the road near Battle Mountain.
Petroglyphs and Route Planning
Ancient petroglyphs can be seen at the Hickison Petroglyph Recreation Area. You can walk, picnic and camp there—a combination of cultural heritage and outdoor activities. To reach the Mill Creek Recreation Area, a signed turnoff from SR 305, 20 miles south of Battle Mountain, continues along a maintained gravel road.
The Toiyabe Crest Trail calls for different planning: the route has steep climbs, little tree cover and long stretches without water. Careful supply planning is essential. These details help you consider this hike as a distinct trip-planning choice rather than equating it with the shorter options at a recreation area.
Discover more destinations: Battle Mountain, Clark, Churchill County, Elko County, Nye, Lincoln County, Washoe, White Pine County.
For the main travel overview: Nevada.
