Gerlach Travel Guide

The gateway to the Black Rock Desert, Gerlach is a small town filled with small wonders. Although the town was established by the Western Pacific Railroad as late as 1905, the town's historical significance dates to prehistory. For centuries early man settled in this region, finding it plentiful in spring water, food and natural shelter. In more recent history, triangle-shaped Black Rock Mountain served as a compass point for pioneers en route to Oregon and California's gold country. These hardy immigrants traveled from spring to spring, stopping in Gerlach before passing through High Rock Canyon, where you can still find their names carved into barren rock as testimony to their ordeals.

Today, Gerlach is home to the historic Water Tower Park and Bruno's Country Club.  Often Gerlach is the home base for people traveling to the Black Rock Desert.