Bay Horse - Idaho Ghost Town

BAY HORSE

NAME: Bay Horse
COUNTY: Custer
ROADS: 2WD
GRID: 4
CLIMATE: Cool winter and summer.
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Anytime.

COMMENTS: Be sure to see the charcoal ovens.From the active Idaho town of Challis, just north of the intersection of Idaho S.R.93 and S.R.75 , follow S.R.75 south approx.7 miles from this intersection. Find Forestry Rt. 051 (heads WNW of S.R.75). Take this route west for about two miles. Private Property.1. Bayhorse is NOT a safe area to explore. Specifically - DO NOT GO THROUGH OR OVER THE FENCES IN THE TOWN. FURTHERMORE - DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ENTER ANY BUILDINGS THERE. Bayhorse is in fact a beautiful area to visit - HOWEVER - IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT YOU DO NOT GO INTO AN AREA THAT IS FENCED OFF. THE MINING THAT WAS DONE HERE WAS SILVER MINING. DUE TO THIS FACT - THERE ARE HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF TOXIC POISONS, ETC. INSIDE THESE BUILDINGS, ETC. 2. Also - when exploring the area around Bayhorse, WATCH OUT FOR RATTLESNAKES!!! - ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU WANT TO EXPLORE THE OLD CHARCOAL OVENS. I DO NOT ADVISE GOING INTO THE AREA WHERE THE CHARCOAL OVENS ARE LOCATED. IF YOU DO - BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL AND VIGILANT. THIS SAME RULE GOES FOR THE ENTRE TOWNSITE OF Bayhorse.
REMAINS: Charcoal ovens.

North of SunValley on highway on 93 west of the Salmon River a few miles is Bay Horse, a town that was almost a ghost town before it got started. Hopes for another gold mine to rival the mine at Leesburg faded quickly when only a small amount of gold was found. In the process, however, a rich vein of silver was discovered and Bay Horse had its start in the early 1870s. The most productive years were in the 80s and 90s before the vein began to be less productive. Operations continued until 1915 and then were shut down and the town abandoned. Of interest to tourists today are the charcoal ovens used to make charcoal for the smelter and some buildings along the dirt main street of Bay Horse. Submitted by Henry Chenoweth. Bayhorse Kilns Courtesy Rick and Brenda Homme Bayhorse Cemetery Courtesy Rick and Brenda Homme Bayhorse Main Street Courtesy Rick and Brenda Homme Bayhorse Mill Courtesy Rick and Brenda Homme Bayhorse Saloon Courtesy Rick and Brenda Homme Bayhorse Tram Base Courtesy Rick and Brenda Homme	Charcoal kilns Courtesy Dolores Steele Ruins Courtesy Dolores Steele Cabin with earth roof Courtesy Dolores Steele Old Cemetery - overgrown with trees Courtesy Dolores Steele Bayhorse Map Courtesy Rick and Brenda Homme Bayhorse Courtesy Ted Lease Bayhorse Courtesy Ted Lease

North of SunValley on highway on 93 west of the Salmon River a few miles is Bay Horse, a town that was almost a ghost town before it got started. Hopes for another gold mine to rival the mine at Leesburg faded quickly when only a small amount of gold was found. In the process, however, a rich vein of silver was discovered and Bay Horse had its start in the early 1870s. The most productive years were in the 80s and 90s before the vein began to be less productive. Operations continued until 1915 and then were shut down and the town abandoned. Of interest to tourists today are the charcoal ovens used to make charcoal for the smelter and some buildings along the dirt main street of Bay Horse. Submitted by Henry Chenoweth.