Camp McGarry was a military outpost in remote far northwestern Nevada at Summit Lake. It was established on November 23, 1865 by the California Calvary. It has some unique attributes. It was named for Civil War hero, Brevet Brigadier General Edward
McGarry.
Contrary to popular belief that it was established for the protection emigrants of Lassen-Appelgate Trail, that was not the case at all. Its location was far removed from the Trail. It was for the protection of the mail route. The fastest way from San Francisco to the Idaho mines, was via Susanville, to Smoke Creek and Black Rock Deserts, then headed north via Summit Lake. On October 14, 1865, the Idaho-California Stage and Fast Freight was incorporated with its headquarters in Susanville. The incorporation papers states that the sole purpose was “to operate stage and fast freight from Chico, California via Puebla Valley to Ruby City and Boise, Idaho.” The Company was able to obtain the government’s lucrative tri-weekly mail route contract from Chico to Ruby City at $45,000 a year. The initial 427-mile trip from Chico to Idaho took three and a half days. It would be a short-lived operation. In 1868 the Central Pacific Railroad tracks were laid into Nevada reaching Winnemucca, and that reduced travel by half. On December 18, 1868 Camp McGarry was abandoned, the troops transferred to Camp Winfield Scott, at Paradise Valley, Nevada. On March 25, 1871 the military relinquished the Summit Lake territory and it was transferred to the U.S. Department of Interior. Today, a portion of it, is part of the Summit Lake Indian Reservation.
Camp McGarry was the largest Nevada military reserve with land comprising seventy-five square miles. An unusual feature there was the use of underground passages connecting the barn, mess hall, and barracks .
Another unusual trait, it had a summer and winter location. The harsh winter conditions at Summit Lake forced the camp to move to what become known as Soldier Meadows, just north of the Black Rock Desert. Remnants exist at both locations. However, Summit Lake site is not accessible to the public it being a part of the Summit Lake Indian Reservation. The southern encampment is now the headquarters of the Soldier Meadows Guest Ranch.