7 Colorado ghost towns to explore this fall
Creak. Creak. Creak.
Filled with history and spooky sounds, abandoned towns tug at our desire for intrigue.
Former mining camps, mysterious narratives of failure and the touch of what was still on the doorknob.
The structures still standing, empty, for only those daring to visit them.
Before You Go
– Always check weather conditions as many of these towns are located in remote areas of rough terrain.
– Remember that all structures and buildings are aged and could be damaged easily, so be gentle and leave no trace.
– Some towns may not be accessible by 2-wheel drive vehicles, especially when not in the summer season.
With that said, check out these ghost towns around the state this spooky season:
Animas Forks
Location: 12 miles northeast of Silverton, southwest Colorado
Animas Forks was founded in the late 1870s and had over 400 residents at its peak, according to 303 Magazine. The town was abandoned when several mines around the town began to decline. The best way to explore this town in the San Juan Mountains is by Jeep or other high clearance 4×4 vehicle, according to Hashtag Colorado Life.
Carson
Location: south of Lake City, southwest Colorado
Mining also brought hundreds of people to Carson, which was established in the late 1880s. According to Hashtag Colorado Life, Carson is one of the best-preserved ghost towns in Colorado due to the difficulty to access it. You will most likely need a 4×4 vehicle to visit this location.
Independence
Location: 16 miles east of Aspen, western Colorado
Independence was once home to many miners and around 40 businesses, according to 303 Magazine. There was a catastrophic blizzard in 1899 which drove most residents out of the area. To this day, this area gets feet of snow from around October to May, so plan accordingly.
Vicksburg
Location: 10 miles west of Granite, western Colorado
Vicksburg is named after Vick Keller, who owned the general store in the late 1800s. At its peak, the town had a schoolhouse, two hotels and two saloons, according to Hashtag Colorado Life. Check out the small museum in town as well as the cabin buildings.
Caribou City
Location: 5 miles north of Nederland, northwest Colorado
In the 1870s, Caribou City was at the forefront of the silver rush in Colorado, being able to produce about $8 million, according to 303 Magazine. Its decline occurred in the 1920s and a few structures remain including beautiful stone buildings.
St. Elmo
Location: 20 miles southwest of Buena Vista, western Colorado
Even though St. Elmo is still considered a ghost town, there are still a few residents living at the site and the general store is usually open during the summer. There is also a former town hall and jail that contains a lot of historical information about St. Elmo.
Crystal
Location: 6 miles east of Marble, western Colorado
Named after the Crystal River that runs through the town, Crystal was established for mining camps in the 1880s. Even though visitors can no longer access the photogenic Crystal Mill, you can still explore the site with its abandoned buildings and view other features that make this ghost town one of Colorado’s most memorable.
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