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The 10 best Colorado mountain towns to visit for ghost towns

By April 5, 2021 | updated 5 years ago

1. Buena VistaJust outside of Buena Vista is one of Colorado’s most renowned ghost towns, St. Elmo (pictured). It’s one of the state’s most well-preserved and visited ghost towns, sitting just above 10,000 feet of elevation in the Sawatch Mountain Range. Past St. Elmo is another historic ghost town, Tin Cup. Gold was first found here in 1859 and the town eventually grew to about 2,000 prospectors.Photo Credit: BackyardProduction (iStock)

Ghost towns and other remnants of Colorado’s mining era can still be found today. Here are 10 mountain towns in Colorado to visit to see abandoned ghost towns.

Author’s Note: Respect any and all no trespassing and private property signs at these historic sites. Ghost towns are often fragile. Follow the principles of Leave No Trace.

1. Buena VistaJust outside of Buena Vista is one of Colorado’s most renowned ghost towns, St. Elmo (pictured). It’s one of the state’s most well-preserved and visited ghost towns, sitting just above 10,000 feet of elevation in the Sawatch Mountain Range. Past St. Elmo is another historic ghost town, Tin Cup. Gold was first found here in 1859 and the town eventually grew to about 2,000 prospectors.Photo Credit: BackyardProduction (iStock)
1. Buena VistaJust outside of Buena Vista is one of Colorado’s most renowned ghost towns, St. Elmo (pictured). It’s one of the state’s most well-preserved and visited ghost towns, sitting just above 10,000 feet of elevation in the Sawatch Mountain Range. Past St. Elmo is another historic ghost town, Tin Cup. Gold was first found here in 1859 and the town eventually grew to about 2,000 prospectors.Photo Credit: BackyardProduction (iStock)
2. GraniteBetween Buena Vista and Leadville is the tiny community of Granite. Along County Road 390, just south of Granite, four abandoned towns remain. The first town reached along this road is Beaver City, which was established about 1880 as the first mining camp in Clear Creek Canyon. The second ghost town is Vicksburg, which features a museum open on weekends during the summer and a recording that plays outside, talking about the local history.Photo Credit KaraGrubis (iStock)
2. GraniteBetween Buena Vista and Leadville is the tiny community of Granite. Along County Road 390, just south of Granite, four abandoned towns remain. The first town reached along this road is Beaver City, which was established about 1880 as the first mining camp in Clear Creek Canyon. The second ghost town is Vicksburg, which features a museum open on weekends during the summer and a recording that plays outside, talking about the local history.Photo Credit KaraGrubis (iStock)
2. Granite (cont.)The third ghost town near the community of Granite along County Road 390 is Rockdale, which features several remaining buildings. Last along the road is the ghost town of Winfield, which hosted about 1,500 residents at its prime in 1890. Winfield today features a furnished schoolhouse and a miner’s cabin.Photo Credit: Jeffrey Beall (flickr).
2. Granite (cont.)The third ghost town near the community of Granite along County Road 390 is Rockdale, which features several remaining buildings. Last along the road is the ghost town of Winfield, which hosted about 1,500 residents at its prime in 1890. Winfield today features a furnished schoolhouse and a miner’s cabin.Photo Credit: Jeffrey Beall (flickr).
3. Lake CityDubbed the “most remote town” in the lower 48 states of the U.S., visitors to Lake City can take a short venture to find two ghost towns. The first is Carson (pictured), which is accessible via off-roading, biking, or hiking, and features original cabins. The second abandoned mining camp is Old Carson, farther up the road and nestled against the Continental Divide.Author’s Note: County Road 36, the road up Wager Gulch to reach these two ghost towns, is a steep, rough mountain road. A high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicle is required. The road is also accessible to off-highway vehicles, hikers, and bicyclists.Photo Credit: OutThere Colorado file photo.
3. Lake CityDubbed the “most remote town” in the lower 48 states of the U.S., visitors to Lake City can take a short venture to find two ghost towns. The first is Carson (pictured), which is accessible via off-roading, biking, or hiking, and features original cabins. The second abandoned mining camp is Old Carson, farther up the road and nestled against the Continental Divide.Author’s Note: County Road 36, the road up Wager Gulch to reach these two ghost towns, is a steep, rough mountain road. A high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicle is required. The road is also accessible to off-highway vehicles, hikers, and bicyclists.Photo Credit: OutThere Colorado file photo.
3. Lake City (cont.)A third ghost town near Lake City is found along the Colorado’s picturesque Alpine Loop. Capitol City hides within the mountains at nearly 9,500 feet above sea level. Capitol City used to be a 200-acre townsite with several hotels, restaurants, smelters, and more. Today, all that remains is the Old U.S. Post Office and Lee’s Smelter Stack among pristine aspen, mountain willows, and evergreen trees.Photo Credit: Christian Murdock, The Gazette.
3. Lake City (cont.)A third ghost town near Lake City is found along the Colorado’s picturesque Alpine Loop. Capitol City hides within the mountains at nearly 9,500 feet above sea level. Capitol City used to be a 200-acre townsite with several hotels, restaurants, smelters, and more. Today, all that remains is the Old U.S. Post Office and Lee’s Smelter Stack among pristine aspen, mountain willows, and evergreen trees.Photo Credit: Christian Murdock, The Gazette.
4. SilvertonAt 11,200 feet above sea level, the ghost town of Animas Forks remains preserved within the San Juan mountains near Silverton. Animas Forks (pictured) is accessed via the Alpine Loop, a popular 65-mile loop of unpaved mountain roads. This ghost town features nine standing buildings - one of which is the jail structure, which is the oldest building on site.Between Silverton and Ouray, another well-preserved ghost town is Ironton. Conveniently situated along U.S. 550 – Red Mountain Pass, Ironton is nestled between aspens and used to include about 300 buildings. Ironton didn’t officially become a ghost town until the 1960s when its last resident, Ironton mayor Milton Larson, passed away.Photo Credit: Spencer McKee, OutThere Colorado.
4. SilvertonAt 11,200 feet above sea level, the ghost town of Animas Forks remains preserved within the San Juan mountains near Silverton. Animas Forks (pictured) is accessed via the Alpine Loop, a popular 65-mile loop of unpaved mountain roads. This ghost town features nine standing buildings – one of which is the jail structure, which is the oldest building on site.Between Silverton and Ouray, another well-preserved ghost town is Ironton. Conveniently situated along U.S. 550 – Red Mountain Pass, Ironton is nestled between aspens and used to include about 300 buildings. Ironton didn’t officially become a ghost town until the 1960s when its last resident, Ironton mayor Milton Larson, passed away.Photo Credit: Spencer McKee, OutThere Colorado.
5. AspenAspen is in the middle of two ghost towns, Ashcroft and Independence. The abandoned mining town of Ashcroft (pictured) is 11 miles up Castle Creek Road, featuring restored remains of historic buildings including a saloon, a post office, and the Bird House Hotel. Independence Ghost Town is 16 miles east of Aspen on Colorado Highway 82, also known as Independence Pass. The remaining structures are preserved while other original buildings were dismantled by miners who made skis with the wood during the worst snow storm in Colorado history in 1899.Author’s Note: Visitors to Ashcroft must pay an admission, and dogs are not allowed. Learn more here. Independence Pass, to reach the other ghost town east of Aspen, is open typically June through October.Photo Credit: OutThere Colorado file photo.
5. AspenAspen is in the middle of two ghost towns, Ashcroft and Independence. The abandoned mining town of Ashcroft (pictured) is 11 miles up Castle Creek Road, featuring restored remains of historic buildings including a saloon, a post office, and the Bird House Hotel. Independence Ghost Town is 16 miles east of Aspen on Colorado Highway 82, also known as Independence Pass. The remaining structures are preserved while other original buildings were dismantled by miners who made skis with the wood during the worst snow storm in Colorado history in 1899.Author’s Note: Visitors to Ashcroft must pay an admission, and dogs are not allowed. Learn more here. Independence Pass, to reach the other ghost town east of Aspen, is open typically June through October.Photo Credit: OutThere Colorado file photo.
6. TellurideThe ghost town of Alta is nestled 10 miles from Telluride in the mountains at 11,800 feet above sea level. Alta (pictured) features only a few original buildings, but the high-alpine views make this ghost town worth visiting. Continue on Alta Lakes Road to visit pristine mountain lakes. Another ghost town for adventurers familiar with off-roading is Tomboy Ghost Town off of Imogene Pass.Author’s Note: Imogene Pass is a narrow, gravel mountain pass with steep drop-offs. It is recommended drivers who are experienced and comfortable with off-roading take this pass. Vehicles with 4WD and high clearance are required.Photo Credit: Adam Franco
6. TellurideThe ghost town of Alta is nestled 10 miles from Telluride in the mountains at 11,800 feet above sea level. Alta (pictured) features only a few original buildings, but the high-alpine views make this ghost town worth visiting. Continue on Alta Lakes Road to visit pristine mountain lakes. Another ghost town for adventurers familiar with off-roading is Tomboy Ghost Town off of Imogene Pass.Author’s Note: Imogene Pass is a narrow, gravel mountain pass with steep drop-offs. It is recommended drivers who are experienced and comfortable with off-roading take this pass. Vehicles with 4WD and high clearance are required.Photo Credit: Adam Franco
7. LeadvilleOro City is a ghost town within the California Gulch east of Leadville. Most of the original buildings have since collapsed and remain in piles of ruins, but several original structures remain. Also near Leadville is the “semi” ghost town of Twin Lakes at the base of Independence Pass. Interlaken, the famous hotel from 1890, remains along the main street through Twin Lakes across from today’s Visitor Center, a restaurant, a post office, and more.Photo Credit: Craig Zerbe (iStock).
7. LeadvilleOro City is a ghost town within the California Gulch east of Leadville. Most of the original buildings have since collapsed and remain in piles of ruins, but several original structures remain. Also near Leadville is the “semi” ghost town of Twin Lakes at the base of Independence Pass. Interlaken, the famous hotel from 1890, remains along the main street through Twin Lakes across from today’s Visitor Center, a restaurant, a post office, and more.Photo Credit: Craig Zerbe (iStock).
8. Cripple Creek & VictorGoldfield is also a partial ghost town situated in the foothills of Pikes Peak between the two towns of Cripple Creek and Victor. While Goldfield, Cripple Creek, and Victor are still inhabited today, the buildings, mines, and businesses all seem to have survived since the mining boom. Today, Goldfield is home to about 50 residents and includes 90 acres of old homes, buildings, and mines. In 1900, Goldfield housed a population of about 3,500, mostly local mine owners.Photo Credit: Seth Boster, The Gazette.
8. Cripple Creek & VictorGoldfield is also a partial ghost town situated in the foothills of Pikes Peak between the two towns of Cripple Creek and Victor. While Goldfield, Cripple Creek, and Victor are still inhabited today, the buildings, mines, and businesses all seem to have survived since the mining boom. Today, Goldfield is home to about 50 residents and includes 90 acres of old homes, buildings, and mines. In 1900, Goldfield housed a population of about 3,500, mostly local mine owners.Photo Credit: Seth Boster, The Gazette.
9. Crested ButteDubbed “Colorado’s last great ski town,” the Crested Butte area features a well-preserved ghost town called Gothic. There once were about 200 buildings and about 1,000 locals in Gothic during its peak between 1879 and 1896. Now a handful of abandoned buildings remain in this picturesque ghost town. During the summer season, scientists, students, and teachers of the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory stay in Gothic studying the surrounding ecosystem.Photo Credit: James St. John (flickr).
9. Crested ButteDubbed “Colorado’s last great ski town,” the Crested Butte area features a well-preserved ghost town called Gothic. There once were about 200 buildings and about 1,000 locals in Gothic during its peak between 1879 and 1896. Now a handful of abandoned buildings remain in this picturesque ghost town. During the summer season, scientists, students, and teachers of the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory stay in Gothic studying the surrounding ecosystem.Photo Credit: James St. John (flickr).
10. FairplayOne of the biggest ghost towns in Colorado is South Park City in Fairplay. The entire street of South Park is lined with original buildings from the late 1800s, including a museum, barber shop, dentist office, post office, chapel, and more. Another historic town that still houses residents along Colorado Highway 9 near Fairplay is Alma. While this town is still home to many, there are several original buildings and sites to see from the old mining days.Photo Credit: Thomas Elliott (Flickr)
10. FairplayOne of the biggest ghost towns in Colorado is South Park City in Fairplay. The entire street of South Park is lined with original buildings from the late 1800s, including a museum, barber shop, dentist office, post office, chapel, and more. Another historic town that still houses residents along Colorado Highway 9 near Fairplay is Alma. While this town is still home to many, there are several original buildings and sites to see from the old mining days.Photo Credit: Thomas Elliott (Flickr)
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