6 Best Ghost Towns in Colorado

Due mainly to Colorado’s mining booms and busts, there are a lot of abandoned towns spread around the state. Most of the best ghost towns are located up in the mountains, with some far better preserved than others.

The high elevation, snowy conditions, and isolation were difficult factors when living in these towns, and they also contribute to their continued degradation today. While there are many ghost towns hidden away on old mining trails that require 4x4s to reach, a lot of them can be reached with any reliable automobile.

All of the former towns on our list can be reached with a 2WD from late spring to early fall, though there are a few that can be accessed year-round. The top ghost towns were chosen due to their accessibility and the higher number of remaining structures. Many abandoned communities were left off the list but are still highly worth a visit.

Here’s a look at the best ghost towns in Colorado, in no particular order:

St. Elmo — near Nathrop

Tucked away at the start of Chalk Creek Canyon, southwest of Buena Vista, St. Elmo is amongst the best-preserved ghost towns in the state. It’s accessible year-round, weather pending, with 2WD, and can be reached in around 30 minutes via Chalk Creek Drive from Highway 285 in Nathrop.

There are over three dozen structures still standing. There are even a few residents living there and a General Store that’s open seasonally from mid May to late September. For those with a Jeep or rugged 4×4, you can opt to drive over the continental divide via Tincup Pass, directly accessible from St. Elmo. This leads you over to Gunnison County.

Winfield — near Buena Vista

Winfield is another Chaffee County ghost town located close to Buena Vista on the east side of the continental divide. Like St. Elmo, you’ll need to drive for about 30 minutes west from the main road. This route on County Road 390 is more rutted out and likely best reached from late spring to mid fall. Take Highway 24 north of Buena Vista to Clear Creek Reservoir and then west back to Winfield.

Along County Road 390 on the twelve miles back to Winfield, you’ll pass three other ghost towns. All are worth a look, with Vicksburg being the other well-preserved one. Winfield is a beautiful little ghost town nestled at the end of the road dating back to 1861 when the first cabin was built. You can reach with a 2WD just take it slow.

Independence — near Aspen

Independence, Colorado is a cool spot to check out seasonally from late spring to early fall. Because of its location at 11,000 feet, it’s no wonder this town got deserted. It’s close to Aspen but most people heading from the front range will climb up and over Independence Pass, north of Buena Vista on Highway 25, and locate Independence while descending the pass on the Pitkin County side. It’s located between the aforementioned ghost towns of St. Elmo and Winfield.

The views are stunning around here with plenty of old ruins and relics on the hillside to check out. Independence got its start back in 1879 as a simple tent camp for mining operations. 2WD is fine to get you there and back, just remember Independence Pass is closed from late fall to early spring.

Animas Forks — near Silverton

For those planning a trip to Southwest Colorado, consider looping in Animas Forks. It’s located along the 4×4 Alpine Loop, which connects Lake City, Silverton, and Ouray; though you can access this directly from Silverton and continue no further. Like Independence, Animas Forks was a very high-elevation mountain town, hidden away at 11,200 feet. Winters here were brutal. So plan on accessing this one from late spring to early fall.

There are some neat old buildings here to discover. Animas Forks got its start in 1873 when prospectors built the first cabins. And only a few years later it was a bustling mining camp. While it’s possible to reach Animas Forks from Silverton with a high-clearance 2WD, 4WD is recommended.

Nevadaville — near Central City

While it’s far from the biggest Colorado ghost towns, Nevadaville is one of the easiest to reach from the Denver Metro, so we’ve included it. It’s located only five minutes from Central City via Nevadaville Road and can be accessed year-round with any working vehicle. At its peak, 4,000 people were living in this once bustling community in Clear Creek County.

There are a couple of unique features to Nevadaville. Many of the remaining structures are brick, versus the standard wood you see elsewhere, so they are in good shape. The other is that there’s still a Mason Lodge that operates out of one of the buildings. They meet once per month and are the only one that meets in a ghost town.

Gothic — near Crested Butte

Located only 15 minutes north of Crested Butte’s Mountain Village, Gothic is a stunning little ghost town. It’s nestled at the dramatic base of Gothic Mountain at 9,514 feet above sea level. There are several abandoned buildings still standing, as well as a few residences. A high-elevation field station is even operated out of Gothic.

You’ll take County Road 317 north for just over 5 miles from the Mountain Village, which is doable with 2WD from late spring to early fall. In the wintertime, cross-country skiers and snowmobilers often make the trek to Gothic. For those daring souls with a 4×4 and adventurous spirit, you can take the infamous Schofield Pass over to Crystal Mill Site, an iconic photo spot, and continue to Marble, which is near Carbondale.

Discover More of Colorado’s Ghost Towns

Those are just a few of Colorado’s many ghost towns waiting to be explored. While a select few ghost towns benefit from human preservation and upkeep, others do not. Due to the weather and the high UV of the Centennial State, buildings decay and crumble more every year. Make this year you get out there and discover another one of Colorado’s amazing ghost towns.

Another cool experience with ghost town vibes is South Park City, located in Fairplay. This is a restored 1880s mining town with many structures relocated from around the vast South Park Basin. Open from May 15th to October 15th each year, what’s cool about South Park City other than its sheer abundance of relics is the fact you get to walk inside some of the old buildings. Inside, they are decorated in a timely fashion just like they were in their heyday.

Colorado Springs hosts the Ghost Town Museum, a year-round attraction. This smaller re-creation of a Colorado mining town is located inside a giant building, assuring a comfortable visit no matter the weather. All the ruins come from around the Pikes Peak region. Hands-on activities include antique arcade games, cranking a butter churn, and gold panning in the summer. There’s even a gift shop on-site.

Have a terrific time experiencing Colorado’s past at one of its many ghost towns and related attractions. Remember not to take anything with you and that most of these buildings are going to be private and the inside inaccessible, unless otherwise noted.