4 Ghost Towns of Clear Creek Canyon

Clear Creek Canyon is full of ruins from Colorado’s early mining days. There are four remaining ghost towns in the canyon, which lies just west of Clear Creek Reservoir from Highway 24.

Clear Creek runs the length of the canyon and is a tributary to the Arkansas River. Miners began prospecting tributaries to the Arkansas River in the 1860s. Most of the old mining towns reached their heyday around 1890.

Clear Creek Lake — Clear Creek Reservoir lies at the start of County Road 390.

Vicksburg and Winfield are the best preserved out of the four. They are both located on County Road 390, which is almost halfway between Leadville and Buena Vista.

Camping at Clear Creek Canyon

There is one campground at Clear Creek Reservoir and countless, free dispersed campsites on the road back to Winfield.

Getting There

Take Highway 24 north from Buena Vista or south from Leadville to CR 390/Clear Creek Res. Take this 2WD road back to the ghost towns. Winfield is the last town you reach 12 miles back.

Clear Creek Canyon Historic Area — Historical Interest Area.

The 2WD road should be good for most cars, but it does receive heavy truck traffic, so expect bumps. It’s open in the winter, but the road is not plowed, so the other seasons are best for seeing the ruins.

Beaver City

Beaver City was the first mining camp in Clear Creek Canyon. Two of the original twenty buildings remain. It’s the first old town you reach on CR 390.

Beaver City Ghost Town Cabin — A second cabin.

Beaver City CO — Beaver City ruins are circa 1880.

Beaver City CO Shed — Shed and outhouse out back.

Beaver City CO Cabin — Backside of cabin two.

Vicksburg

Vicksburg was the second largest town in the canyon, with around 600-700 people during its peak. A museum is open some weekends during the summer. There’s also a recording outside that tells the local history, available 24/7. Many of the cabins in Vicksburg are privately owned, and seasonally occupied.

Vicksburg CO Mining Ruins — Air Compressor from the Rockdale Mine.

Vicksburg CO Tram Drum — Tram Drum from the Fortune Mine.

Vicksburg CO Ghost Town — Welcome to Vicksburg.

Vicksburg Ghost Town Museum Interior — The museum is set up as an typical miner’s home.

Vicksburg CO Fire Ring — A fire ring out back.

Vicksburg Ghost Town — Another old cabin.

Vicksburg CO Storage Shack — An old storage shed.

Vicksburg CO Target — A makeshift target in the woods behind town.

Vicksburg CO Aluminum Cans — Some flattened aluminum cans scattered on the ground.

Vicksburg CO Ruins — Some wheeled relic.

Vicksburg Ghost Town US Flag — A U.S. flag waves proud.

Vicksburg Ghost Town Cabin — Between cabins.

Rockdale

Another smaller town with several original buildings remaining. It’s located just past Vicksburg and Winfield. There are several cabins remaining.

Rockdale CO Ghost Towns — Looking back on the four cabins. There is also a fifth around the corner.

Winfield

Prospecting was done in the Winfield area in 1867, but the town didn’t reach it’s heyday until 1890. It had 1500 hundred residents and was the largest town in the canyon. There is a furnished school house and miner’s cabin, open on select weekends in summer.