The Best Colorado Ghost Towns You Can Actually Visit Today

Colorado’s ghost towns seem to grow in popularity every summer, with an ever-growing number of travelers searching for scenic road trips, mining history, and cool mountain escapes.

For Western Colorado families looking for a weekend adventure, ghost towns offer a mix of history, photography, hiking, Jeep trails, and Old West charm that feels completely different from crowded tourist hotspots.

How Mining Created Colorado’s Ghost Towns

Read More: Colorado Ghost Towns That Are Easy to Reach by Car

Colorado’s ghost towns exploded onto the scene during the gold and silver rushes of the late 1800s. This was a time when mining discoveries created instant mountain communities almost overnight. When ore prices dropped or mines dried up, entire towns were abandoned just as quickly, leaving us the cabins, hotels, saloons, and schools that still stand today in all four corners of our state.

Hidden Colorado Ghost Towns Many Travelers Still Miss

Enjoying a virtual tour of ghost towns on our station app is much easier than traveling to each one, but some of these historic locations are surprisingly easy to get to. While St. Elmo gets most of the attention, there are several lesser-known spots worth investigating. Just be sure to obey all laws and stay off private property.

Ghost towns like Vicksburg, Teller City, and Dearfield offer quieter experiences and fewer crowds. Some are tucked into the mountains down old Jeep trails, others preserve important pieces of Colorado’s Black homesteading and railroad history.

Colorado Is Racing to Preserve Its Ghost Towns

Read More: Smallest Cities In All 50 States and Their Tiny Populations

If there is a Colorado ghost town that interests you, and it’s a location you are allowed to safely explore, go for it before it’s too late. Weather, vandalism, and collapsing buildings continue to threaten what’s left of some of the oldest sites around the state. Preservation groups and historical societies do some impressive work to stabilize structures and educate visitors before more landmarks disappear forever.