A 'ghost town-themed' road trip through Colorado to old, abandoned sites
There are hundreds of abandoned sites around Colorado that once stood as towns of the late 19th century mining boom. Here’s a road trip through the state that hits some of the most well-preserved ghost towns.
Dearfield (Photo) file photo
1. Dearfield – near Greeley
Start in the plains of eastern Colorado at the ghost town of Dearfield. It was once a settlement of more than 700 African American residents who aimed to cultivate an agricultural colony. Settlers arrived in 1911 and less than a decade later, Dearfield consisted of two churches, a school, and a restaurant. However, the Dust Bowl of the 1930s dwindled the town’s population. This ghost town remains today as a symbol of Western culture.
Oliver Toussaint Jackson’s original home in Dearfield. It now sits on a new foundation. File photo.
Homestead Meadows (Photo) Credit Max and Dee Bernt (flickr)
2. Homestead Meadows– Estes Park
About 1 hour and 40 minutes west from Dearfield via U.S. Highway 34 to Colorado Highway 66, reach the ghost town of Homestead Meadows near Estes Park. This abandoned town offers insight into the daily life of 19th century settlers. Homestead Meadows was once a town for farming and lumber work and today features several old buildings slowly subduing to the elements of Mother Nature.
Photo Credit: Max and Dee Bernt (flickr).
Caribou City (Photo) Credit Plazak (Wikipedia Creative Commons)
3. Caribou City – Nederland
Continue south about 1 hour and 15 minutes via Colorado Highway 7 and Highway 72 from Homestead Meadows to Caribou City, a ghost town near Nederland. Caribou City sits at about 10,000 feet above sea level and features a collapsed wooden cabin and two stone ruins but used to be the site of rich silver veins.
Photo Credit: Plazak (Wikipedia Creative Commons).
Silver Plume (Photo) Credit Jeffrey Beall (Wikipedia Creative Commons)
4. Silver Plume – near Georgetown
Widely known as the ghost town that never died, Silver Plume is located just west of Georgetown along Interstate 70, about an hour southwest via Colorado Highway 119 to the interstate. Silver Plume’s saloon is a great place to stop for lunch along this ghost town road trip through Colorado. Many original buildings in town still stand since their construction in 1870.
Photo Credit: Jeffrey Beall (Wikipedia Creative Commons).
South Park (Photo) Credit Thomas Elliott (Flickr)
5. South Park City - Fairplay
Continue on this ghost town road trip from Silver Plume along Guanella Pass, a can’t-miss mountain road that leads to Grant. Guanella Pass reaches a peak elevation of 11,670 feet above sea level and is considered one of Colorado’s most scenic routes. The drive from Silver Plume to Grant via Guanella Pass is about an hour long.
From there, head south on U.S. 285 to the next ghost town on this road trip, South Park City. It’s one of Colorado’s most renowned ghost towns, featuring an entire block of buildings from the state’s mining era, including a museum, saloon, barber shop, and more.
Author’s Note: Guanella Pass is closed during winter months. An alternate route during the closure is Interstate 70 east to U.S. Highway 285 South from Georgetown to Grant - approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Photo Credit: Thomas Elliott (Flickr)
St Elmo Ghost Town (Photo) Credit BackyardProduction (iStock)
6. St. Elmo – Buena Vista
About an hour south along U.S. 285 from Fairplay, reach Buena Vista to find another iconic ghost town in Colorado. St. Elmo is west of Buena Vista and remains one of the best-preserved ghost towns in the state. Plus, it’s relatively easy to reach. While the town once had a population of nearly 2,000 people, St. Elmo remains filled with visitors who come for an inside look at the mining industry of the late 1800s.
Photo Credit: BackyardProduction (iStock)
Leadville Ghost Town (Photo) Credit KaraGrubis (iStock)
7. Vicksburg and Winfield – Granite
About an hour drive from South Park City via U.S. 285 to U.S. 24, head into Clear Creek Canyon to visit four ghost towns nestled away in the mountains. The most well-preserved of the ghost towns are Vicksburg and Winfield. Rockdale and Beaver City are the other two abandoned sites. Miners flooded these areas by 1879 as more silver and gold was being discovered.
Photo Credit KaraGrubis (iStock)
Twin Lakes (Photo) Credit chapin31 (iStock)
8. Twin Lakes and Independence – Aspen
From Granite, follow U.S. 24 then head west on Colorado Highway 82 to reach Twin Lakes at the base of Independence Pass. Twin Lakes is not quite a ghost town, but many original buildings from the late 1800s still stand there. Head up Independence Pass to the next ghost town of which the pass is named for.
Author’s Note: Independence Pass is closed during winter months. There is an admission fee to visit the ghost town of Independence.
Photo Credit: chapin31 (iStock).
Crystal Mill (Photo) Credit miroslave_1 (iStock)
9. Crystal City – Carbondale
Drive about 1 hour and 17 minutes from Aspen to the tiny town of Marble, just outside of Carbondale. From Marble, either hike or drive Crystal City Road #314, the 4x4 road up to one of Colorado’s most photographed sites, Crystal Mill. Just past the historic powerhouse is the ghost town of Crystal City, although many of the buildings are rented by visitors during the summer.
Author’s Note: The road from Marble to Crystal City is only accessible to off-highway vehicles and cars with high ground clearance and 4x4 capabilities. Drivers should have full confidence in their off-roading skills if attempting this road. Hiking the road is rating as moderate at about 11 miles roundtrip with nearly 1,400 feet of elevation gain.
Photo Credit: miroslav_1 (iStock).
Gilman, Minturn (Photo) Credit Christian Murdock
10. Gilman – Minturn
While visiting properties of Gilman is prohibited, the ghost town of Gilman is an eerie, interesting sight to see from the highway. Gilman is located along U.S. 24 between Vail and Leadville and holds abandoned homes, a hospital, a shaft house, and more. The Environmental Protection Agency declared Gilman as a Superfund site due to toxic substances that are airborne and orange sludge that seeps from the ground.
Photo Credit: Christian Murdock, The Gazette.
St. Elmo (Photo) Credit Spencer McKee
Private Property
Some trails mentioned in this article are surrounded by private land. Respect no trespassing signs and any gates or fences that mark private property, especially within ghost town sites. It’s also important to note that closures may be put in place at various spots. Check with a local source to make sure the ghost town you’re wanting to visit is accessible prior to planning your trip.
Photo Credit: Spencer McKee, OutThere Colorado.
(1) comment
I’ve visited several of these ghost towns but was disappointed that Uptop Historic District (near La Veta) wasn’t included in this article. Uptop is on the CO State Register of Historic Properties. It’s located on top of Old La Veta Pass, on the border of Huerfano and Costilla County along County Rd 443 off Highway 160 between Walsenburg and Fort Garland. CR 443 is approximately 12 miles west of Walsenburg and 18 miles from Fort Garland. From Fort Garland turn right onto Road Vv5. Definitely check out Uptop Historic District the next time you are in southern Colorado.
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