There’s something strangely beautiful about a lot of ghost towns. The weather-stained wood, rusted metal, and sense of the lingering past all in the shadow of surrounding natural beauty create a fascinating effect for so many people.
In the Rocky Mountains, there’s a rich mining legacy, and the boom-and-bust nature of that industry has left so many ghost towns for us to visit and learn about.
Following are 12 of the best, with four from each of the states that make up the heart of the U.S. Rockies.
Bannack, Montana
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A gold boomtown founded in 1962 in the shadow of the Continental Divide near present-day Dillon, Bannack was the first capital of the Montana Territory. Today, the ruins, which include over 60 of the original buildings, are protected as a state park.
Nevada City, Montana
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Not all the buildings in this historic mining town near Virginia City are Nevada City originals. Beginning in 1959, a man named Charles Bovey began buying buildings all around the state and adding them here. The result is that you can learn about the histories of several different Montana towns here. You can also make a rail trip to Virginia City and pan for gold.
Kendall, Montana
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In the mountains north of Lewiston, Kendall boomed during the first 10 years of the 1900s. When a nearby town was built along a rail line, Kendall died as people moved away, but today, it has some of the best ruins in the state.
Garnet, Montana
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Named for the Garnet Mountains, this town boomed in 1995 due to an ore-processing mill having been constructed close by. Miners also found a vein rich in ore, but when they depleted it, the town went bust, too. During the summer, many of the historic buildings here are open to visitors.
Atlantic City, Wyoming
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Near South Pass on the Continental Divide where the foothills of the Wind River Range meet the Great Divide Basin, Atlantic City had its heyday in the 1860s, when it had a brewery, dance hall, and opera house. 40 original structures are preserved here, and one of them is still active: Atlantic City Mercantile, and you can stop by this building on the National Register of Historic Places for a meal and to slake your thirst in this high desert setting.
South Pass City, Wyoming
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Close to Atlantic City, South Pass City also boomed in the 1860s after the discovery of gold. By 1872, the good stuff was running out, and the town emptied in short order. Now it’s a state historical site with over 20 restored structures, and you can even pan for gold to see if you can get any luckier than the miners who abandoned the town did.
Kirwin, Wyoming
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Kirwin is high in the wild Absaroka Range west of Meeteetse, above 9000’, surrounded by towering mountains, and close to timberline. A deadly avalanche in 1907 was the beginning of the end for this mining town. The U.S. Forest Service managed the site now, and many of the remaining buildings have been restored to the point that it’s safe to go inside them.
Plus, at this elevation, they can provide a quick refuge from summer thunderstorms that can develop all of a sudden. Note that the journey to Kirwin is part of the adventure; it’s a long drive on unpaved roads that usually require four-wheel drive due to three river crossings and steep grades.
Eadsville, Wyoming
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The discovery of gold, silver, copper, and lead drew prospectors here, but in a familiar story, the town went bust when the precious ore ran out, in this case in the early 1900s. At the center of this ghost town is the spring around which Charles Eads, the town’s founder, originally staked his claim.
Independence, Colorado
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Independence is easy to reach because it’s off the paved road connecting the Aspen and Leadville areas. It’s a short distance west of Independence Pass, which is on the Continental Divide and checks in at over 12,000’ in elevation. Independence itself is just below timberline, and that high elevation is what helped doom it since the winters were so long and harsh.
St. Elmo, Colorado
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Historic St. Elmo is west of Buena Vista, and you can get to it in a passenger car, but if you plan to go beyond it and up into the mountains, you’ll need high clearance and four-wheel drive. St. Elmo is so well preserved that as you walk its main street, you might think you’re on the set of a Hollywood Western.
Carson, Colorado
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Situated at almost 12,000’ and in the alpine zone, Carson was a tough place to get to and live in, which explains why it didn’t stay active that long. Most people visiting this near-pristine site today do so by four-wheel drive roads from Lake City, but you can also go as far as a regular car will take you and hike or mountain bike the rest of the way.
Animas Forks, Colorado
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Of the seemingly countless ghost towns in the country, Animas Forks near Silverton in the San Juan Mountains is among the best-preserved. Four-wheel drive is recommended for getting there so that you can continue onward and higher into the mountains, but most passenger cars can actually make it there from Silverton.
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