Which ghost towns are near what Colorado towns?

Visiting one of Colorado’s spooky ghost towns is a bucket list item for many. While few actually expect to see ghosts, nearly everyone who goes can appreciate the sightseeing opportunity of exploring abandoned former towns.

Ghost towns are an interesting, cerebral side-stop to add to your road trip. Most of these old mining villages are located at higher elevations in the Rocky Mountains, so the views are gorgeous and a lot like taking a mountain stroll with ruins and relics to stare at too. Whether you’re just passing through the county or camping locally, consider hitting a few of these ghost towns near you.

Ashcroft ghost town near Aspen, Colo. Photo by: Geoff Livingston

Let’s go over some popular vacation towns and the ghost towns closest to them. Most are on federal land and open to the public for free year-round, depending on weather access. A lot of them will be snowed out and unreachable and likely the reason they went belly up. However, a few gems you could spend a weird winter day lost in an old ghost town like Saint Elmo.

Some of these require a little hiking to reach, but most can be driven nearly right up to and parked. Others, however, do require 4-wheel-drive and high clearance, the latter usually is more important. Please respect any of the ghost towns you visit, do not remove anything, damage anything, and clean up trash.

Several of these communities are only semi-ghost and have seasonal or year-round residents who appreciate their natural beauty and privacy. Also, there are many more ghost towns and ancient relics that aren’t listed below, waiting to be discovered.

Map of Colorado’s Ghost Towns

Here are the ghost towns near ________, CO, in alphabetical order: (click anchor link to jump to town)

Independence ghost town near Aspen, CO. Photo by: mlhradio

Ghost towns near Alamosa

East of the San Luis Valley (SLV) you’ll climb over La Veta Pass. There’s an opportunity there to detour and take the old pass and check out Uptop. Otherwise, there are a lot of interesting structures situated around the mysterious SLV. The closest ghost towns to Alamosa, CO are:

Ghost towns near Aspen

Aspen’s blessed with a couple of nearby ghost towns that are well preserved, including Ashcroft and Independence. The latter is easily reached by 2WD and pavement along CO-82/ Independence Pass. The closest ghost towns to Aspen, CO are:

Ghost towns near Avon/Beaver Creek

Those in the Eagle County around Beaver Creek can head east to Vail and then duck off the highway to find Gilman. This one is especially eerie because it’s so modern. Plans to redevelop the area haven’t yet materialized for the old company town and you only observe from the road. The closest ghost towns to Avon, CO are:

Ghost towns near Boulder

The close proximity to the front range cities like Boulder and Denver, along with early nearby gold strikes, created a myriad of ghost towns that aren’t too far west. This region has a good mix of 2WD and 4WD-only routes, so it’s easy to take a day trip into the hills. The closest ghost towns to Boulder, CO are:

Ghost towns near Breckenridge

Breckenridge was a mining boom town. that’s still one of the most popular places today. There are some ghost towns in the region, Dyersville being the amongst the closest. Take Boreas Pass to Indian Gulch where you can view it. Or head back Keystone and check out the semi-ghost community of Montezuma. The closest ghost towns to Breckenridge, CO are:

Ghost towns near Buena Vista

Nestled against the Collegiate Peaks, Buena Vista a stunning place surrounded by some well preserved ghost towns. The continental divide runs north-south just west of town and there plenty of abandoned mining villages on both sides of the famous range. Clear Creek Canyon has 4 former towns to scout out, suitable for 2WD, but on a rough rutted road. St Elmo, just to the south in Nathrop, is probably the biggest ghost town in the state. Ignore Antero Junction. The closest ghost towns to Buena Vista, CO are:

Read about the 4 ghost towns of Clear Creek Canyon.

Ghost towns near Colorado Springs

While there are likely some abandoned towns to the east of Colorado Springs on the plains, it’s much cooler (in temps) heading west up into the mountains. Goldfield is a semi-ghost community outside Victor. While there around Cripple Creek, definitely follow the Gold Belt Tour, suitable for 2WD, but there is a nice 4×4 “shortcut”. And there’s a difficult 6 miles hike to reach the rewarding Skagway Power Plant. The closest ghost towns to Colorado Springs, CO are:

Ghost towns near Copper Mountain

The resort community of Copper has a few options in the region to just out some high altitude deserted spots. Montezuma lies around the corner from A Basin, or if you want to visit Breck for the day, consider adding on Dyersville to your itinerary. Gilman is a real unique option if you’re heading into the Vail Valley.  The closest ghost towns to Copper Mountain, CO are:

Ghost towns near Denver

If you’re in the Mile High City and want to check out a ghost town, consider the Auraria campus. It may not be exactly what you’re looking for, but the Victorian-styled strip of historic homes turned campus admin buildings has a certain ghost town appeal. Try to catch it when the students aren’t bustling thru the campus, early morning, evening or holiday. Auraria, CO was built as first permanent settlement in 1858 before Denver on the west side of Cherry Creek. The closest ghost towns to Denver, CO are:

Ghost towns near Dillon

The best ghost town to visit in Dillon is the one underneath its reservoir. That’s right. The original town of Dillon was moved and the rest buried beneath a manmade reservoir to make way for Denver’s new water supply. In the 1950s Denver Water voted to build a dam. But you’ll need scuba gear and probably a guide to on this one. Otherwise, just drive your 2wd car around the corner to semi-ghost Montezuma. The closest ghost towns to Dillon, CO are:

Ghost towns near Durango

The largest mountain town in Southwest Colorado was a hub of the region then, and still is today. You can drive along the San Juan Skyway in any directions and pass several interesting ghost towns and mining structures. Consider hopping on the Durango & Silverton train for a step back in time too. The closest ghost towns to Durango, CO are:

Ghost towns near Estes Park

Visit the unique Homestead Meadows near Estes Park. Instead of being founded for mining, it lumber and farming. You can still view a few structures today. Then head south on the Peak-to-Peak Byway and stop in on Caribou City by Nederland. The closest ghost towns to Estes Park, CO are:

Ghost towns near Fairplay

While in South Park, visit South Park City. This “ghost town museum” was reassembled in Fairplay and gathered from all around the South Park basin. It includes a whole slew of buildings that you can go inside and are furnished with late 1800s/early 1900s  goods and items. Otherwise the expansive South Park has old stuff to see, but most of the former towns don’t provide much evidence. The closest ghost towns to Fairplay, CO are:

Ghost towns near Fort Collins

Located east of Greeley on the plains is the unique ghost town of Dearfield. It wasn’t known for mining, but it a predominantly black settlement. You could also head into the mountains near Estes to see the old lumber and farming village of Homestead Meadows. The closest ghost towns to Fort Collins, CO are:

Ghost towns near Frisco

Two-wheel drive vehicles can swing by Montezuma to see some history, but expect a few year-round residents who enjoy their privacy and clean setting. If you’re equipped with high-clearance you can head up Boreas Pass by Breck to see Dyersville. The closest ghost towns to Frisco, CO are:

Ghost towns near Glenwood Springs

South of Glenwood lies the hidden village of Marble. It’s not a ghost town by any means, but it is tiny, secluded, with a lot of history. Form there if you have proper high-clearance 4×4 you can access the Crystal Mill site, a famous setting that you’d likely recognize from photo. The closest ghost towns to Glenwood Springs, CO are:

Ghost towns near Granby

Most of the ghost towns will be a decent drive from Granby. In the summer you can head north and check out North Park basin. There the town of Walden might feel like a ghost town. On the way, Teller City has some fallen ruins to check out, 4wd is recommended. The closest ghost towns to Granby, CO are:

Ghost towns near Grand Junction

South of Grand Junction ,the Unaweep Tabeguache Byway runs from Whitewater to Placerville. This is a gorgeous drive that’s well off the beaten path. There are plenty of old relics along the route. If you’re up for a cool road trip loop, you can venture east to Marble via Glenwood Springs and Carbondale, and then swing back through Paonia and Delta. Marble is the gateway to the very-much photographed Crystal Mill. The closest ghost towns to Grand Junction, CO are:

Ghost towns near Grand Lake

Grand Lake has a charming historic district that is a joy to stroll. If you’re doing Trail Ridge Road to Estes Park, you can dip off to Homestead Meadows after. If not, maybe leave Middle Park basin for North Park. The closest ghost towns to Grand Lake, CO are:

Ghost towns near Keystone

Backtracking on Highway 6 from Keystone past A Basin and y0u can detour to Montezuma. Respect the current residents but marvel at the history around this sleepy village. It shares its post office with Keystone. Geneva City is further tucked away from Montezuma, and doable for those with 4WD. The closest ghost towns to Keystone, CO are:

Ghost towns near Leadville

Oro City is found just southwest of Leadville. There are some still-standing structures to check out here. Camp Hale was the training grounds for the 10th Mountain Division and a worthy cerebral stop. Heading south toward Twin Lakes, you should certainly check out Clear Creek Canyon and the likes of Vicksburg and Winfield. The closest ghost towns to Leadville, CO are:

Ghost towns near Ouray

Like the rest of the southwest, there are a myriad of old mining roads traversing the hillsides. With the right 4-wheel-drive vehicle you can access it all. Jeep and ATV rentals are available in town to cruise the Alpine Loop between Ouray, Silverton and Lake City. 2-wheelers can stick to the pavement on the Million Dollar Highway and see sights like Ironton and Red Mountain Town. The closest ghost towns to Ouray, CO are:

Ghost towns near Pagosa Springs

There are a lot of ruins and relics to be discovered in the southwest. For a non-traditional ghost town experience, consider Chimney Rock to the southwest of town. There you can discover the Ancient Puebloan community, an old village and kiva. Further south by the New Mexico border lies Pagosa Junction, which can be fun drive down to a much more secluded part of the country. The closest ghost towns to Pagosa Springs, CO are:

Ghost towns near Pueblo

Southwest of Colorado’s Steel City, lies the eccentric Sangre de Cristo mountain town of Westcliffe. From here you can do some small town city stuff like shop and eat, and then head out to Rosita and Querida, two of the local ghost towns. If you’re already going south on I-25, Ludlow is a historic landmark with ruins and a monument to visit. The closest ghost towns to Pueblo, CO are:

Ghost towns near Salida

The cool riverside town of Salida, Colorado is a convenient basecamp for a spooky adventure. Going north towards Buena Vista you can swing by up Chalk Creek Canyon and the popular Saint Elmo ghost town. Going south on Highway 285 leads you into the strange San Luis Valley. The UFO Watch Tower is a quirky landmark to explore and then maybe take an easy hike out to Orient ghost town and a bat cave, before dipping in the local hot spring waters. The closest ghost towns to Salida, CO are:

Ghost towns near Silverthorne

Another Summit County town, Silverthorne has a few alright ghost town options. The closest is Montezuma, which has a few year-round and seasonal residents. It’s part of Keystone’s mailing address. Geneva City is found a little further from that Montezuma. The closest ghost towns to Silverthorne, CO are:

Ghost towns near Telluride

Southwest Colorado is loaded with high-elevation boom-and-bust minings towns. One of the highest in Colorado is located near Telluride at over 11,500 ft. Access to the local Tomboy is reserved for summer months. Same goes for Alta, which resides at 11,800 ft! The closest ghost towns to Telluride, CO are:

Ghost towns near Vail

Those in the Vail Valley can take US-24 south toward Leadville, passing the charming, secluded towns of Minturn and Red Cliff. In-between the two, there’s Gilman ghost town, a much more modern neighborhood than others on the list. Venture further to Camp Hale, while not a ghost town, it has ruins from the 10th Mountain Division. The closest ghost towns to Vail, CO are:

Ghost towns near Winter Park

Winter Park has a nice scenic drive option for those with a high-clearance vehicle. Take the 4×4 Rollins (Corona) Pass just before town on Highway 40 up to the old Corona apex station. Otherwise there are some other options that require a bit of a drive. The closest ghost towns to Winter Park, CO are:

Gilman ghost town near Vail, Colo. Photo by: William Currier

As you can see, pretty much all the popular tourist mountain areas in Colorado are located nearby some old ghost town. Have fun exploring and remember to leave no trace and take only pictures.