Bear River City

Wyoming's ghost towns were mostly Union Pacific coal camps, built by the railroad and unbuilt when diesel arrived.

Bear River City is a ghost town that was briefly, 1867–1868, a rapidly thrown together railroad town. It was ocated approximately ten miles southeast of Evanston, on the Overland Trail and the Emigrant Trail in the Utah Territory. It is best known for the "Bear River City Riot" that occurred on November 19, 1868.

Calling it Bear River City was either optimism or a very good joke — boomtowns were never modest about their ambitions.

The on-the-ground condition of Bear River City is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Bear River City is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.