Prospect Creek

Alaska's ghost towns are the most extreme on the continent — total commitment, total abandonment, everything preserved by the cold.

Prospect Creek is a very small settlement approximately 180 miles (290 km) north of Fairbanks and 25 miles (40 km) southeast of Bettles, Alaska. Years ago it was home to numerous mining expeditions and the camp for the building of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS). Today, it is the location of Pump Station 5 (Jim River Station) of the TAPS. Prospect Creek is also home to the United States record for lowest temperature. On January 23, 1971, the record low temperature of −79.8 °F (−62.1 °C) (rounded to −80 °F (−62 °C)) was recorded.

The on-the-ground condition of Prospect Creek 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 Prospect Creek 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.