Ghost Towns in California

Beyond the famous names lies a deeper map: California holds 272 documented ghost towns — one of the richest collections of abandoned places in the country. Timber camps, fishing villages, and gold-rush outposts define the Pacific ghost towns, tucked into mountains and coastline. Standouts include Allensworth, Amboy, Ballarat, Bodie, Calico, and dozens more.

The heaviest concentrations sit in Kern County, Inyo County, San Bernardino County, where settlements rose — and fell — in quick succession. Among towns with verified conditions, you'll find 5 preserved, 4 partial ruins, 4 foundations only sites. 5 towns are known to be publicly accessible — the rest require checking land ownership and access rules before you go.

Use the status and access filters below to narrow the list, or search for a specific town by name.