Ghost Towns in Kern County, California

Kern County, California, is home to 58 documented ghost towns — a concentrated dose of boom-and-bust history in a single county. Timber camps, fishing villages, and gold-rush outposts define the Pacific ghost towns, tucked into mountains and coastline. The names to know include Asphalto, Desert Spring, Freeman Junction, Garlock, Girard.

On-the-ground conditions here are largely unverified, so treat this county guide as a launchpad for your own research. Access details are thin across this group, so research each town before setting out. Every town below gets its own full guide — with maps, visitor notes, and FAQs.