Ghost Towns in Colorado

Beyond the famous names lies a deeper map: Colorado holds 280 documented ghost towns — one of the richest collections of abandoned places in the country. From gold-rush camps to railroad sidings, the ghost towns of the American West trace the boom-and-bust cycles of mining frontiers. Standouts include Alta, Animas Forks, Ashcroft, Capitol City, Carson, and dozens more.

The heaviest concentrations sit in Gunnison County, Chaffee County, Park County, where settlements rose — and fell — in quick succession. Among towns with verified conditions, you'll find 9 foundations only, 5 partial ruins, 2 preserved sites. 16 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.