Ghost Towns and Mining Camps
Here you'll find a linked list of visited ghost towns, mining camps, and related mining destinations.
The landscape of the west is dotted with the abandoned towns and mining camps of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This page presents introductory information on those locations which we have visited over the years.
At one time or another we have visited, or at least driven through, each of the listed ghost towns or mining camps. Some of these sites remain inhabited, but are only vague shells of what they once were, and contain the remnants of their storied past. It is our intent to eventually present a page for each of these sites. In the mean time, if you have questions about any of these locations, send us an e-mail and we'd be glad to tell you what we can.
The ruins of ancient Native American towns and villages can also be considered as ghost towns; perhaps even more so than the weathered wood and crumbled stone of those left by America's mining era. These older ghost towns are presented on our Ancient Ruins page.
Arizona
- Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
- Silverbell
- Tiger
- Trail of the Ancients Scenic Backway, Utah, Arizona and Colorado
- Tumacacori National Historical Park
California
- Aguereberry Camp
- Bodie State Historic Park
- Wildrose Charcoal Kilns
- Eureka Mine
- Harmony Borax Works
- Keane Wonder Mine and Mill
- Leadfield
- Scotty's Castle (Death Valley Ranch)
- Tallac Historic Site
Colorado
Idaho
- N/A
Montana
- N/A
Nebraska
Nevada
- Berlin
- Bullfrog
- Grantsville
- Hamilton
- Moores Station
- Rawhide
- Rhyolite
- Valley of Fire State Park
- Virginia City
- Ward
- Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park
New Mexico
Oregon
- N/A
South Dakota
- N/A
Utah
- Bluff Fort Historic Site
- Cove Fort Historic Site
- Fort Pearce Ruins
- Fremont Indian State Park and Museum
- Gold Hill
- Grafton
- Iron City
- Kennecott Utah Copper Bingham Canyon MIne
- Mercur Cemetery
- Old Iron Town
- Old Pahreah Town Site
- Ophir
- Paria
- Pony Express Trail National Backcountry Byway & National Historic Trail
- San Rafael Swell
- Sego
- Silver Reef
- Trail of the Ancients Scenic Backway, Utah, Arizona and Colorado
- West Mercur / West Dip
Washington
- N/A
Wyoming
Precautions
- Never enter old mines and tunnels. Shafts are often deep and rotten timbers are dangerous.
- Forgotten caches of explosives are occasionally found in mine areas. Do not touch them, but report them to a park ranger or local law authorities as soon as possible.
- Some mines may contain radioactive gases. Heavy concentrations of radioactive radon gas are known to accumulate at the entrances to mines in this area.
Restrictions
- See American Antiquities Act of 1906.
- See Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979.
- See Pets in the Parks and Backcountry.
- See Encountering Wild Animals.
Books and Resources
- 200 Years in Nevada
- Arizona Hideaways
- Back Roads of Arizona
- Complete Nevada Traveler
- Death Valley Ghost Towns
- Explore Arizona
- Gold Hex
- Goldfield: Boom Town of Nevada
- Historical Guide to Utah Ghost Towns
- Historic Legends of White Pine & Lincoln Counties
- Nevada
- Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps
- Nevada Ghost Town Trails
- Nevada Treasure Hungers: Ghost Town Guide
- Old West: Travel Historic America
- Rawhide
- Tonopah: Silver Camp of Nevada
- Travel Arizona: The Back Roads
Related Sites
Remember to bookmark this site before you venture off down these side trails. They lead to other Web sites that we do not control. We cannot vouch for the content on, nor do we endorse, these sites. The following links are intended to assist you in your quest for further related information. If you discover a broken link, or a link with inappropriate content, or know of a link that should be listed here, please let us know.
- Arizona Ghost Towns
Ghost towns in Arizona. - Boom Towns and Relic Hunters of Northeastern Washington
- California Ghost Towns
An index of California ghost towns. - CmdrMark's Ghost Towns
Travels in the American southwest. - Ghost Town Explorers
Lists of ghost towns. - Ghost Town Gallery
A photo gallery of over 1700 images. - Ghost Town of the Month
- Ghost Towns
Ghost towns by state. - Ghost Town USA
Researching and exploring ghost towns throughout the U.S. and Canada. - Ghost Town Webring
Linked Web sites containing information, photos, and other content relating to ghost towns, mining camps, and other historic sites. - High Desert Drifters
Ghost town explorations, including exploration photos, a history, and details of ghost towns in California and Nevada. - Historic Ghost Towns
Colorado activities and recreation in the "Fourteener" area of the state. - Montana Ghost Town Preservation Society
- Nevada Ghost Towns
Directory and guide to over 600 sites. - New Mexico Ghost Towns
Information on the ghost towns of New Mexico.
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