Ghost Towns and Mining Camps
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 careful observer may notice that some of these sites are not what one might expect, in that they are the ruins of Native American towns and villages. In our view, however, they are indeed ghost towns, perhaps even more so than the weathered wood and crumbled stone of the mining era.
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.
Ghost Town Locations
Books and Resources
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.
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