You'll find over 300 ghost towns peppered across Colorado's landscape. The majority of these mostly-vacant towns rest high in the Rockies where miners built settlements in hopes to strike it rich. While others lie in the eastern plains as a stopping ground for travelers traversing the country.

After the gold and silver crashes, towns that were once considered a major part of Colorado began to dry up and shutter their windows.

Lucky for us, some of these Colorado towns still have remnants of their former glory.

What Defines a Ghost Town?

A ghost town is a city, town, or village that once had a post office that is now closed. These towns were closed due to their supporting industry dying down, major roadways built that circumvent the area, or natural disasters that made life impossible to live.

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Tips for Visiting Ghost Towns Around Colorado

Before you go out exploring ghost towns, there are a few things you should know.

  • Do Not Trespass: some ghost towns around Colorado are on private property. Make sure you know whether the ghost town is on public or private land. Please, do not enter buildings or other structures for safety reasons.
  • Do Not Vandalize or Take Items: ghost towns around Colorado have endured enough thanks to Mother Nature, we don't need to do any more damage. Plus, this leaves these sites for future generations to explore. Take nothing but photos.
  • Know Before You Go: most ghost towns in Colorado require some off-road travel. Make sure you know the route to the ghost town and whether you need a 4x4 vehicle or if you can get there in a normal car.

Let's take an alphabetical tour through some of the ghost towns of Colorado:

KEEP SCROLLING: Take an Alphabetical Tour of Colorado's Ghost Towns

There are over 300 ghost towns peppered throughout the state of Colorado. Some of these towns are very well preserved with a few residents. Others are completely abandoned with very little left to explore. Regardless, venturing through one of these towns will give you a look into Colorado's rich mining history.

Photos of Alta Colorado: The Ghost Town at 11,800 Feet

See photos from the once busy town of Alta, Colorado, which lasted from 1877 to about 1948.

WARNING: Under no circumstances should you enter this property. By doing so you risk bodily harm and/or prosecution for trespassing on private property.

Photos: Tour One of Colorado's Oldest Ghost Towns in St. Elmo

Founded in 1880, it was said the residents of St. Elmo took the last train out of town and never came back.

WARNING: Under no circumstances should you enter this property. By doing so you risk bodily harm and/or prosecution for trespassing on private property.

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