Okanogan County is located in north central Washington, starting at the Canadian border. It’s remote, rural, and uniquely beautiful. It also happens to be home to half a dozen ghost towns and plenty of old mines, many of which you can still visit today.

Bodie is the most famous ghost town in the region, located off State Route 20 along Toroda Creek.
JF / Flickr
When gold was discovered in the area in 1896, Bodie enjoyed a nice boom.
From 1902 until 1911, the local mines were owned by the Bodie Mining Company, backed by the Wrigley brothers (the founders of Wrigley's Gum).
J F / Flickr
While the town has been empty for many decades, many of the structures are still standing.
Old Molson is located just two miles from the Canadian border, and it's a must-see.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr
Founded in 1900 by George B. Meacham and John W. Molson, this tiny town seemed to spring up overnight.

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But the boom was short-lived, and the population fell to 13 people by 1901.
J F / Flickr
The population grew again in 1905, but by 1920, it was officially a ghost town. It's now an open-air museum, and the buildings are well cared for.
Nighthawk is a charming former logging town nestled on the Similkameen River.
J F / Flickr
By 1903, it was an established town with a hotel (pictured here), railroad depot, and saloon.
Many of the original structures that still stand in Nighthawk today date back to 1903.
J F / Flickr
The last mine here closed in 1951, so visiting truly feels like traveling back in time.
There are several other ghost towns and abandoned mines in Okanogan County, but many of them are nothing but rubble and memories.
J M / Flickr
The county has an eerie energy to it, but it's also a fascinating place to visit.

If you love checking out Washington’s ghost towns, check out this haunting road trip.

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