No matter the season, a memorable road trip in Colorado is always a good idea. The following itinerary will take you – and anyone daring enough to join – on a trip to some of the best abandoned places in Colorado. The landmarks we’ve outlined have been abandoned for decades and left to the elements to slowly wither away. Yet what remains is eerily beautiful in its own right, especially considering that many of the following abandoned places in Colorado are significant to our state’s history. For the interactive Colorado ghost town map we put together for this adventure, you can visit Google Maps.

1. Crystal Mill (Marble)

JahnyBravo / Wikipedia
Crystal Mill, 11520 Co Rd 3, Carbondale, CO 81623, USA
nuttingd / TripAdvisor
The picturesque Crystal Mill, which once served as a wooden powerhouse, is located just seven miles southeast of Marble. With the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop, it's one of the most breathtaking abandoned places in Colorado. The mill was constructed in 1892 and remains in excellent condition today. It's important to note that the road that leads to the mill requires an off-road vehicle. It's also possible to hike to the mill if you set aside several hours.

2. The Town of Ashcroft

Ann C / TripAdvisor
Ashcroft, CO 81611, USA
Harold W / TripAdvisor
Like several (now) ghost towns of its time, Ashcroft was once a busy mining town that went into decline shortly after the area's silver deposits ran dry. All that remains today are a few empty houses and buildings along the town's former Main Street. Fortunately, preservation efforts have allowed restoration of the abandoned buildings so that visitors can learn about the history. These noteworthy buildings include the Blue Mirror Saloon, a post office, and a picturesque hotel.

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3. The Town of St. Elmo

John Elk/The Image Bank Via Getty Images
Saint Elmo, St Elmo, CO 81236, USA
BackyardProduction / iStock Via Getty Images Plus
Quite possibly one of the most recognizable and well-preserved ghost towns in Colorado is St. Elmo; another once-booming, now deserted mining town that welcomes thousands of curious tourists each year. Approximately 20 miles south of Buena Vista, the town was established in 1880. The people who lived here were motivated by mining for gold and silver, although the town was abandoned in 1890 because of a fire. This tragic ending is what makes St. Elmo one of the most beautiful yet also one of the creepiest places in Colorado.

4. The Town of Tincup

Tincup, CO 81210, USA
Dean M. / TripAdvisor
Not far from St. Elmo, you'll find another picturesque and former mining town known as Tincup (sometimes referred to as Tin Cup). It's important to note that the town isn't entirely abandoned, although a majority of its buildings are. The only remaining business in operation is the Tincup General Store, photographed above.

5. Como Roundhouse (Como)

Como Roundhouse, 441-463 Boreas Pass Rd, Como, CO 80432, USA
Jeffrey Beall, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
What is a roundhouse, you ask? A roundhouse is a designated building that fixes different kinds of machines (in this case, trains). This distinct Como, Colorado structure is the only narrow-gauge roundhouse that still remains in the state.

Who will you be taking on your epic road trip to these ghost towns in Colorado? What are some of your favorite abandoned Colorado destinations to visit? If you can’t get enough of amazing abandoned CO, don’t forget to check out our other road trip itineraries, including this epic three-day restaurant road trip in Colorado that will make your mouth explode!

If you plan to take this abandoned Colorado road trip or any others in the state, make sure you are prepared. Check out our ultimate road trip packing list and our list of the best road trip snacks!

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More to Explore

Colorado Ghost Town Map

Beth C. | April 13, 2020

What is the most famous abandoned place in Colorado?

There are several abandoned places in Colorado that are worth checking out. Many of these famously abandoned landmarks have been outlined in the road trip above. Crystal Mill is perhaps the most famous of these abandoned places in Colorado. The 1892 wooden powerhouse is not only incredibly well-preserved, but it also happens to be among the most photographed places in the Rocky Mountains. It's accessible via a narrow rocky road that requires a 4x4. Many visitors enjoy traveling there in the fall when the changing leaves create a breathtaking backdrop.

What is the most haunted place in Colorado?

The abandoned ghost towns are some of the most notoriously creepy places in Colorado. Yet the title for the most haunted place in Colorado belongs to the Stanley Hotel. It's the landmark that notoriously inspired Stephen King's horror novel, The Shining, in the fall of 1974. This Estes Park property has been known to house restless spirits, friendly ghosts, and ominous apparitions of all kinds. In fact, many people reserve a night or two at the Stanley Hotel for the sole purpose of a paranormal encounter.

Can I go ghost hunting in Colorado?

Given the fact that there are so many haunted places in Colorado, it's not too hard to come by an opportunity for ghost hunting. In fact, the Stanley Hotel offers a nightly walking tour. This 75-minute adventure through the hotel has been known to attract the attention of Mr. F.O. Stanley and his wife Flora. It's also possible to take a ghost tour of abandoned mines in the mountains as well as notoriously haunted places in Denver, such as the Blake Street Vault.

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