Ashcroft
Once home to two newspapers, 20 saloons, and a school, only nine buildings still stand – and one is an outhouse.
Ashcroft, CO - Photo by rjones0856
Dearfield
In its hey-day during the early 1900s, about 700 African Americans lived there – it was the only all-black community in the state. Now, because of the hard Dust Bowl years, all that remains is a diner, the founder’s home and a gas station.
Goldfield
Once a booming mining town of more than 3,000, the few buildings still standing can be seen from Road 81 as you drive past.
Pitkin
Founded during the 1870s, Pitkin is one of the best-preserved ghost towns in Colorado. Many of the buildings are privately owned and some are summer cabins. But feel free to snap photos of the church and store.
St. Elmo
This is what you expect when you think “ghost town.†As you walk down Main Street, peak inside some of the 24 buildings (many of which date back to 1879) like the saloon, mercantile, courthouse and some houses.
Tin Cup, CO - Photo by indigoprime
Tincup
Located near Pitkin, this town also has quite a few erect structures. Tincup was known as a hell-raising kind of place where the law wasn’t really wanted. You’d never know that now as you stand in its ephemeral quiet.
The best ghost town is often the one you are visiting next, what is your favorite Colorado ghost town?
By Anna Philpot
Not sure how you got to the “Top 6 Colorado Ghost Towns”. With over 5,000 ghost towns in Colorado it is difficult to pick just 6. It is also difficult to pick 6 for everyone as I have found out over my years of researching and visiting ghost towns. Top Picks for one person are not easily matched to others. Personally, my favorite ghost town is any one I am visiting. Sort of like the old sayings, I’d rather be — Ghost Towning.
I agree with you. There are no really top ghost towns anywhere other than the one that a person is currently enjoying. Well said. It’s more like, just pick some good ones and explore. As with anything it is subjective too. Some people think the best are the best preserved. Others think the best are the most accessible by sedan. Or the closest to big cities. I like ones that don’t have a lot of visitors myself. I like to explore them alone. Kind of like Bodie in California. Great place but it also gets too many people to get the real feel of it. So I could probably create an infinite number of lists as well as the author of this piece. But it is fun doing so!