Colorado Trails That Reach a Ghost Town
A Colorado ghost-town ride can sound simple until you’re sorting out which road is open to your machine, where the legal route ends, and whether the town itself is on private land. This guide covers practical OHV routes to historic places such as Animas Forks and St. Elmo, plus the map, access, and safety checks that help keep the trip enjoyable.
Colorado OHV routes to ghost towns
Colorado’s mining history left small settlements scattered across high country, and some sit near roads and trails used by ATVs, UTVs, and other off-highway vehicles. But “a road reaches a ghost town” does not automatically mean every OHV can legally ride the whole way. A route may include county roads, designated motorized trails, private property, or sections with vehicle-width restrictions.
Before setting out, match your machine to the route and check the applicable motor vehicle use map, local road rules, and posted signs. These details matter especially around towns, where a rideable forest road may end at a point where OHV use is restricted.
Animas Forks on the Alpine Loop
Animas Forks is one of the best-known historic settlements on the Alpine Loop, between the Silverton and Lake City areas. It’s a popular destination because it combines mining history with a dramatic high-country setting. The surrounding network includes routes over Engineer Pass and Cinnamon Pass, but the specific road you choose affects the difficulty and the kind of vehicle that may be suitable.
Animas Forks is not a place to treat like an empty trailhead. Historic buildings and other remnants are vulnerable, and visitors should stay out of structures unless access is clearly authorized. Walk around carefully, respect barriers, and leave artifacts where they are. A souvenir taken from a site is part of the history removed from everyone else.
The Alpine Loop is a network of mountain routes, not one uniform road with consistent conditions. Some sections are narrow, rough, exposed, or unsuitable for a wider side-by-side. Check route descriptions, machine-width limits, seasonal closures, and current local notices before choosing a direction. For additional planning, see The Alpine Loop’s 65 Miles of Motorized Road and Alpine Loop Difficulty for a Stock Side-by-Side.
St. Elmo and the roads toward Hancock and Tincup
St. Elmo, west of Buena Vista, is a remarkably well-known former mining settlement. Visitors can reach the town area by road, while nearby routes connect riders with high-country scenery around Hancock and Tincup. It’s important to distinguish those nearby OHV routes from access through or around the settlement itself: local rules, road designations, and private-property boundaries can affect where a machine may go.
A good approach is to plan the historic-site visit and the off-road ride as related but separate parts of the day. Park where permitted, explore on foot where access is allowed, and use only signed or mapped routes for riding. Do not assume that a road visible on a phone map is open to motorized travel, or that a route used by one type of vehicle is appropriate for a wide UTV.
This area rewards riders who leave room in the schedule. High-country roads can be rough, weather can change quickly, and a route that looks short on a map may take longer than expected. If you’re building a larger trip around the region, Taylor Park in the Gunnison National Forest offers another useful starting point for exploring Colorado’s trail network.
Carson and the remote mining sites near Lake City
Carson is a remote mining-era settlement in the Lake City area, reached by rugged routes that can demand more from a rider and machine than a casual scenic drive. Access is associated with the Wager Gulch area, but route conditions, permissions, and closures should be checked carefully before you go. Remote historic sites are not places to count on finding help nearby.
This is a trip to approach with a conservative mindset. Confirm that your machine is suitable for the specific route, carry recovery and repair essentials, and make sure everyone in the group understands the plan. If a trail becomes too narrow, steep, unstable, or difficult for your vehicle, turning around is a sound decision—not a failure to complete the ride.
Historic sites can also be easy to damage unintentionally. Keep wheels on the designated route, avoid driving across fragile ground, and do not remove objects or disturb old structures. For broader trip preparation, What to Carry Over a High Pass covers useful considerations for riding far from a trailhead.
| Historic destination | General riding area | What to check before leaving |
|---|---|---|
| Animas Forks | Alpine Loop near Silverton and Lake City | Route choice, machine width, seasonal access, and local closures |
| St. Elmo | Near Buena Vista, with routes toward Hancock and Tincup | Whether the intended road is open to your OHV and where riding restrictions begin |
| Carson | Remote Lake City area near Wager Gulch | Route condition, vehicle suitability, permissions, and turnaround options |
Choose a route that fits your machine and experience
A ghost-town ride can combine narrow mining roads, steep grades, loose rock, exposed drop-offs, water, and changing weather. A route that works for a skilled rider on a small ATV may be uncomfortable or impassable for a long, wide side-by-side. The route name alone does not tell you whether it is a good match.
Check width, difficulty, and legal access
Start with the official motor vehicle use map for the area and read it alongside local notices and signs. Maps help show which routes are designated for motorized use and can identify vehicle restrictions. They may also display seasonal dates or other limits. If a map and a posted closure appear to conflict, follow the closure and seek clarification before proceeding.
Machine width is an easy detail to overlook when planning from a phone. A trail may be open to some vehicles but too narrow for a full-size UTV. Turning around can also be difficult on a shelf road or a narrow grade, so check width and route character before you reach the tight section. Trails That Suit a 50-Inch Machine and Wide Side-by-Sides on Narrow Mountain Trails can help you think through that distinction.
A map app such as onX Offroad can be useful for reviewing route options and keeping track of your position, but it should support—not replace—official maps and signs. Download the information you need before entering areas with weak service, and bring a backup map. The phone battery that seems fine at the trailhead may not stay fine through a long, cold day at altitude.
Be honest about skill and comfort
A route can be technically within your machine’s capabilities and still be a poor choice for your group. Consider how everyone handles narrow roads, steep descents, loose surfaces, and exposure. If someone in the group is anxious about drop-offs or has limited experience, choose a route with easier terrain and more comfortable places to stop or turn around.
Don’t use another group’s pace as your benchmark. They may have a different vehicle, local knowledge, or experience level. Leave space between machines, communicate clearly before obstacles, and agree in advance that any rider can ask to turn back. That simple agreement helps prevent the familiar pressure to continue just because the group has already traveled partway.
For route-reading basics and seasonal dates, consult Reading Seasonal Dates on an MVUM and Trail Difficulty Ratings and What They Mean. A route designation is useful information, but it does not guarantee that the surface will be easy, dry, or appropriate for every machine.
Plan for altitude, weather, and limited services
Ghost towns in the Colorado mountains are often far from fuel, repair shops, and reliable cell service. A minor problem near a populated area can become a much bigger one when the group is high above a trailhead and weather is moving in. Plan for the whole day rather than only the ride out.
Expect changing mountain conditions
A sunny start at a lower elevation does not guarantee comfortable weather on a pass. Wind, rain, cold, and sudden storms can make exposed routes unpleasant or unsafe. Check the forecast for the elevations and areas you’ll actually visit, and have a turnaround time that leaves room to descend before weather becomes a problem.
Snow, mud, and runoff can change a route’s difficulty. A road that looked manageable in a trip report may have developed ruts, loose rock, or standing water. If conditions are worse than expected, don’t let the destination make the decision for you. The town will still be there; your group needs a safe route back.
Altitude can also affect riders, not just machines. Headaches, unusual fatigue, nausea, dizziness, or shortness of breath deserve attention. Drink water, take breaks, and don’t push through symptoms just to stay on schedule. Learn more about preparation in Altitude Sickness on a Riding Trip and Water and Sun at 11,000 Feet.
Carry the essentials and make a communication plan
Before leaving, tell someone who is not on the ride where you’re going and when you expect to return. Set a check-in plan that still makes sense if cell service disappears. In a group, keep track of the last rider at intersections and regroup at safe pullouts rather than stopping in a narrow or exposed spot.
Carry clothing for changing conditions, water, food, a basic first-aid kit, and tools suited to your machine. Recovery gear can be valuable, but only if someone knows how to use it safely. Keep a paper map or another backup navigation option available in case a device loses power or signal.
OnX Offroad can help organize a route and show your location, but it’s wise to have more than one way to navigate. Save maps for offline use, charge devices before departure, and carry a power source if your trip is long. For trips through areas with limited reception, Cell Dead Zones in the San Juans and Satellite Messengers Above Treeline are useful topics to review.
Respect the place and keep the ride low-impact
Ghost towns are not simply scenic backdrops. They are historic places, and many sit in landscapes where a single shortcut can damage fragile ground or create lasting erosion. Thoughtful riding protects the site and helps keep routes available for others.
Stay on designated routes and respect boundaries
Do not ride around a barrier, cut across a meadow, or follow tracks that are not clearly open to motorized use. A visible track is not proof of legal access. Forest roads, county roads, private roads, and designated trails can meet in confusing ways, so pay attention to signs and maps at junctions.
Private property may lie beside or even within a historic area. Do not cross a gate or enter a building because it looks abandoned. If access is unclear, stay on the public route and ask the appropriate land manager or local authority before making assumptions. Colorado Trespass Rules Along Forest Roads explains why access boundaries deserve careful attention.
Keep noise and dust in mind near homes, cabins, campgrounds, and small communities. Slow down when passing people or livestock, and avoid revving the engine near historic buildings. A courteous pace makes the visit better for people on foot and for neighbors who live with the trail traffic long after visitors leave.
Leave historic objects and structures undisturbed
Old buildings may look sturdy from the outside but can have weak floors, unstable roofs, or exposed nails. Don’t climb on them, enter them without authorization, or lean equipment against them. A photograph from a safe distance is a better souvenir than a damaged wall or an injury.
Leave tools, bottles, metal, and other artifacts where you find them. Even an ordinary-looking object can help tell the story of a site, and removing it makes the place less meaningful for future visitors. Pack out your trash, including small items that are easy to overlook, and avoid disturbing wildlife or livestock.
If you notice a damaged sign, blocked route, or unsafe condition, report it through the appropriate land-management or local channel rather than attempting repairs yourself. You can find more practical guidance in Stay The Trail Ethics in Colorado and Colorado Trail Damage and Resource Protection.
A rewarding Colorado ghost-town ride is built on more than reaching the destination. Choose a route that fits your machine, confirm that it is open to your type of vehicle, prepare for remote conditions, and treat the historic site with care. That approach gives your group a better chance of enjoying both the ride and the place you came to see.
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Laws, prices and regulations vary by location and change over time. Consult a qualified professional for guidance on your specific situation.
