Riding Colorado’s Ghost Towns by OHV

Colorado’s ghost towns make memorable OHV destinations, but the ride is about more than reaching an old mining camp. Routes can climb above treeline, cross remote public land, and pass fragile historic sites where access rules matter. This guide explains how to choose a suitable ghost-town ride, check the route, prepare your machine, and explore without damaging the places you came to see.

What Riding Colorado Ghost Towns by OHV Really Involves

A ghost town is a destination, not permission to ride anywhere

Colorado’s former mining camps sit in landscapes shaped by mining roads, private parcels, public land, and historic preservation. An OHV route may lead close to a ghost town, but that does not mean every road through the surrounding area is open to motorized travel. Stay on routes currently designated for your vehicle type, and check which land manager controls each section.

It also helps to separate the ride from the visit. You might travel by OHV on an authorized road, then park and explore a historic area on foot. At some sites, buildings, mine openings, and artifacts are especially vulnerable. Don’t drive up to a cabin for a closer photograph, move objects, or enter a structure just because its door is open. A little walking is often part of seeing the place responsibly.

A scenic historic destination can look close on a map while still requiring careful route planning. A road may be narrow, steep, rough, or unsuitable for a wide side-by-side. Before setting out, match the route to your machine and riding experience rather than assuming that a road marked as accessible is easy. For route ideas, start with [Colorado Trails That Reach a Ghost Town] and [Colorado's Alpine Loop Over Engineer and Cinnamon].

The ride can be more demanding than the destination

Many popular historic sites are reached by high-elevation roads where weather and surface conditions can change quickly. A route that feels comfortable in the morning may be exposed to afternoon storms, loose rock, deep ruts, or snow patches. At altitude, your machine may also behave differently than it does at home, especially on a long climb or a sustained descent.

Expect a slower day than the map mileage suggests. You may stop for traffic, let another group pass, walk around a historic site, or wait for a weather break. Narrow mountain roads can make turning around difficult, and a route that looks like a simple connector may have sections that require confident line choice and patient driving.

The goal is not to collect as many ghost towns as possible in one day. A satisfying trip leaves time to travel carefully, take breaks, and change plans if conditions call for it. If your group includes new riders, children, or a less capable machine, choose a route with a clear turnaround option rather than treating the most ambitious destination as a must-do.

Colorado Ghost Town Areas Worth Exploring

Animas Forks and the Alpine Loop

Animas Forks is one of Colorado’s best-known historic mining settlements and a popular destination within the San Juan Mountains. Its remote setting and remaining structures make it a compelling place to visit, but it is still important to approach it as a protected historic area, not an off-road play space. Keep your machine on the authorized route, park where permitted, and explore on foot without entering or climbing on fragile structures.

The broader Alpine Loop region connects dramatic mountain scenery with historic mining communities and roads. The route’s character can vary by direction, weather, and the condition of individual sections. Some portions are narrow, steep, or exposed, so don’t assume that a route suitable for a capable 4×4 is automatically suitable for every ATV or UTV. Check the current route information for your exact machine type and planned direction.

Use a map to understand the overall route, but confirm access and closures with the responsible land manager before leaving. A navigation app such as onX Offroad can help you follow mapped routes and understand where junctions lead, but it shouldn’t replace current agency notices or posted signs. For additional context, see [Animas Forks Ghost Town by OHV] and [Riding the San Juan Mountains].

St. Elmo, Tincup, and the Taylor Park area

St. Elmo is a historic mountain community near the Sawatch Range, and the surrounding area offers access to a network of roads and trails. It’s a destination where visitors may encounter residents, private property, other travelers, and busy parking areas. Follow signs carefully, avoid blocking driveways or access points, and don’t assume that a road continuing past the town is open to OHV use.

The nearby Tincup area and Taylor Park region offer a different kind of trip: a mix of high-country scenery, trail connections, and opportunities to build a longer outing. This can be appealing if you want to combine a historic stop with a broader ride, but it also means paying attention to junctions and route designations. Keep your itinerary realistic, particularly if you’re unfamiliar with the area or traveling with a mixed-experience group.

Route conditions and seasonal access can vary across the network. Check current information for each road or trail rather than relying on an old track saved to your phone. [Taylor Park and Colorado's High-Country Trail Network] is a useful place to explore the area’s riding context, while [Reading a Colorado Motor Vehicle Use Map] can help you understand how to read official route information.

Other historic destinations call for the same careful checks

Colorado has many places associated with mining history, but a historic name on a map does not guarantee a legal or maintained OHV approach. Some sites are reached by public motorized routes; others require a hike, lie on private land, or have access limitations. Before adding a lesser-known stop, identify the exact approach road and confirm that motorized use is allowed there.

Treat digital maps as planning tools, not a final ruling on access. onX Offroad can be helpful for seeing route connections and planning a navigation track, especially where several roads meet. Still, compare your plan with current official maps and closures, and follow the signs you encounter on the ground. If information conflicts, pause and check with the relevant land manager instead of guessing.

A practical trip plan includes a primary destination and a backup. If a route is closed, snowbound, washed out, or unsuitable for your machine, a nearby open route or a shorter ride can save the day. For any unfamiliar destination, look for current trail notes and official updates; [Colorado Trail Conditions Reports] and [Where Colorado Closure Orders Are Posted] are useful starting points.

Area	What the outing may offer	What to check before riding
Animas Forks and the Alpine Loop	Historic structures, high mountain scenery, and connected routes	Current access, vehicle suitability, weather, and route conditions
St. Elmo and the surrounding roads	A historic community with nearby mountain-road riding	Posted access restrictions, parking, private property, and road conditions
Tincup and Taylor Park	Historic stops and a wider network of routes	Route designations, junctions, machine width, and seasonal closures
Other mining-era destinations	A quieter or less familiar historic outing	Whether the approach is open to motorized use and who manages the land

Plan the Route Before You Load the Machine

Confirm access, closures, and route suitability

Start by identifying the managing agency for each section of your proposed route. In Colorado, a trip can cross land administered by different entities, and an open route on one section does not automatically mean the next connection is open. Check current maps, closure notices, and posted information, then confirm that your machine is permitted on the specific roads and trails you plan to use.

A Motor Vehicle Use Map, often called an MVUM, is important for understanding which routes are designated for motorized use on certain public lands. Read its legend and date information carefully. A line on a general recreation map may show a road without telling you whether it is open to your vehicle or whether seasonal restrictions apply. Keep a paper map or downloaded copy available in case your phone loses service.

Route planning apps can make it easier to see intersections and estimate how a ride fits together. onX Offroad may be useful for reviewing mapped routes before your trip, but use it alongside official agency information rather than treating any single app as the final authority. If you’re visiting from outside Colorado, check the permit requirements that apply to your machine and type of riding; [Colorado OHV Permits for Out-of-State Riders] and [Colorado Permit Rules on Designated Trails] cover related questions.

Match the trail to your machine and group

Machine width is a practical issue on Colorado routes. A route that works for a narrow ATV may not be comfortable or permitted for a wider side-by-side. Before departing, confirm the route’s vehicle restrictions and consider tight turns, narrow shelf sections, passing places, and areas where backing up would be difficult. If you’re unsure whether your machine fits, choose a route with more room and a straightforward turnaround.

Your group’s riding experience matters just as much. A confident driver who has spent years on rough mountain roads may be comfortable with steep grades and loose surfaces, while a first-time rider may need a shorter, simpler outing. Don’t let the group’s most experienced person set the pace for everyone. Agree on a turnaround point before the ride, and make it clear that anyone can call for a pause or a change of plan.

Plan for the slowest part of the trip, not the easiest part. A machine that handles the approach road well may still struggle with a steep descent, a tight switchback, or a rough section after a long climb. For a broader trip-planning reference, [Planning a Colorado Riding Trip] can help you think through the day’s logistics before you head into the mountains.

Ride Safely in High Country and Around Historic Sites

Prepare for altitude, weather, and limited services

High-elevation routes can feel physically demanding even when the driving itself is manageable. Drink water regularly, take breaks, and pay attention to how everyone in the group is feeling. Headaches, nausea, dizziness, and unusual fatigue are reasons to stop and reassess. Don’t try to push through symptoms just to reach a destination or meet a schedule.

Mountain weather can change rapidly, so bring layers and rain protection even when the trailhead is sunny. A storm can make exposed terrain uncomfortable and may bring lightning, cold rain, or poor visibility. Check the forecast for the elevation and area you’ll actually ride, not only the nearest town. If thunderheads build or conditions worsen, turn back before you’re committed to an exposed section.

Remote routes may have limited cell service, and help can take time to reach you. Tell someone where you plan to ride and when you expect to return. Carry water, food, basic first-aid supplies, a tire repair plan, and the tools needed for your machine. A downloaded route in onX Offroad or another navigation app can be useful, but it’s wise to carry a backup map and keep your phone protected from cold and impact. For more on riding at elevation, see [Riding Above Treeline in Colorado].

Protect the structures and the landscape

Historic buildings and mining features are not ordinary roadside scenery. Weather, age, and visitor contact can make them fragile. Don’t climb on roofs, lean equipment against walls, remove boards, or enter unsafe structures. Mine openings are especially dangerous; never approach or enter them, even if they appear stable or accessible. A photograph from a designated viewing area is a better souvenir than a preventable injury or damaged site.

Stay on the established route even when a shortcut seems harmless. Driving around a muddy patch or pulling off for a better view can widen a road, damage vegetation, or disturb a site that has already been worn down by visitors. Use designated parking and staging areas, pack out trash, and give livestock and wildlife room. If the ground is soft or the route is being damaged by traffic, stopping or turning around is the responsible choice.

Historic places are more enjoyable when everyone has room to visit respectfully. Keep noise down near homes and communities, let other road users pass where it is safe, and avoid blocking access while you take photographs. The principles in [Stay The Trail Ethics in Colorado] are particularly relevant when a popular route leads to a small, delicate historic site.

Build a Realistic Ghost Town Riding Day

Choose a simple itinerary with room to adjust

A good day plan begins with one main destination, not a long list of stops. Identify your route, a reasonable turnaround point, and at least one alternative if a closure or weather change affects the plan. Estimate travel time generously: mountain-road speeds are often slow, and you may need to stop for traffic, route-finding, photos, or a walk around the site.

For example, a family visiting a historic area for the first time might choose a shorter authorized route, allow time to park and explore on foot, and return well before the afternoon weather window becomes a concern. A more experienced group might plan a longer connection, but should still have a fallback route and enough daylight to manage an unexpected delay. The right itinerary depends on the machine, group, and conditions—not just the distance on the map.

Before departure, share the plan with everyone riding. Confirm who is leading and who is following, agree on regrouping points, and decide how you’ll communicate if the group gets separated. Make sure each rider knows the route name and the return plan. [Colorado Trailhead Parking and Staging] can help with the often-overlooked logistics of where to leave a tow vehicle and trailer.

Use a final pre-ride check

A short check before loading can prevent frustrating problems later. Inspect tires, brakes, steering, lights, fuel, and visible fluid leaks. Secure loose items, confirm that your registration or permit requirements are handled, and make sure everyone has suitable eye protection, clothing, and any required safety gear. If your machine has been sitting for a while, take a brief test ride close to home before committing to a remote mountain route.

Review your navigation plan while you still have reliable service. Download maps for offline use, save the route and key junctions, and keep a backup map accessible. Confirm that the group understands the route’s restrictions and knows where a legal turnaround is possible. onX Offroad can support route review and navigation, but the final pre-ride check should also include current official notices and any closures posted at the trailhead.

Finally, leave yourself permission to change the plan. Turning around because of weather, a mechanical concern, a route restriction, or a rider who is struggling is not a failed outing. It is good judgment. Ghost towns have endured long enough to wait for another visit; getting your group home safely is more important than completing every planned mile.

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.