2. Animas Forks, Colorado
Eleven thousand feet up in the imposing San Juan Mountains of southern Colorado, this former mining town once had 450 very hardy residents. The town was established in 1873 and grew rapidly over the next ten years as prospectors flocked to the area to mine silver and copper. By 1883 the town had 30 cabins, a general store, a hotel, a saloon, a post office and a local newspaper, The Animas Forks Pioneer, that boasted the highest elevation printing press in the U.S.
While the mines were prosperous, and the mountain views from town lovely, life was anything but easy in Animas Forks. Most of the miners would retreat to nearby Silverton in the fall and return in the spring when the weather allowed. Those who remained had to tough it out with sparse supplies, epic storms, and frequent avalanches. Eventually, dwindling mining profits and the hindrance of further development due to the unrelenting avalanches led to the decline of Animas Forks.
The town did enjoy a brief resurgence in 1904 with the arrival of the Gold Prince Mine and the the Silverton Northern Railroad. But it was all for naught as the final mill closed in 1910 and dismantled in 1917. By 1920 Animas Forks was a ghost town.
Today, the ghost town is managed by the BLM who in recent years have stabilized and partially restored many of the buildings which are free and open for the public to explore. There are several old cabin-style buildings, a small jail, the crumbling foundation of a boarding house, and the remains of the Columbus Mine and mill all set against the backdrop of the jagged, perpetually snow-capped San Juans.
Animas Forks is located 12 miles from Silverton along the Alpine Loop National Back Country Byway. This winding, unpaved route is generally considered a 4WD road, but the 12 miles to Animas Forks are easily driven with a 2WD vehicle in the summer months. However, if you wish to follow the road past the town and over Engineer Pass 4WD is required.
For more information visit: GhostTowns.com