ATV Time Travel Adventures To Colorado Ghost Towns

Club ride through Engineer Pass on the way to Animas Forks by underactive | Flickr

Colorado Ghost Towns

Animas Forks Ghost Town – Alpine Loop, Silverton CO

Overview

Length: 65 mile loop
Drive Time: 6-7 hours
Difficulty: Overall Easy / Moderate In Sections (rock outcroppings, drop offs)
Access: Easy
ATV Friendly Town: Lake City
Ideal Riding Season: Mid Summer – September

Detailed Write Up: Exploring The Alpine Loop – ATV Colorado

Colorado Ghost Towns: Animas Forks Ghost Town — Old cabin in Animas Forks Adam Baker | Flickr

Colorado Ghost Towns: View from the Alpine Loop — Mountain views from the Alpine Loop robert thigpen | Flickr

St. Elmo Ghost Town – Miner’s Loop, Buena Vista CO

Overview

Start/End: St. Elmo CO
Ghost Towns: St. Elmo, Tincup, Woodstock and Hancock
Skill Level: Difficult
Distance: 44 miles
Usage: Moderate
Season: Late July – fall.
Vehicles Allowed: 4×4, ATV, SxS, motorcycles. Short wheel base & high clearance.

Detailed Write Up: St. Elmo Ghost Town High Alpine Miner’s Loop CO

Colorado Ghost Towns: St. Elmo — St. Elmo’s historic main street

Driving Tincup Pass — View from Tincup Pass Nick Taylor | Flickr

Wildflowers on Cumberland Pass — Wildflowers near Cumberland Pass Scott Akerman | Flickr

Cumberland Pass Colorado — Cumberland Pass Jeff Milton | Flickr

Crystal Ghost Town & Crystal Mill – Schofield Pass, Marble CO

Overview

Location: Crested Butte CO
Skill Level: Extreme
Distance: 6 miles (one way)
Usage: Heavy
Season: Late July – fall. In heavy snow years, trail may not fully open.
Vehicles Allowed: 4×4, ATV, SxS, motorcycles.

Detailed Write Up: 10 Best ATV Trails In Colorado: Schofield Pass / Devil’s Punchbowl / Crystal Mill

Colorado Ghost Towns: Crystal Mill — Crystal Mill, one of the most photographed buildings in Colorado by Patrick McKay | Flickr

Colorado Ghost Towns: Crystal — Surviving building in Crystal Ghost Town by Misty Faucheux | Flickr

Schofield Pass trail sign — Schofield Pass sign by Nancy and Randy | Flickr

Don’t be fooled by this seemingly easy stretch of Schofield Pass Road by Ben Freeman | Flickr

Tough going on Schofield Pass by LuceroPhotos | Flickr

Mt. Bellview as seen from Schofield Pass Road — View of Mt. Bellview from Schofield Pass Road by Jeff Lawson | Flickr

Alta Lakes & Alta Ghost Town – Telluride CO

Overview

Start/End: Junction of CO 145 S & Alta Lakes Rd.
Ghost Towns: Alta Colorado
Skill Level: 85% Easy, 15% Moderate
Distance: 4.3 miles (8.6 mile out and back)
Usage: Heavy
Season: April 1 – October 31
Vehicles Allowed: 4×4, ATV, SxS, motorcycles. High clearance

Detailed Write Up: Alta Lakes & Alta Ghost Town – Telluride CO

Colorado Ghost Towns: Alta — Mountain view in Alta Colorado by dana.m.wilson | Flickr

Colorado Ghost Towns: Alta Lakes — Scenic Alta Lakes trail view by Nick|Allen | Flickr

Paddling on Alta Lakes by dana.m.wilson | Flickr

Alta Lakes Colorado — Looking down Alta Lakes by dana.m.wilson | Flickr

View from Alta Lakes — Dramatic cliffs at Alta Lakes CO by Nick|Allen | Flickr

Alta Colorado Ghost Town — Cabin at Alta CO by Nick|Allen | Flickr

Carson Colorado – Alpine Loop, Lake City CO

Overview

Start/End: Lake City CO
Ghost Towns: Carson Colorado
Skill Level: 90% Easy, 10% Difficult
Distance: 32 miles (16 miles if done as an out and back)
Usage: Moderate
Season: Late July – Fall
Vehicles Allowed: 4×4, ATV, SxS, motorcycles. Short wheel base & high clearance

Detailed Write Up: Carson Colorado Ghost Town – Lake City / Alpine Loop