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Haunted Trails & Phantom Mines: Off-Roading Colorado's Spookiest Ghost Towns

Published by 5280 Offroad

Born at elevation. Forged in mud. Grit is earned.

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Alright, 5280 Offroad Tribe, Halloween is creeping up and this year we are leaving the campfire tales behind for the real thing. Out here in the Rockies, the mountains hold more than switchbacks and scenery. They are dotted with ghost towns, forgotten mines, and places where shadows linger longer than they should. This season, we are diving into the history and mysteries of Colorado’s haunted high country.


Every ruined cabin and crumbling mineshaft whispers the same warning: history never really stays buried in Colorado. If you are ready to trade headlights for lantern-light chills, here are some of the spookiest trails you can drive into, and maybe not come back the same.


Colorado Ghost Towns

The Classic Haunt: St. Elmo

Just west of Buena Vista, St. Elmo looks like it was frozen in time. The general store still stands proud, weathered wood against the mountain winds. But the true story belongs to “Dirty Annie” Stark, the town’s last resident, who refused to leave even as everyone else abandoned it.


Visitors swear her restless spirit still guards the store and her former home. Step onto the old boardwalk at dusk and you might feel a sudden drop in temperature or hear the slow creak of footsteps keeping pace with your own, even if you are alone.


Trail note: Getting there is an easy drive on CR 162, making it perfect for families or newer offroaders dipping into the ghost town world. Please note that this is a seasonal town and they typically are closed up by the end of September so keep this on your list for the 2026 season.


Want to read more about Annabelle Stark?


The High-Altitude Haunt: Animas Forks

High in the San Juans, Animas Forks is only reachable by climbing into the Alpine Loop. You will earn every chill. In the 1880s, miners here faced 25-foot snow drifts and winters that swallowed whole camps. Many did not make it through.


Today, the decaying homes still stand, their windows staring blankly across the valley, their walls still adorned with old wallpaper from a life long gone. Locals talk of sudden storms that drop from nowhere, swallowing the ruins in fog thick as smoke. Some wheelers claim they have heard the faint clang of pickaxes echoing through the timber even when the wind is still.


Trail note: Rated moderate to difficult. You will need a solid 4x4 and good high-country driving skills. Please note that access to Animas Forks is limited during the winter due to snow plan your trip accordingly.


Want to read more about Animas Forks?


The Forgotten Mystery: Crystal

Six rugged miles east of Marble sits Crystal, home to the famous Crystal Mill, perched precariously on the river. Photographers chase its haunting beauty, but few stop to feel the weight of the silence that clings to the town itself.


Once a community of 500, it was deserted when silver prices collapsed. Yet visitors sometimes describe voices drifting above the roar of the Crystal River, or the distinct sound of a rock hammer from a mine that hasn’t been worked in a century. The mill itself seems to defy time, leaning but never falling, as if something unseen is holding it upright.


Trail note: This one is not for stock rigs. The road is narrow, rocky, and technical, a true test of grit. Please note that access to Crystal is limited during the winter due to snow plan your trip accordingly.


Want to read more about Crystal?


The Phantom Mines of the San Juans

Not every legend has a town. The San Juan backcountry is filled with stories of lost Spanish and Mexican mines, veins of gold sealed off to hide their riches. Treasure hunters chase them to this day, but the deeper you go into those mountains, the stranger the stories get.


Reports include phantom lantern lights flickering along ridgelines, radios falling silent in certain basins, and sudden chills that leave you reaching for a jacket under a clear starry sky. Some say the mines were sealed with more than rock, that the souls of those who worked them were trapped inside.


The Spirit of the Trail

These are not just ruins and rumors. They are testaments to grit and sometimes tragedy that still hang in the thin mountain air. Driving into these places is a reminder: the trail does not always give you just scenery. There is so much history to explore in the state of Colorado.


So this Halloween, load up your rig, grab a co-pilot (or a ghost-hunting app if you dare), and head into Colorado’s haunted high country. The mountains are waiting, and you never know what might be waiting for you in return. Be careful out there!


Happy trails, and stay spooky, Tribe.


Ready to Make the Run?

Feeling inspired but want to sharpen your skills before hitting more challenging routes? Explore our 5280 Offroad Training Programs – from basic vehicle operation to advanced techniques, we'll give you the confidence to tackle any terrain. And while you're planning your next adventure, gear up at the 5280 Offroad Shop  – our merchandise is built rugged and trail-tested, just like the adventures you're about to embark on.

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