Explore the Ghost Towns

Colorado has been littered with abandoned towns, many of which were left desolate after mining conflicts in the early 1900s. Visitors can now visit what remains of these ghost towns and get a firsthand look at Colorado's unique history. St. Elmo, one of Colorado's most popular ghost towns, is about 80 miles southeast of Aspen and 110 miles west of Colorado Springs. Visitors can explore a saloon, a jail, and approximately 40 other preserved buildings from the 1920s. Many people recommend visiting St. Elmo to learn about the state's silver and gold miners, and many recommend purchasing souvenirs from the still-operating general store (open seasonally).

If you're staying in Aspen, you can also visit Independence Ghost Town, which has empty stables, an old general store, and cabin ruins. This town, located at 11,000 feet, receives a lot of snow each year and is thus only accessible during the summer months. Visitors can wander around on their own or join a formal tour led by members of the Aspen Historical Society. Visitors in the past have said they enjoyed hiking around the abandoned buildings and learning about the town's history from the informative signs.