Abandoned places you can legally visit — and the ones you can't

Legal to visit 137 sites

Public land, state parks, or managed sites. Entry is legal — individual structures may still be fenced or seasonal.

Alaska

• The Nave (the old Church of Love) Anchorage, Alaska

  The Nave is currently an active community and cultural hub operated by the Cook Inlet Housing Authority, regularly hosting public events, workshops, and open artist studios.

  last checked 2026-06-06
• Nike Site Summit Anchorage, Alaska

  Nike Site Summit is located on an active military installation and is legally accessible to the public only through sanctioned guided tours organized by the Friends of Nike Site Summit.

  last checked 2026-06-06

Arizona

• Casa Grande Ruins National Monument Phoenix, Arizona

  The site is a federally protected National Monument managed by the National Park Service, open daily to the public with paved trails surrounding the ruins.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Queen Valley Overlook Ruins Phoenix, Arizona

  Located on public land within the Tonto National Forest, the ruins are accessible via a rugged public hiking trail, though visitors must respect the fragile archaeological site and avoid climbing on the walls.

  last checked 2026-07-20

California

• Old LA Zoo, Griffith Park Los Angeles, California

  The Old LA Zoo is located within Griffith Park, a public city park, and is legally open to the public as a picnic area and hiking destination where visitors can freely walk inside the old animal enclosures.

  last checked 2026-06-23
• Outpost Sign Ruins Los Angeles, California

  The ruins are located on public land within Runyon Canyon Park and can be freely viewed and accessed from the park's hiking trails.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Concrete ruins of the St. Francis Dam Los Angeles, California

  The ruins are located within the Saint Francis Dam Disaster National Monument in the Angeles National Forest, which is legally open to the public for hiking and exploration.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Pioneer Park (Mission Hills Park) San Diego, California

  Pioneer Park (also known as Mission Hills Park) is a city-operated public park in San Diego that is legally open to the public daily from 6 a.m. to dusk.

  last checked 2026-07-19
• Buckman Homestead Ruins San Diego, California

  The ruins are located on public land within the Cleveland National Forest and are easily accessible just off Old Highway 80.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Old Lime Kiln Ruins San Francisco, California

  The ruins are located along a well-maintained public hiking trail in the Fall Creek Unit of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, which is open daily from dawn to dusk with no entry fee for this specific unit.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Rispin Mansion Community Park Santa Cruz, California

  While the historic mansion itself remains permanently sealed, the surrounding grounds officially opened to the public as a municipal park in December 2025.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Old Lime Kiln Ruins Santa Cruz, California

  The ruins are located within the Fall Creek Unit of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park and are legally accessible to the public via well-maintained hiking trails.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Old Lime Kiln Ruins Monterey, California

  Located within the Fall Creek Unit of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, the ruins are legally accessible via a well-maintained public hiking trail.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Pogonip Historic Lime Kiln Monterey, California

  The ruins are located along the publicly accessible Lime Kiln Trail within the Pogonip Open Space, which is open daily to the public from sunrise to sunset.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Historic Lime Kilns Monterey, California

  The kilns are located within Limekiln State Park and are legally accessible to the public via a well-maintained hiking trail.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Preston Castle Sacramento, California

  Preston Castle is legally accessible to the public through scheduled guided, self-guided, and paranormal tours operated by the Preston Castle Foundation.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Coloma Jail Ruins Sacramento, California

  The ruins are located within the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, which is open daily to the public for a vehicle day-use fee.

  last checked 2026-07-20

Colorado

• Castlewood Canyon Dam Ruins Colorado Springs, Colorado

  The Castlewood Canyon Dam Ruins are legally accessible to the public via established hiking trails, such as the Dam Trail, within Castlewood Canyon State Park.

  last checked 2026-06-07
• Crags Hotel Ruins at Rattlesnake Gulch Boulder, Colorado

  The Crags Hotel Ruins are legally accessible to the public via the Rattlesnake Gulch Trail within Eldorado Canyon State Park.

  last checked 2026-06-11
• Homestead Meadows Boulder, Colorado

  The site is located on public land within the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and is legally accessible via hiking trails like Lion Gulch or Moose Meadow.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Historic Tallman Homestead Boulder, Colorado

  The homestead is located within Golden Gate Canyon State Park and is legally accessible to the public via hiking trails, though a state park pass is required.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• The Birch Ruins Boulder, Colorado

  The ruins are located within the publicly accessible Centennial Open Space at Knoll-Willows and can be reached via a sanctioned 0.4-mile roundtrip trail. A metal viewing platform with railings allows visitors to safely view the structure without climbing on the fragile historic masonry.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Hahns Peak Village, Schoolhouse Museum & Bear Cage Jail Fort Collins, Colorado

  The Hahns Peak Schoolhouse Museum and Bear Cage Jail are managed by the Hahns Peak Historical Society and are open to the public daily during the summer season.

  last checked 2026-06-11
• Homestead Meadows Trailhead Fort Collins, Colorado

  The trailhead and the historic homestead ruins are located on public land within the Roosevelt National Forest and Hermit Park Open Space, which are legally accessible to hikers for a small park entrance fee.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• The Birch Ruins Fort Collins, Colorado

  The ruins are located within the Knoll-Willows Open Space, a public park managed by the Town of Estes Park and the Estes Park Museum, and are legally accessible via a short public hiking trail.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Ludlow Massacre Memorial Pueblo, Colorado

  The Ludlow Massacre Memorial is a National Historic Landmark owned by the United Mine Workers of America and is legally open to the public year-round.

  last checked 2026-06-11
• Phantom Canyon Road Pueblo, Colorado

  Phantom Canyon Road (County Road 67) is a public, unpaved county road and designated National Scenic Byway that is legally open to public vehicle and foot traffic.

  last checked 2026-06-21
• Ludlow Massacre Site Pueblo, Colorado

  The Ludlow Massacre Site is a National Historic Landmark owned by the United Mine Workers of America that is open to the public year-round, allowing visitors to walk the grounds, view the monument, and read interpretive panels.

  last checked 2026-06-21
• Pueblo Ghost Tour at the Weisbrod Aircraft Museum Pueblo, Colorado

  The Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum is a legally accessible, active museum that hosts sanctioned monthly ghost tours on the first Saturday of each month.

  last checked 2026-06-23
• Marble Mill Site Park Grand Junction, Colorado

  Marble Mill Site Park is a publicly accessible 25-acre municipal park in Marble, Colorado, featuring self-guided walking tours and a disc golf course winding through the historic mill ruins.

  last checked 2026-06-11
• Alpine Tunnel West Portal Grand Junction, Colorado

  The Alpine Tunnel West Portal is located within the Gunnison National Forest and is legally open to the public as a historic district, with the access road having reopened in late 2024 following a multi-year restoration of the Palisade Wall.

  last checked 2026-06-11
• Old Kiln Historical Site Grand Junction, Colorado

  The historic lime kiln is located on public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) within the Bangs Canyon Special Recreation Management Area, accessible via the public Old Kiln Trail.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Fort Peabody Ruins (Imogene Pass) Durango, Colorado

  The restored historic site is located on public land within the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests and is legally accessible to the public via a short trail from the summit of Imogene Pass.

  last checked 2026-06-11
• Ophir Town & Post Office Durango, Colorado

  Ophir is an active, incorporated municipality, and its historic post office remains a fully functioning, publicly accessible USPS location.

  last checked 2026-06-11
• Wheeler Geologic Area Durango, Colorado

  The Wheeler Geologic Area is located within the Rio Grande National Forest and is legally open to the public for hiking and exploration, though the rugged access road and trails may experience seasonal or weather-related closures.

  last checked 2026-06-21
• Lowry Pueblo & the Great Kiva Durango, Colorado

  Lowry Pueblo National Historic Landmark is a publicly accessible archaeological site managed by the Bureau of Land Management within Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, open year-round during daylight hours.

  last checked 2026-06-21
• Yucca House National Monument Durango, Colorado

  Yucca House National Monument is open to the public year-round with no entrance fees, allowing visitors to legally walk through the unexcavated archaeological site via a public access easement across private land.

  last checked 2026-06-21
• Geyser Spring Trail Durango, Colorado

  The Geyser Spring Trail is a legally open public hiking trail (Trail #648) managed by the San Juan National Forest, though visitors are cautioned to view the geyser from the trail to avoid toxic gas emissions.

  last checked 2026-06-21
• McElmo Canyon Roadside Boulder Petroglyphs Durango, Colorado

  The roadside boulder is located on public BLM land within Canyons of the Ancients National Monument and is legally accessible to walk up to from an unmarked pull-off on County Road G.

  last checked 2026-06-21
• Gold Prince Mill at Animas Forks - building foundation Durango, Colorado

  The foundation is located within the Animas Forks ghost town, which is public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the San Juan County Historical Society, allowing visitors to freely explore the outdoor ruins.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Ironton Townsite Durango, Colorado

  The townsite is situated on public land managed by the U.S. Forest Service and Ouray County, with a well-maintained trail and parking area open to visitors.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Animas Forks Mine and Ghost Town Durango, Colorado

  The townsite is a designated historic site managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and is legally open to the public during the summer and fall, though visitors must not enter any blocked-off or structurally unstable mining shafts.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Aztec Ruins National Monument Durango, Colorado

  It is a National Monument managed by the National Park Service, offering public access to the ruins via a self-guided trail.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Aztec Ruins National Monument Visitor Center Durango, Colorado

  The site is a federally protected National Monument managed by the National Park Service, offering free public access to the ruins and trails during operating hours.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Salmon Ruins Museum Durango, Colorado

  The ruins are legally accessible to the public via the Salmon Ruins Museum for a small admission fee.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Frances Canyon Ruins Durango, Colorado

  The site is located on BLM public land and is legally open to the public, featuring a short, marked hiking trail and informational plaques.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Historic Elitch Theatre Denver, Colorado

  The Historic Elitch Theatre is legally accessible to the public through regularly scheduled summer history tours, private group tours, and live community events hosted by its preservation foundation.

  last checked 2026-06-07
• Riverside Cemetery Denver, Colorado

  The historic cemetery grounds remain legally open to the public daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, although the on-site office is temporarily closed for construction.

  last checked 2026-06-07
• Castlewood Canyon Lucas Homestead Ruins Denver, Colorado

  The Lucas Homestead ruins are legally accessible to the public via the Homestead Trail within Castlewood Canyon State Park.

  last checked 2026-06-07
• Castlewood Canyon Dam Ruins Denver, Colorado

  The Castlewood Canyon Dam Ruins are legally accessible to the public via established hiking trails within Castlewood Canyon State Park.

  last checked 2026-06-07
• Knights of Pythias Cemetery Denver, Colorado

  The Knights of Pythias Cemetery is legally open to the public for respectful self-guided visits and is featured in official local events like the Gilpin Historical Society's annual Cemetery Crawl.

  last checked 2026-06-07
• Mount Falcon 'Summer White House' Ruins Denver, Colorado

  The ruins and cornerstone of the proposed Summer White House are legally accessible to the public via Walker's Dream Trail in Mount Falcon Park, which is managed by Jefferson County Open Space.

  last checked 2026-06-07
• Rattlesnake Gulch Trail Denver, Colorado

  The Rattlesnake Gulch Trail is a publicly accessible hiking trail within Eldorado Canyon State Park, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife explicitly permits visitors to hike the trail and explore the historic Crags Hotel ruins.

  last checked 2026-06-10
• Camp Hale–Continental Divide National Monument Denver, Colorado

  Camp Hale–Continental Divide National Monument is a federally protected public land managed by the U.S. Forest Service, where visitors can legally hike, camp, and explore the historic military ruins.

  last checked 2026-06-11
• Interlaken Resort Ruins & Dexter Cabin Denver, Colorado

  While the Interlaken Trail and the historic Dexter Cabin remain open and safe for public entry, the U.S. Forest Service has issued a safety closure order through June 2028 for a 200-foot buffer around the nearby Interlaken Hotel and Annex due to tree fall hazards.

  last checked 2026-06-11
• Historic Tallman Homestead Denver, Colorado

  Located within Golden Gate Canyon State Park, the homestead is legally accessible to the public via a moderate hike, though a state park pass is required.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• The Birch Ruins Denver, Colorado

  The ruins are located within the Knoll-Willows Open Space, which is owned by the Town of Estes Park and open to the public via a short, maintained hiking trail.

  last checked 2026-07-20

District of Columbia

• Mallows Bay Ghost Fleet Washington, D.C., District of Columbia

  Mallows Bay is a publicly accessible county park and National Marine Sanctuary where visitors can legally paddle directly through the shipwreck field or view it from shoreline hiking trails.

  last checked 2026-07-19
• Bank Historic Barn Ruins Washington, D.C., District of Columbia

  The ruins are located on the publicly accessible grounds of Jerusalem Mill Village, which is part of Gunpowder Falls State Park and open daily from sunrise to sunset.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Terra Maria Ruins Washington, D.C., District of Columbia

  The ruins are stabilized, unfenced, and maintained by the local homeowners association as a neighborhood park, allowing visitors to freely walk through the stone arches.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Seneca Mill and Quarry Ruins Washington, D.C., District of Columbia

  The ruins are located on public park land within the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park and Seneca Creek State Park, accessible via a short, established trail branching off the C&O Canal towpath.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Glen Ellen Castle Ruins Washington, D.C., District of Columbia

  The ruins are located within the Loch Raven Reservoir Cooperative Wildlife Management Area and are legally accessible to hikers via the public Glen Ellen Trail.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Ruins of Shenandoah Pulp Factory Washington, D.C., District of Columbia

  The ruins are located within Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and are legally accessible to the public via the Virginius Island Loop Trail.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Davis Mill ruins Washington, D.C., District of Columbia

  The ruins are located on public parkland within Great Seneca Stream Valley Park, featuring a dedicated gravel parking area and an interpretive sign at the trailhead.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Ruins of St. John's Episcopal Church Washington, D.C., District of Columbia

  The ruins are located directly along a public trail within Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, though visitors must remain on the path and are prohibited from climbing on the fragile historic walls.

  last checked 2026-07-20

Florida

• Cauley Square Historic Village Miami, Florida

  Cauley Square Historic Village is fully open to the public as an active, restored historic shopping and dining village featuring gardens, restaurants, and specialty shops.

  last checked 2026-07-19

Georgia

• New Manchester Mill Ruins, Sweetwater Creek State Park Atlanta, Georgia

  The ruins are located within Sweetwater Creek State Park and are legally accessible via public hiking trails, though entering the fenced-off interior of the structure is restricted to ranger-led guided tours.

  last checked 2026-07-19
• The Goat Farm Arts Center Atlanta, Georgia

  The Goat Farm Arts Center completed the first phase of its major $250 million redevelopment and reopened to the public in 2024 as an active, legally accessible arts center, residential community, and gallery space.

  last checked 2026-07-19
• Sope Creek Paper Mill Ruins Atlanta, Georgia

  The ruins are located within the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, a National Park Service unit, and are legally accessible to the public via the Sope Creek Trail.

  last checked 2026-07-19
• New Manchester Mill Ruins Atlanta, Georgia

  The ruins are located inside Sweetwater Creek State Park and are easily reached via a well-maintained trail. While the mill structure itself is fenced off for safety, visitors can view it closely from the trail or register for a ranger-led tour to step inside.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Olde Rope Mill Ruins Atlanta, Georgia

  The ruins are located within Olde Rope Mill Park, a publicly accessible municipal park with maintained hiking and biking trails.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Tinsley Mill Ruins Atlanta, Georgia

  The ruins are located in a public park area along the Peachtree City multi-use cart path system, complete with a picnic table, bench, and historical marker, though direct vehicle parking is limited to nearby cul-de-sacs.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Concord Woolen Mill Atlanta, Georgia

  The ruins are located directly along the public Heritage Park Trail, which is free and open to the public from sunrise to sunset.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Cross Creek Mill Ruins (Sope Creek Paper Mill) Atlanta, Georgia

  The ruins are located within the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, a public park managed by the National Park Service, and are accessible via well-marked hiking trails.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Stoney Baynard Ruins Savannah, Georgia

  The ruins are located within the gated Sea Pines Resort community, which requires a small daily vehicle gate fee to enter, but the historic site itself is free and open to the public for self-guided walking tours daily from dawn to dusk.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Saint Helena Parish Chapel of Ease Ruins Savannah, Georgia

  The ruins are a publicly accessible historic site listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with no admission fees or physical barriers preventing visitors from walking around the grounds.

  last checked 2026-07-20

Idaho

• Old Idaho Penitentiary Boise, Idaho

  The Old Idaho Penitentiary is operated by the Idaho State Historical Society as a historic site and museum, offering daily self-guided and guided tours of the cell blocks, solitary confinement, and gallows.

  last checked 2026-06-24
• Idaho City Historic District & Boot Hill Cemetery Boise, Idaho

  The Idaho City Historic District and its historic Pioneer (Boot Hill) Cemetery are fully open to the public for self-guided walking tours, with the cemetery actively maintained by the Idaho City Historical Foundation.

  last checked 2026-06-24
• Neon Grove Boise, Idaho

  Neon Grove is a permanent, outdoor public art installation located on a public sidewalk along Grove Street in Boise's Linen District, making it fully open and legally accessible to pedestrians.

  last checked 2026-06-24
• Silver City Boise, Idaho

  Silver City is a National Historic District that is legally open to the public for walking, exploring, and seasonal lodging at the historic Idaho Hotel, though visitors must respect the private property of the town's residents.

  last checked 2026-06-24
• Forest Cemetery Walking Tours (Museum of North Idaho) Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

  Forest Cemetery is a public municipal cemetery in Coeur d'Alene that is legally accessible to the public, and the Museum of North Idaho hosts sanctioned seasonal walking tours on the grounds.

  last checked 2026-06-24
• Pulaski Tunnel Trail Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

  The Pulaski Tunnel Trail is a sanctioned, publicly accessible U.S. Forest Service trail that is open for hiking to an overlook of the historic mine portal.

  last checked 2026-06-24

Illinois

• Bachelor's Grove Cemetery Chicago, Illinois

  Bachelor's Grove Cemetery is located within the Rubio Woods Forest Preserve and is legally open to the public daily from sunrise to sunset, though nighttime entry is strictly prohibited.

  last checked 2026-06-23
• Steelworkers Park Ore Walls Chicago, Illinois

  The historic ore walls are located within Steelworkers Park, a public park managed by the Chicago Park District, where the public is legally permitted to visit and climb the designated 30-foot outdoor climbing wall.

  last checked 2026-07-19

Kansas

• Highland Cemetery (Wichita's abandoned pioneer cemetery) Wichita, Kansas

  Highland Cemetery is owned and maintained by the City of Wichita Department of Parks and Recreation, making it legally open and accessible to the public.

  last checked 2026-06-06

Louisiana

• Chauvin Sculpture Garden New Orleans, Louisiana

  The Chauvin Sculpture Garden is managed by Nicholls State University and is free and open to the public daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  last checked 2026-06-22

Massachusetts

• Hood Milk Bottle Boston, Massachusetts

  The Hood Milk Bottle is located on the public plaza outside the Boston Children's Museum, where it is fully accessible to the public and operates as an active ice cream and snack concession stand.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Dogtown Common & the Babson Boulders Boston, Massachusetts

  Dogtown Common and the Babson Boulders are located within a publicly accessible, 3,600-acre municipal forest and watershed in Gloucester and Rockport, Massachusetts, featuring an open network of hiking and biking trails.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Lyons Turning Mill Ruins Boston, Massachusetts

  The ruins are owned by the City of Quincy and managed as an outdoor exhibit by the Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum, which permits public self-guided tours of the grounds.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Franklin Park - Overlook Shelter Ruins Boston, Massachusetts

  The ruins are located on public parkland within Boston's Franklin Park and are freely accessible to the public during park hours.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Tenney Castle ruins Boston, Massachusetts

  The ruins are located within Greycourt State Park, a public state park that is free and open to the public daily from dawn to dusk.

  last checked 2026-07-20

Montana

• Granite Ghost Town State Park Missoula, Montana

  The site is a designated Montana State Park that is free and legally open to the public for self-guided exploration, though the access road is rugged and requires high-clearance vehicles.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Old Montana Prison Ghost Tours Bozeman, Montana

  The Old Montana Prison is a museum-managed site operated by the Powell County Museum and Arts Foundation, which offers legally accessible public admission and scheduled overnight ghost tours.

  last checked 2026-06-24
• Elkhorn State Park (Elkhorn Ghost Town) Butte, Montana

  Elkhorn State Park is open year-round to the public, allowing visitors to walk the historic townsite and legally enter the state-owned Fraternity Hall.

  last checked 2026-06-24
• Granite Ghost Town State Park Butte, Montana

  The site is a legally accessible Montana State Park with no entry fee. However, the steep, winding dirt road up the mountain requires a high-clearance vehicle and can be impassable in wet or snowy weather, and visitors must stay out of any fenced-off mine shafts.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Canyon Creek Charcoal Kilns Butte, Montana

  The site is located on public land within the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, featuring maintained walking paths, interpretive signs, and public access to the restored kilns.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Marysville Pioneer Memorial Building Museum Helena, Montana

  The Marysville Pioneer Memorial Building is legally accessible as a public museum managed by the Marysville Pioneer Association, which opens to visitors on summer weekend afternoons from June through September.

  last checked 2026-06-24
• Elkhorn State Park (Elkhorn Ghost Town) Helena, Montana

  Elkhorn State Park is open to the public year-round, allowing visitors to legally walk the historic ghost town's streets and enter its two state-owned buildings, Fraternity Hall and Gillian Hall.

  last checked 2026-06-24
• Marysville House (in Marysville ghost town) Helena, Montana

  The Marysville House is a functioning historic restaurant and bar that remains open to the public from Wednesday through Sunday.

  last checked 2026-06-24

Nevada

• The Neon Museum — Night Tours Las Vegas, Nevada

  The Neon Museum is an active, legally accessible non-profit museum that offers sanctioned guided and general admission night tours of its outdoor Neon Boneyard.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Goldwell Open Air Museum Las Vegas, Nevada

  The Goldwell Open Air Museum is a free, non-profit-managed outdoor sculpture park that is legally open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• St. Thomas Ghost Town Las Vegas, Nevada

  The site is located within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and is legally open to the public via a designated hiking trail maintained by the National Park Service.

  last checked 2026-07-20

New Mexico

• Pecos National Historical Park Santa Fe, New Mexico

  Pecos National Historical Park is a federally managed National Historical Park that is open daily to the public, offering self-guided hikes along the Ancestral Sites Trail to view the pueblo ruins and mission church.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Ruins Trail of Pecos Santa Fe, New Mexico

  The trail is located within Pecos National Historical Park, which is free to enter and open daily to the public for self-guided walking tours.

  last checked 2026-07-20

New York

• Opus 40 New York City, New York

  Opus 40 is legally accessible to the public as a nonprofit-run sculpture park and museum, offering general admission tickets and guided tours from Thursday to Monday.

  last checked 2026-06-23
• Heyerdahl Ruins New York City, New York

  The ruins are located on public parkland within the Staten Island Greenbelt and are legally accessible via a short detour off the marked Red Trail.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• ORAK Mansion Ruins New York City, New York

  The ruins are located directly along the public, yellow-blazed Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail within Harriman State Park, making them legally accessible to hikers.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Boonton Iron Works Ruins New York City, New York

  The ruins are located within Grace Lord Park, a public municipal park in Boonton, New Jersey, with established walking trails that allow legal access to the historic structures, though some specific areas are fenced off for safety.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Pine Meadow Lake Pump House Ruins New York City, New York

  The ruins are located on public land within Harriman State Park and are legally accessible to hikers via marked park trails.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Ruins of King Zog Estate New York City, New York

  The ruins are located on public land within Nassau County's Muttontown Preserve and are legally accessible to hikers via marked trails.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Ruined Military Structures of Fort Hancock New York City, New York

  The ruins are located within the Gateway National Recreation Area, which is open to the public; visitors can freely walk the grounds and view the structures from the outside, though entering the interiors of the fenced-off, structurally unstable buildings is strictly prohibited.

  last checked 2026-07-20

Oregon

• Joseph Wood Hill Park at Rocky Butte Portland, Oregon

  Joseph Wood Hill Park is a legally accessible public city park managed by Portland Parks & Recreation, open daily to visitors from 5:00 a.m. to midnight.

  last checked 2026-07-20

Pennsylvania

• Friendship Historic Ruins Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  The ruins are located within Wharton State Forest, a public state park, and are legally accessible to hikers and visitors.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Rolling Hill Park Ruins Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  The ruins are located within Rolling Hill Park, a public 103-acre nature preserve with marked hiking trails that lead directly to the historic structures.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Scott's Mill Bridge ruins Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  The ruins and bridge are located along public trails within the Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area, a state-managed park. Visitors can legally hike or bike directly to the site, though entering the interior of the unstable mill structure itself is restricted.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Burnt Mills Grist Mill Ruins Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  The mill ruins are located within the Burnt Mills Floodplain Preserve, an 11-acre nature preserve owned and managed by the Raritan Headwaters Association, which is open daily to the public from dawn to dusk.

  last checked 2026-07-20

South Carolina

• St. George's Bell Tower — Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site Charleston, South Carolina

  The bell tower is located within the Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site, which is open daily to the public for a small admission fee, allowing visitors to walk right up to and step inside the historic structure.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Fort Dorchester Ruins Charleston, South Carolina

  The ruins are preserved within the Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site, which is open daily to the public for a small admission fee.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Saint Helena Parish Chapel of Ease Ruins Charleston, South Carolina

  The ruins are managed by the Parish Church of St. Helena and are legally open to the public for self-guided visits during daylight hours.

  last checked 2026-07-20

Tennessee

• Harpeth River State Park - Newsom's Mill Nashville, Tennessee

  The ruins are located within the Newsom's Mill State Historic Area, a publicly accessible unit of Harpeth River State Park with designated parking and viewing platforms.

  last checked 2026-07-20

Texas

• Western Heights Cemetery (Clyde Barrow's grave) Dallas, Texas

  The historic cemetery is legally open to the public, and while the main vehicle gates are kept locked, a designated pedestrian entrance with steps at the southeast corner provides continuous walk-in access to the gravesite.

  last checked 2026-06-06
• Baker Hotel Ghost Walk Dallas, Texas

  The Baker Hotel Ghost Walk is an active, sanctioned outdoor guided tour that legally operates on Saturday evenings around the exterior of the historic hotel.

  last checked 2026-06-07
• Historic Ruins of Old Barton Creek Bridge Austin, Texas

  The ruins are located on public land within Zilker Park and the Barton Creek Greenbelt, making them legally accessible to hikers and park visitors.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• The Cistern (Buffalo Bayou Park) Houston, Texas

  The Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern is legally accessible to the public through guided history tours, art installations, and meditation sessions managed by the Buffalo Bayou Partnership.

  last checked 2026-07-19
• Portland Cement Plant Ruins San Antonio, Texas

  The ruins are located in Brackenridge Park (specifically Baumberger Plaza), a public city park that is free and open to the public daily.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Ruins of St. Dominic Catholic Church San Antonio, Texas

  The ruins and the adjacent Old D'Hanis Cemetery are part of a registered historic district that is open to the public, though visitors should remain outside the fragile, fenced-off portions of the stone structure for safety.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Berg's Mill Community San Antonio, Texas

  The ruins of Berg's Mill are located on public land within the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, making them legally accessible to the public during park hours.

  last checked 2026-07-20

Washington

• Bill Speidel's Underground Tour Seattle, Washington

  Bill Speidel's Underground Tour is currently open and operating as a sanctioned, guided historical walking tour beneath Seattle's Pioneer Square.

  last checked 2026-06-24
• Hat 'n' Boots at Oxbow Park Seattle, Washington

  The Hat 'n' Boots structures are located in Oxbow Park, a public city park operated by Seattle Parks and Recreation that is open to the public year-round.

  last checked 2026-06-24
• Iron Goat Trail / Wellington Ghost Town Seattle, Washington

  The Iron Goat Trail and the Wellington townsite are legally open to the public as a designated hiking trail managed by the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

  last checked 2026-06-24
• Northern State Recreation Area (former asylum grounds) Seattle, Washington

  The former asylum grounds are legally open to the public as the Northern State Recreation Area, a Skagit County park featuring hiking trails and a disc golf course, though entering the historic structures themselves is prohibited.

  last checked 2026-06-24
• Franklin Ghost Town Seattle, Washington

  The site is legally accessible via a public hiking trail within the Green River Gorge Conservation Area. While the trail itself is free and open, visitors must pay a $5 cash parking fee at a private lot at the trailhead, and the deep mine shaft is securely fenced and grated for safety.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Melmont Ghost Town Hike Seattle, Washington

  The site is located along a public hiking trail on county-managed land, accessible by walking from the Fairfax Bridge trailhead.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Dairy Barn Ruins Seattle, Washington

  The ruins are located inside Luther Burbank Park, a public municipal park, and are legally accessible via the park's trail system (though the provided address is a nearby private residence).

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Fortson Mill Seattle, Washington

  The site is legally accessible to the public as a county park and trailhead along the Whitehorse Regional Trail, managed by Snohomish County Parks.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Dickman Mill Park Seattle, Washington

  The site is a fully public, legally accessible municipal park managed by Metro Parks Tacoma, featuring paved walkways and interpretive signs.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Elberton Ghost Town Spokane, Washington

  The ghost town site is legally accessible to the public, as Whitman County Parks owns most of the land and maintains the Elberton Hiking Trail and public access areas around the historic church and cemetery.

  last checked 2026-06-24

View only 151 sites

Legal to see from public land or the roadside. Entering the site itself is trespassing, unsafe, or both — the reason is stated per entry.

Alaska

• Portage Ghost Town (the town the 1964 quake sank) Anchorage, Alaska

  While the ghost forest and sunken ruins can be legally viewed from turnouts along the Seward Highway, entering the townsite is highly discouraged due to extremely unstable tidal mudflats, rapid tides, and structurally unsafe ruins, some of which sit on private property.

  last checked 2026-06-06
• Old Portage Townsite Anchorage, Alaska

  The ruins sit in a marshy tidal flat subject to extreme high tides, unstable mudflats, and quicksand-like silt, making it highly dangerous to walk out to the structures. Visitors should safely view and photograph the site from the highway pullouts.

  last checked 2026-07-20

Arizona

• Sunflower Mine Phoenix, Arizona

  The surrounding trail is a public Forest Service road, but the mine shafts themselves have been sealed for safety, and entering any remaining structures is highly dangerous due to decay and potential toxic contamination.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Dragon Mine Phoenix, Arizona

  The mine is located on public land accessible via off-road trails, but the remaining structures, shafts, and ruins are unstable and hazardous, so they should only be viewed from a safe distance.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Ajax Mine Phoenix, Arizona

  The ruins are located on public BLM and State Trust land and can be legally viewed from the adjacent trail, but the deteriorating structures and open mine shaft are highly hazardous and must not be entered.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Dacite Cliffs Mine Phoenix, Arizona

  The mine is an abandoned adit that has been permanently sealed with a bat gate to protect several local bat species and prevent hikers from entering the hazardous underground shaft.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Union Mine Phoenix, Arizona

  The historic 75-foot-deep vertical shaft is fenced off with warning signs for public safety, but the surrounding trail and old mining road are accessible to hikers.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Maricopa Mine Phoenix, Arizona

  The mine is located along public hiking trails in the Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area and Jewel of the Creek Preserve, but entering the ungated adit is highly discouraged due to structural instability and toxic dust containing lead and arsenic.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Del Pasco Mine Phoenix, Arizona

  The mine is located within the Prescott National Forest and is accessible via a public off-road trail, but the physical site contains hazardous open shafts, unstable collapsed buildings, and toxic heavy metal tailings undergoing environmental cleanup.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Tonopah-Belmont Mine Phoenix, Arizona

  The surface ruins are located on public BLM land and can be legally viewed from the Belmont Mountain Trail, but the underground mine workings are sealed, highly unstable, and extremely dangerous.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Hayden Flour Mill Phoenix, Arizona

  The historic mill building and silos are fenced off and locked to the public due to structural safety concerns and upcoming redevelopment, but they can be easily viewed from the adjacent public park and sidewalks.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Duppa Homestead Phoenix, Arizona

  The fragile adobe structure is completely enclosed by a chain-link fence to protect it from collapse and vandalism.

  last checked 2026-07-20

California

• Bronson Caves (the Batcave) Los Angeles, California

  According to the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, the Bronson Caves are officially closed and fenced off due to safety concerns from falling rocks, but they remain legally viewable from the surrounding public trails of Griffith Park.

  last checked 2026-06-23
• Big Horn Mine Los Angeles, California

  While the hiking trail is on public land in the Angeles National Forest, the mine tunnels are gated off by the Forest Service, and the remaining stamp mill ruins are structurally unstable after being burned in the 2024 Bridge Fire.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Emma Mine Los Angeles, California

  The mine is located on public BLM land, but the underground shafts and adits are structurally unsafe and highly dangerous to enter. Additionally, some surrounding access roads and parking areas are on private property, requiring careful navigation.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Coquina Mine Los Angeles, California

  The mine is located on public parkland within the Marr Ranch Open Space and is legally accessible via hiking trails, but visitors should only view the rusted machinery from a safe distance and avoid climbing on the unstable, sharp metal structures.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Stonewall Mine San Diego, California

  The mine shaft and historic machinery are fenced off for safety, but visitors can legally view them from the surrounding public trail within Cuyamaca Rancho State Park.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• El Cuervo Adobe Ruin San Diego, California

  The ruins are located within a public nature preserve, but the fragile adobe structure itself is fenced off and sheltered to prevent trespassing and further deterioration.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Enriquita Mine San Francisco, California

  While the surrounding Enriquita Trail is a legally open public hiking path within Almaden Quicksilver County Park, the actual underground mine workings and shafts are sealed and strictly off-limits due to safety hazards and legacy mercury contamination.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Pier 90 Grain Silos San Francisco, California

  The site is fenced off, structurally unsafe, and owned by the Port of San Francisco, which is actively demolishing surrounding landside structures to prevent trespassing.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Coquina Mine Santa Barbara, California

  The mine is located along a public hiking trail in the Marr Ranch Open Space, but visitors should remain on the trail and only view the unstable, rusted machinery and quarry site from a safe distance.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Benjamin Foxen Adobe Ruins Santa Barbara, California

  The ruins are located on private property within the active Old Adobe Vineyard (owned by Lucas & Lewellen) and are fenced off, but they can be easily viewed and photographed from Foxen Canyon Road.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Seacliff State Beach — SS Palo Alto wreck Santa Cruz, California

  While Seacliff State Beach remains open to the public for day use, the deteriorating SS Palo Alto wreck is structurally unsafe, strictly closed to entry, and can only be viewed from the shore since its connecting pier was demolished in 2023.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Enriquita Mine Santa Cruz, California

  The mine site is located within a public county park and is accessible via hiking trails, but the dangerous underground shafts and workings are sealed and strictly off-limits.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Senator Mine Santa Cruz, California

  The underground mine shafts are sealed and off-limits for safety, but the historic concrete furnace ruins are legally accessible to view and photograph from the public Senador Mine Trail within Almaden Quicksilver County Park.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Pier 90 Grain Silos Santa Cruz, California

  The site is fenced off, heavily monitored, and undergoing active demolition of surrounding structures by the Port of San Francisco, making physical entry illegal and highly dangerous.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Pogonip Historic Lime Kiln Santa Cruz, California

  Located along the Lime Kiln Trail in the publicly accessible Pogonip Open Space, the ruins are fenced off with a wooden barrier to protect their structural integrity, but they are fully visible from the trail.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Enriquita Mine Monterey, California

  The mine is located in Almaden Quicksilver County Park; while the hiking trails are open to the public, the actual mine workings are sealed, fenced off, and remediated due to safety and mercury contamination hazards.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Keystone Mine Sacramento, California

  The concrete mill foundations can be viewed and photographed from the public parking lot on Main Street (Old Highway 49), but the headframe and surrounding mine structures are located on private property marked with 'No Trespassing' signs, and the underground shafts are caved and sealed.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Garden City Wreckage Sacramento, California

  The wreckage sits in the mudflats of the Carquinez Strait and is unsafe to physically enter, but it is fully visible and legally accessible to view from the adjacent public Eckley Pier and shoreline trails.

  last checked 2026-07-20

Colorado

• Stratton's Independence Mine and Mill Colorado Springs, Colorado

  The historic mine structures and headframe are fenced off for safety and preservation, but they can be legally and clearly viewed from the adjacent public trails and interpretive overlook.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Eureka Tunnel Mine Colorado Springs, Colorado

  The mine dumps are located on public land within the Pike National Forest and are accessible via hiking trails, but the underground tunnel itself is structurally unstable and dangerous to enter.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Black Canyon Mine Colorado Springs, Colorado

  The quarry is currently closed to the public while undergoing active environmental reclamation and revegetation by the City of Colorado Springs.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• American Eagles Mine Colorado Springs, Colorado

  The original mine site is closed and off-limits due to active open-pit mining operations, but its historic structures were relocated to a public overlook on the Little Grouse Mountain Trail where they can be safely viewed from the path.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Devil's Slide Trestles (Rollins Pass) Boulder, Colorado

  While the Rollins Pass trail is open to hikers and bikers, the historic wooden trestles themselves are structurally unsafe and closed to pedestrian crossing, though they can be safely viewed from the trail.

  last checked 2026-06-11
• Ward Ghost Town (Old Ward) Boulder, Colorado

  While the active, incorporated town of Ward can be legally driven through or viewed from public roads like the Peak to Peak Highway, its historic structures and surrounding lands are private property and off-limits to entering.

  last checked 2026-06-11
• Gold Hill Historic District (Colorado's First Mining Town) Boulder, Colorado

  While the town of Gold Hill is an active community with public roads, the historic 1860s log cabins are occupied private residences that must only be viewed from the public streets.

  last checked 2026-06-21
• Santiago Mine Boulder, Colorado

  The exterior of the mill is legally viewable from a newly constructed public interpretive trail on U.S. Forest Service land, but entering the fragile, hazardous historic structures or any mine shafts is strictly prohibited.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• The Jessie Mine and Mill Boulder, Colorado

  The site is located along the public Gold Run Trail with interpretive signs, allowing visitors to legally view the exterior of the historic 1893 stamp mill and hillside mine openings, but entering the structures or mine shafts is strictly prohibited and highly dangerous.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Blue Jay Mine Boulder, Colorado

  The surrounding Blue Jay Mine Open Space is open to the public via a hiking trail, but the historic mine structures and shafts are fenced off and unsafe to enter.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Burlington Mine Boulder, Colorado

  The mine site itself is private property, heavily remediated, and marked with 'No Trespassing' signs, but the historic tailings and geological features are easily visible from the public right-of-way along County Road 87.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• 7:30 Mine Boulder, Colorado

  The 7:30 Mine Trail is a public right-of-way, but the surrounding properties are private, and the mine shafts and tunnels themselves are dangerous, barred off, and strictly off-limits to entry.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Sallie Barber Mine Boulder, Colorado

  The mine site is located along a public trail managed for historic preservation, but the actual mine shaft is securely grated and the remaining wooden structures are structurally unstable and fenced off for safety.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Old Town Mine Boulder, Colorado

  The mine ruins, headframes, and surrounding structures are located on private property in the Russell Gulch area. Entering abandoned mine shafts is extremely dangerous and illegal, but the remains can be easily viewed and photographed from the public county road.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Boodle Mine Boulder, Colorado

  The mine and mill buildings are located on private/city-owned property and are structurally unsafe to enter, but they can be easily and safely viewed from Eureka Street or the adjacent public cemeteries.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Mt. Harris Memorial Fort Collins, Colorado

  While the Mt. Harris Memorial and historical marker are accessible at a public roadside pull-off on US-40, the actual townsite ruins are located on private property protected by a conservation easement and remain closed to the public.

  last checked 2026-06-11
• Dearfield Ghost Town Fort Collins, Colorado

  While the historic townsite can be viewed from the public right-of-way along US-34, the remaining structures are fenced off, boarded up, and located on private property owned by the Black American West Museum.

  last checked 2026-06-11
• Blue Jay Mine Fort Collins, Colorado

  The mine is located within Boulder County Open Space and is accessible via a public trail, but the historic buildings are fenced off and closed to the public to protect a sensitive bat maternity colony and ensure visitor safety.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Old Town Mine Fort Collins, Colorado

  The mine is located on private property and contains highly unstable structures and dangerous open shafts, but it can be safely viewed from County Road 279.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Cokedale Coke Ovens Pueblo, Colorado

  The historic Cokedale Coke Ovens are located on private property across Highway 12 and a creek, meaning they can only be legally viewed from the roadside.

  last checked 2026-06-11
• Forgotten Grumman TLRV Hovertrains Pueblo, Colorado

  The Grumman TLRV hovertrain is parked behind a locked chain-link fence at the end of West D Street, but it can be legally viewed and photographed from the public road.

  last checked 2026-06-11
• Stratton's Independence Mine and Mill Pueblo, Colorado

  The historic mine structures and shafts are fenced off for safety, but they can be legally viewed and photographed from the public Independence Mill Site Trail.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Eureka Tunnel Mine Pueblo, Colorado

  The mine is located on public National Forest land, making the surrounding trails and mine dumps accessible, but the underground tunnel itself is extremely dangerous and off-limits.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Old Pictou Mine Pueblo, Colorado

  The remnants of the mine and townsite are located on private property and are fenced off, but they can be viewed from public roads like Highway 69.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• American Eagles Mine Pueblo, Colorado

  The scenic overlook and hiking trail are open to the public, but the historic mine structures and buildings are structurally unsafe and off-limits to enter.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Driggs Mansion Ruins Grand Junction, Colorado

  The ruins are located on private property protected by a conservation easement and are fenced off, but they can be legally viewed from a public pullout along the Unaweep-Tabeguache Scenic Byway (Colorado Highway 141).

  last checked 2026-06-11
• Valley Curtain Site at Rifle Gap Grand Junction, Colorado

  The concrete anchors and retaining wall remnants of the 1972 Valley Curtain installation are located on the steep cliffs and roadsides of Rifle Gap along Colorado State Highway 325, making them legally viewable from the public road but unsafe to climb.

  last checked 2026-06-11
• Book Cliff Mine Grand Junction, Colorado

  The mine itself is sealed, fenced off, and extremely dangerous due to an active underground coal seam fire that releases toxic gases. While the surrounding Carpenter Canyon is a popular public OHV recreation area, visitors must stay behind the gates and fences of the historic mine site.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Bangs Canyon Trailhead (Mica Mine) Grand Junction, Colorado

  The mine is located on public BLM land with a well-maintained hiking trail, but entering any remaining mine tunnels or climbing on unstable quarry walls is dangerous and restricted.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Yankee Girl Mine Headframe Durango, Colorado

  The Yankee Girl Mine headframe sits on private property protected by a conservation easement, but it can be legally viewed from the adjacent Ouray County Road 31.

  last checked 2026-06-11
• Alta Ghost Town Durango, Colorado

  Alta Ghost Town is located on private property and has been fenced off with no-trespassing signs, but the historic structures can be legally viewed from the adjacent public Alta Lakes Road.

  last checked 2026-06-11
• Rico Mine Shaft Inn Durango, Colorado

  The Rico Mine Shaft Inn is not abandoned and currently operates as an active boutique bed and breakfast, making it private property that can only be legally viewed from the outside unless you are a paying guest.

  last checked 2026-06-21
• Frisco Mill at Bagley Tunnel Durango, Colorado

  The mill is located on private property and is structurally unstable, but it can be safely and legally viewed and photographed from the public County Road 9 (Alpine Loop).

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Sunnyside Mill foundation & ruins Durango, Colorado

  The ruins sit on public BLM land within the historic Eureka townsite and are free to visit, but the concrete foundations themselves are structurally unstable and should only be viewed and photographed from the safety of the ground.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Graysill Mine Durango, Colorado

  Located on public San Juan National Forest land, the site features a historical marker and can be viewed safely from Forest Service Road 578, but the decaying structures are unstable and the old mine shafts present severe hazards.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Sunnyside Mine Durango, Colorado

  The Eureka Gulch 4WD road is a public BLM route providing access to the area, but the mine workings themselves are extremely dangerous, sealed, and subject to ongoing environmental monitoring.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• National Belle Mine Durango, Colorado

  The mine is located on private property and contains hazardous, sealed underground workings, but the ruins are clearly visible and can be safely photographed from the public County Road 31.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• San Bernardo Mine Durango, Colorado

  The mine workings and associated ruins are located on private property and are structurally hazardous, while the adjacent Forest Service-owned Matterhorn Mill is subject to safety closures, but the historic site can be viewed safely from nearby public trails and Highway 145.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Old Tomboy Mine Durango, Colorado

  The ruins of the Tomboy Mine and townsite are located on private property along the public Tomboy Road (Imogene Pass Road). Visitors can view and photograph the extensive remains from the public road but must not trespass onto the private property or enter the unstable structures.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Cassady's — Neal Cassady's Barbershop Site, 2558 Champa St. Denver, Colorado

  The historic building is private property currently undergoing renovations to become a future gelato shop, meaning it can only be viewed from the public sidewalk on Champa Street.

  last checked 2026-06-07
• The Jessie Mine and Mill Denver, Colorado

  The site is located along the public Gold Run Trail and managed by Breckenridge History, but the wooden mill structure and the steep mine openings on the hillside are structurally unstable and unsafe to enter.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• 7:30 Mine Denver, Colorado

  The 7:30 Mine Trail is a public right-of-way managed by Clear Creek County, but the surrounding land is private property and the historic mine shafts are sealed or barred off for safety.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Sallie Barber Mine Denver, Colorado

  The site is located on public open space and accessible via a designated hiking trail, but the mine ruins and grate-covered shaft themselves should only be viewed from the outside for safety.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Old Town Mine Denver, Colorado

  The mine ruins and surrounding structures are located on private property in a hazardous historic mining district, but they can be legally viewed and photographed from the public County Road 279.

  last checked 2026-07-20

District of Columbia

• Maryland Gold Mine National Historic Landmark Washington, D.C., District of Columbia

  The ruins and sealed mine shafts are located within the C&O Canal National Historical Park, but are strictly fenced off by the National Park Service for safety and preservation; they can only be viewed from the designated trail.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Ruins of Clopper Mill Washington, D.C., District of Columbia

  While the ruins are on state park land, there are no official trails leading directly to them, and the remaining three-story masonry walls are structurally unstable and unsafe to enter.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Simpsonville Mill Ruins Washington, D.C., District of Columbia

  The ruins are fenced off with gates and 'No Trespassing' signs to protect the fragile masonry and ensure visitor safety, but they are easily viewed from the adjacent public trail.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Cooke's Mill (ruins) Washington, D.C., District of Columbia

  The ruins are located on private residential property at 42485 Cochran Mill Road, but they can be legally viewed by boaters and kayakers on Goose Creek.

  last checked 2026-07-20

Georgia

• Old Sheldon Church Ruins Savannah, Georgia

  The ruins are enclosed by a protective metal fence erected in 2019 by the Parish Church of St. Helena to prevent vandalism and preserve the fragile brickwork, though the surrounding grounds remain open to the public.

  last checked 2026-07-20

Idaho

• Adelmann Mine Boise, Idaho

  The trail is on public land managed by the BLM and Idaho Fish and Game, but the historic wooden mill structure is structurally unstable and unsafe to enter, and the mine shafts are sealed.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Black Hornet Mine Boise, Idaho

  Located on public land within the Boise River Wildlife Management Area, but the mine shafts, adits, and surrounding structures are highly unstable and hazardous to enter.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Burke Ghost Town Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

  While Burke Ghost Town is easily reached via a public highway, its historic mining structures and buildings are fenced off, located on private property, and heavily posted with 'No Trespassing' signs.

  last checked 2026-06-24
• Star Mine Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

  The mine ruins are located on private property owned by the Hecla Mining Company and are undergoing active EPA Superfund cleanup, making physical entry illegal and hazardous, though they are easily viewed from the public highway.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Last Chance Mine Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

  The underground workings are sealed and the mine site is private property undergoing Superfund reclamation, but the capped tailings pile can be safely viewed from public roads.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Bellville Mine Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

  The mine is located on public land within the Kaniksu National Forest, but the underground workings are collapsed, flooded, and highly dangerous to enter.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Silver Leaf Mine Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

  The mine is located on public land within the Kaniksu National Forest, making the surrounding forest roads accessible, but the underground workings themselves are structurally unstable and highly dangerous to enter.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Conjecture Mine Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

  The mine site is located on a mix of private property and National Forest System lands, and the underground workings are sealed and dangerous. However, visitors can legally view the reclaimed area from the public NF 1017 Road and the adjacent Conjecture Mine OHV trail.

  last checked 2026-07-20

Illinois

• Keepataw Preserve Lime Kiln Chicago, Illinois

  The kiln ruins are located within the publicly accessible Keepataw Preserve, but the crumbling stone chimney structure itself is structurally unstable and should only be viewed from the safety of the trails.

  last checked 2026-07-20

Kansas

• Cedar Point Mill Wichita, Kansas

  The interior of the mill is structurally compromised and dangerous to enter, but the exterior and the adjacent stone dam can be safely viewed and photographed from the public roadside and riverbank.

  last checked 2026-07-20

Louisiana

• De La Ronde Ruins New Orleans, Louisiana

  The ruins are located in the median of a busy highway (LA-46) and are enclosed by a protective fence, making them viewable from the roadside or nearby sidewalk but unsafe to enter.

  last checked 2026-07-20

Massachusetts

• Silver Mine Historic Site Boston, Massachusetts

  The site is located on public parkland within the Middlesex Fells Reservation, but the mine shaft itself is permanently sealed with a concrete slab and surrounded by old barrier posts for safety.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Oakland Mill Boston, Massachusetts

  The mill ruins are located on private property and are structurally hazardous, with collapsing roofs and floors, but they can be safely viewed from the adjacent public trails and the Branch River.

  last checked 2026-07-20

Montana

• 1890 Historical Copper Mine Missoula, Montana

  The mine is located on public land along the Mount Sentinel trail system and can be legally hiked to, but entering the dark, unmaintained adit is structurally unsafe and highly discouraged.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Mountain Consolidated Mine Butte, Montana

  The mine yard has been converted into a public park (Foreman's Park) with walking trails, but the historic 1928 headframe itself is fenced off and the mine shaft is sealed for safety.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Bell-Diamond Mine Butte, Montana

  The mine yard and headframe are located on fenced private property with no public access due to safety hazards and unreclaimed mine waste, but the structure is highly visible from nearby public roads and walking trails.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Old Highland Mine Millsite Butte, Montana

  The historic mine workings and millsite are located on private patented mining claims, but they can be legally viewed from the adjacent Continental Divide Trail on public Forest Service land.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Old Glory Mine Butte, Montana

  The mine shaft has been sealed and the site reclaimed; while the grassy hillside is visible from public roads like West Pacific Street, the underground workings are entirely inaccessible and the land is managed under local reclamation programs.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Steward Mine Butte, Montana

  The mine yard is fenced and closed to the public to prevent trespassing and ensure safety around the sealed shaft, but the historic structures are easily viewed from North Main Street and the adjacent BA&P recreation trail.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Mountain Con Mine Butte, Montana

  The surrounding Foreman's Park and its paved walking trails are open to the public, but the historic headframe is fenced off for safety and the deep mine shaft is sealed.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Comet/Rumley Mine Helena, Montana

  The surrounding ghost town is located on private grazing land where respectful visitors are permitted, but the mine shafts, mill structures, and underground workings are highly unstable and strictly off-limits for entry.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Mountain Consolidated Mine Helena, Montana

  The mine shaft is sealed and fenced off for safety, but the historic headframe and surrounding grounds are fully visible from the public Mountain Con Mine Park trails.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Old Copper Creek Mine Helena, Montana

  Located on public land within the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, the mine ruins can be legally viewed from nearby trails, but entering any abandoned shafts or structures is extremely dangerous and strictly off-limits.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Kelley Mine Yard Helena, Montana

  The mine yard itself is private property, fenced off, and partially occupied by an active distillery, but the iconic headframe is clearly visible from the public BA&P Hill Trail.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Alta Mine Helena, Montana

  The mine shafts and underground workings are extremely dangerous and situated on private property, though the historic ruins of the surrounding ghost towns can be safely viewed from public roads.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Diamond Mine Helena, Montana

  The headframe and surrounding mine yard are fenced off on private property with no public access, but the massive structure is easily visible and photogenic from nearby public roads.

  last checked 2026-07-20

Nevada

• Saint Louis Mine Las Vegas, Nevada

  The mine is located on rugged public land, but the underground workings, vertical shafts, and rickety footbridges are structurally unstable and extremely hazardous to enter.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Azurite Mine Las Vegas, Nevada

  The mine is located on public land, but the underground shafts and adits are structurally unstable and extremely dangerous to enter; visitors should only view the exterior workings from a safe distance.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Sultan Mine Las Vegas, Nevada

  The mine is located on public BLM land and accessible via a rough 4x4 trail, but the underground shafts and structures are extremely unstable, hazardous, and off-limits for entry.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Potosi Mine Las Vegas, Nevada

  The historic mine is located on private patented land (Potosi Mine Ranch) surrounded by the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. The mine portals are gated for safety, but the ruins and surrounding area can be viewed from nearby public trails.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Dawn Mine Las Vegas, Nevada

  The mine is located on public land within the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, but the underground workings are extremely dangerous and blocked by bat gates or collapsed rock, meaning visitors must strictly remain outside.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Frenchman Mine Las Vegas, Nevada

  The mine shafts are sealed and dangerous, but the concrete mill ruins and tailings piles are legally viewable from the surrounding public trails.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Southern Nevada Mine Las Vegas, Nevada

  The mine is located on private property and features dangerous, unstable structures and open shafts, making it safe and legal to view only from the roadside of Highway 95.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Old Pope Mine Las Vegas, Nevada

  The site is located on public land within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, but the mine itself features dangerous, unfenced vertical shafts and unstable, decaying wooden ladders, making physical entry strictly off-limits for safety.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Columbia Mine Las Vegas, Nevada

  The mine contains dangerous open shafts and unstable underground workings with 'Stay Out. Stay Alive' warnings, and the surrounding land is privately owned, though the exterior and geology can be viewed from nearby public trails.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Griffith Mine Las Vegas, Nevada

  The mine is located along a publicly accessible hiking trail in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, but the adit entrances are securely grated off to protect visitors and preserve bat habitats.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Ore Car Mine Las Vegas, Nevada

  The surrounding trails and rockhounding areas are open to the public on BLM land, but the abandoned mine tunnels and adits are structurally unsafe and should not be entered.

  last checked 2026-07-20

New York

• Renwick Smallpox Hospital Ruin New York City, New York

  The Renwick Smallpox Hospital Ruin is structurally unstable and strictly fenced off to prevent entry, but it remains fully visible to the public from the surrounding paths of Southpoint Park on Roosevelt Island.

  last checked 2026-06-23
• Old Ogden Mine New York City, New York

  The address 83 Ridge Rd is a private residence, but the mine ruins are located in the adjacent Sparta Mountain Wildlife Management Area. The open pits and shafts are fenced off for safety, but the ruins and foundations can be legally viewed from public hiking trails accessed via Edison Road.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Waterloo Mine New York City, New York

  The mine is located on public land within Allamuchy Mountain State Park, making the surrounding trails legally accessible. However, the historic mine workings themselves (shafts, pits, and trenches) are highly unstable, water-filled, and dangerous, so visitors must remain on marked trails and view them from a safe distance.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Boston Mine New York City, New York

  The mine is located within Harriman State Park and is legally viewable from the Dunning Trail, but the mine pit itself is flooded, structurally unstable, and extremely dangerous to enter.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Staley Mine New York City, New York

  The surrounding trails of the West Oxford Mountain Natural Resource Area are legally open to the public, but the actual historic mine shafts are dangerous and fenced off by the county.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Abandoned Worth St. Station New York City, New York

  Physical entry to the station is strictly illegal and highly dangerous due to active subway tracks. However, the abandoned platforms can be legally viewed through the windows of a passing local 6 train.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Ruins of Lincoln Blacksmith Shop New York City, New York

  The ruins are located on private property at the corner of Burlington Path Road and Harvey Road, but they are clearly visible from the public roadside.

  last checked 2026-07-20

Oklahoma

• Hopewell Baptist 'Teepee' Church Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

  The historic church is currently closed to the public as it undergoes a multi-year restoration project, but it remains highly visible from the adjacent public roads.

  last checked 2026-06-07

Pennsylvania

• Staley Mine Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  The mine is located within the publicly accessible West Oxford Mountain Natural Resource Area, but the actual mine shafts are extremely dangerous and have been fenced off by the county; visitors must remain on the designated hiking trails.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Barker's Mill (aka Nippes Armory) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  The mill buildings are private property, heavily dilapidated with collapsing floors, and fenced off, but they are easily visible from Mill Creek Road and the public trails of Rolling Hill Park.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Ruins of Lincoln Blacksmith Shop Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  The ruins sit on private property but are easily visible and photographable from the public roadside at the intersection of Burlington Path Road and Harvey Road.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Salem County Insane Asylum Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  The building is heavily deteriorated, boarded up, and closed to the public, but it is easily visible and photogenic from the public roadside.

  last checked 2026-07-20

South Carolina

• Old Sheldon Church Ruins Charleston, South Carolina

  The ruins are located on private property owned by the Parish Church of St. Helena. A protective fence was installed around the structure in 2019 to prevent vandalism, allowing visitors to view and photograph the ruins from the perimeter but not walk inside the arches.

  last checked 2026-07-20

Tennessee

• Boyd Mill Ruins Nashville, Tennessee

  The ruins are located on the private property of the historic Boyd-Wilson Farm (which also operates as the private Boyd Mill Farm). While they can be viewed from the public Boxley Valley Road or the West Harpeth River, visitors should not trespass on the private farmland without permission.

  last checked 2026-07-20

Texas

• Palace of the Golden Orbs (Chong Hua Sheng Mu Holy Palace) Houston, Texas

  The abandoned temple is fenced off on private property and closed to the public, but it remains highly visible and can be legally viewed from the surrounding public roads.

  last checked 2026-07-19
• Morgan's Point Ferry Landing Ruins on Hog Island Houston, Texas

  The island is privately owned by ExxonMobil, has posted 'No Trespassing' signs, and is mostly submerged and eroded, but the ruins can be safely viewed from the water via kayak or from the nearby Fred Hartman Bridge.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Hot Wells Hotel Ruins San Antonio, Texas

  The ruins are located within a free, public Bexar County park, but the crumbling structures themselves are fenced off for safety and cannot be entered.

  last checked 2026-07-20

Utah

• Mule Hollow Mine Salt Lake City, Utah

  The mine is located along a public hiking trail in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, but the mine shafts themselves are collapsed, unstable, and dangerous to enter.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Silver King Mill Salt Lake City, Utah

  The mill is located on the slopes of Park City Mountain Resort. While hikers and skiers can easily view the exterior from nearby trails, the structure itself is structurally unstable, fenced off, and strictly closed to entry.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Maxfield Mine Salt Lake City, Utah

  The mine tunnels themselves are completely caved in, blasted shut, and extremely dangerous, but the surrounding tailings piles are legally accessible for hiking and rockhounding.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Wasatch Mine Salt Lake City, Utah

  The mine is located on public land within the Uintah-Wasatch-Cache National Forest and is accessible via the Mineral Fork Trail, but the mine entrance itself is securely gated for safety.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Dream Mine Salt Lake City, Utah

  The mine and surrounding property are owned by the Relief Mine Company, heavily gated, and posted with 'No Trespassing' signs. However, the iconic white mill building is highly visible and can be safely viewed and photographed from public roads in the valley below.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Judge Mine Tunnel Salt Lake City, Utah

  The tunnel portal is gated and the surrounding historic structures are structurally unstable and off-limits for entry, but they can be safely and legally viewed from the public Daly Canyon Trail.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Central Standard Mine Salt Lake City, Utah

  The mine is located on private patented mining property, and the shaft itself is collapsed, sealed, and highly dangerous to approach.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Grand Central Mine Salt Lake City, Utah

  The mine structure is located on private property and is highly hazardous, but the historic steel headframe and surface ruins are easily visible and photogenic from the public dirt roads of the Tintic Mining District.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Silver King Mine Salt Lake City, Utah

  The historic headframe building has been structurally stabilized and restored as part of a National Historic District, but the interior remains closed to the public; it can be legally viewed from the surrounding ski slopes and hiking trails.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Ontario Mine Salt Lake City, Utah

  The historic mine structures and sealed shaft are located on private property and fenced off for safety, but they can be easily viewed and photographed from the public Ontario Mine Trailhead and Marsac Avenue.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Ben Harrison Mine Shaft Salt Lake City, Utah

  The underground workings are flooded, sealed, and extremely hazardous, but the surface remnants and tailings can be viewed from the public dirt roads and trails in Ben Harrison Gulch.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Dry Lake Antimony Mine Salt Lake City, Utah

  The mine workings are located on steep, rugged terrain with hazardous, unsecured shafts, but the historic site and its access road scar are clearly visible from public vantage points along Highway 38.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Cottonwood Paper Mill Salt Lake City, Utah

  The structure is condemned, fenced off, and monitored by active security systems on private property; entering is illegal and dangerous.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Limekiln Gulch Pioneer Kilns Salt Lake City, Utah

  The ruins are located along a public hiking trail, but the kiln openings themselves are gated to prevent entry and vandalism.

  last checked 2026-07-20

Washington

• Northern State Recreation Area (Northern State Hospital ruins) Seattle, Washington

  While the surrounding Northern State Recreation Area is a public county park with open trails, the historic hospital ruins themselves are structurally unsafe and strictly off-limits to entry.

  last checked 2026-06-24
• Abandoned Clay Pit Seattle, Washington

  While the Clay Pit Road trail leads directly to the edge of the pit, the actual floor of the clay pit is a protected habitat restoration area and is marked as 'no public access' on park maps.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Ford Slope Mine Seattle, Washington

  The mine is located within Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park and is legally accessible via public hiking trails, but the mine entrance itself is permanently sealed with concrete for safety and cannot be entered.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Greenwood Cemetery & the 1,000 Steps Spokane, Washington

  While the active cemetery grounds are open to the public during the day, the crumbling and structurally unsafe '1,000 Steps' are blocked off, posted with 'No Trespassing' signs, and monitored by security.

  last checked 2026-06-24

Access unclear 11 sites

Ownership or legal access could not be verified. Treat as private property until shown otherwise.

Arizona

• Oro Grande Mine Phoenix, Arizona

  The mine is located in a remote box canyon north of Wickenburg; while some surrounding lands are managed by the BLM, the exact claim boundaries and current private property status of the mine itself are unverified, and the site contains highly dangerous open shafts.

  last checked 2026-07-20

Colorado

• Deadman Butte Mine Fort Collins, Colorado

  The mine is located on or adjacent to private ranch lands near Deadman Butte, with no confirmed public trails leading directly to the workings.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Old Black Diamond Mine Grand Junction, Colorado

  The mine is located in a remote, rugged canyon where surrounding land parcels are privately owned, and the exact legal public access to the hazardous underground workings remains unconfirmed.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Old Man Mine Durango, Colorado

  The mine is a defunct underground site with no managed public access, and its exact modern property boundaries and physical safety conditions are unverified.

  last checked 2026-07-20

Georgia

• Yorkville Mine Atlanta, Georgia

  While the nearby Paulding Forest WMA is open to the public, the historic mine ruins and shafts are located on or adjacent to private property, and open mine workings are extremely hazardous to approach.

  last checked 2026-07-20

Idaho

• Commonwealth Mine Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

  While the mine is located on public land within the Coeur d'Alene National Forest, the exact trail access, safety of the terrain, and presence of visible surface ruins are unverified.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Portland Group Mine Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

  The mine is located on rugged, unmarked terrain near Garfield Bay and may sit on private property; additionally, abandoned underground mine workings are structurally unstable and highly hazardous to enter.

  last checked 2026-07-20

Iowa

• Buxton Historic Townsite & Cemetery Des Moines, Iowa

  The historic townsite and cemetery are located on private property, requiring visitors to arrange permission through the Monroe County Historical Society to access the site legally.

  last checked 2026-06-09

Montana

• Mapleton Mine Bozeman, Montana

  The mine is located on rugged terrain that is likely private property, and abandoned underground workings are structurally unsafe and off-limits.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Mapleton Mine Butte, Montana

  The mine is located on unverified land that may be private property, and abandoned underground workings are structurally unsafe to enter.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Berlin Mine Butte, Montana

  The site is an abandoned mine with safety hazards like a caved-in shaft and unstable structures, and legal public access cannot be verified.

  last checked 2026-07-20

Do not enter 15 sites

Private property or actively dangerous. These are listed for the story — not as an invitation.

Arizona

• Old Smith Mine Phoenix, Arizona

  The remaining ruins of the town of Seymour and the old mine workings are located on a private, working cattle ranch and are strictly off-limits to the public, with dangerous open shafts in the area.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Belmont Mine Phoenix, Arizona

  The mine is located on private property owned by Resolution Copper (formerly Magma Copper Co.) and contains an extremely hazardous, open vertical shaft that drops hundreds of feet.

  last checked 2026-07-20

California

• Bear Canyon Mine Los Angeles, California

  The access road (Capra Road) is blocked by a guard shack on private property, and the abandoned mine tunnels themselves are structurally unsafe and gated.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Descanso Mine San Diego, California

  The mine is located on private property and contains hazardous, abandoned underground workings that are strictly off-limits to the public.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Leona Heights Sulfur Mine San Francisco, California

  The mine is located on private property, fenced off from public trails, and the dangerous tunnels have been permanently sealed and covered during a 2015 environmental remediation project.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Asphaltum Mine Santa Barbara, California

  The historic mine site is located deep within the private property of Rancho Sisquoc, a working cattle ranch and vineyard, and is not open to the public.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Alabama Mine Sacramento, California

  The former mine site is located on private residential property off a non-through private road, and the dangerous underground shafts are completely closed to the public.

  last checked 2026-07-20

Colorado

• Johnny Mine Colorado Springs, Colorado

  The abandoned mine is located on private property within the residential Rock Creek Canyon area and is strictly off-limits to the public due to trespassing laws and safety hazards.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Gold King Mine Durango, Colorado

  The mine is private property, a designated EPA Superfund site, and actively monitored and restricted due to severe environmental and physical hazards.

  last checked 2026-07-20

Montana

• Old Empire Mine Helena, Montana

  The mine is located on private patented mining claims and contains highly dangerous, unstable underground workings, caved adits, and hazardous open shafts.

  last checked 2026-07-20

Nevada

• Sunday Mine Las Vegas, Nevada

  The mine adits were completely sealed off by the BLM in 2018 for safety, and the surrounding area is heavily encroached by private residential developments, making the actual mine site off-limits and physically inaccessible.

  last checked 2026-07-20

New York

• Andover Mine New York City, New York

  The historic mine workings are located on private property with active 'No Trespassing' signs, and the terrain contains highly dangerous open pits and unstable cliffs.

  last checked 2026-07-20
• Ringwood Iron Plant Mine New York City, New York

  The site is an active EPA Superfund cleanup zone with severe chemical contamination, toxic groundwater, and a high risk of sudden sinkholes opening up over the abandoned mine shafts.

  last checked 2026-07-20

Oregon

• Ogle Mountain Mine Portland, Oregon

  The mine is located on private timberland owned by Weyerhaeuser, and the surrounding trails (including the Ogle Mountain Trail) are closed due to severe wildfire damage from the Beachie Creek Fire. Additionally, the site contains highly dangerous, unsealed vertical shafts and unstable adits.

  last checked 2026-07-20

Utah

• Old Mayflower Mine Salt Lake City, Utah

  The mine is located in West Canyon, which is entirely private property protected by a locked gate at the canyon entrance, and the underground workings themselves are completely caved-in and highly dangerous.

  last checked 2026-07-20