Abandoned places in Colorado Springs
6 abandoned and forgotten places around Colorado Springs, Castlewood Canyon Dam Ruins, Stratton's Independence Mine and Mill and Eureka Tunnel Mine among them — and for each one, whether you can legally visit. Ruins, ghost towns and shuttered industry, with the ones that are trespassing or genuinely unsafe marked as such rather than romanticised. They spread across Franktown, Cripple Creek, Eureka Tunnel Mine, Colorado Springs and 2 more areas, so two or three can make a whole afternoon. 6 of them cost nothing. Every entry is hand-vetted against real sources — not scraped off a top-ten list or averaged out of crowd ratings.
Every abandoned place we've verified, nationwide — with its legal-access status →
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Castlewood Canyon Dam RuinsOpen to visit
The crumbling concrete shell of the 1890 Castlewood Dam still stands in two massive broken halves, the gap between them marking the exact point where a 15-foot wall of water tore loose at 1 a.m. on August 3, 1933, and roared 40 miles down Cherry Creek to flood downtown Denver. You can walk right through that breach on established trails while the canyon walls and stunted pines make it feel genuinely remote and eerie.
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Stratton's Independence Mine and MillView only
Staked on July 4, 1891, by Winfield Scott Stratton, this historic gold mine became one of the most lucrative strikes in the Cripple Creek District, making Stratton its first gold millionaire. Today, the site features the towering, restored wooden headframe, the remains of the orehouse and powerhouse, and the concrete foundations of the processing mill. Visitors can view these impressive industrial ruins from an interpretive overlook and the surrounding trail system.
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Eureka Tunnel MineView only
Located in the St. Peter's Dome mining district of the Pike National Forest, the Eureka Tunnel is a historic, inactive underground mine worked in the early 20th century for fluorite, cryolite, and zircon. Today, the site is a legendary destination for mineral collectors, featuring a collapsed or gated tunnel entrance and extensive mine dumps. Visitors can still find colorful purple fluorite and lustrous, dipyramidal zircon crystals scattered across the gravel slopes.
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Black Canyon MineView only
Shuttered in 2015, the Black Canyon Mine (also known as the Snyder Quarry) is a historic limestone quarry located on the eastern rim of Williams Canyon near Manitou Springs. Originally opened in 1874, the site left a prominent scar on the mountain backdrop of the Pikes Peak region. Today, the property is owned by the City of Colorado Springs and is undergoing active environmental reclamation to eventually transition into a public park.
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Johnny MineDo not enter
Located in the rugged Rock Creek Canyon south of Colorado Springs, the Johnny Mine is a historic, defunct mining and quarry site. It is documented on USGS topographic maps near Keeton Reservoir and the Cheyenne Mountain Complex. Today, the site is completely inactive, with its old workings reclaimed by the surrounding wilderness on private land.
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American Eagles MineView only
Originally situated on Bull Hill at an elevation of 10,750 feet, the American Eagles Mine was the highest underground mine in the Cripple Creek District, operating from 1895 until 1940. Due to modern open-pit mining expansion, its historic 19th-century structures—including a 60-foot wooden headframe and a blacksmith shop—were relocated to the Little Grouse Mountain Trailhead. Today, these preserved relics sit alongside a scenic overlook and the whimsical 'Rita the Rock Planter' troll sculpture.
Abandoned places in Colorado Springs — FAQ
Is it legal to visit abandoned places around Colorado Springs?
It depends on the site, and each listing here says explicitly — with the reason. Of the 6 with a verified access status: 1 are legal to enter (like Castlewood Canyon Dam Ruins), 4 are view-only from public land or roadside, and 1 are private property or genuinely unsafe — those are marked "do not enter" rather than romanticised.
Which abandoned & forgotten places in Colorado Springs are the strangest?
Ranked by how strange they actually are: Stratton's Independence Mine and Mill, Eureka Tunnel Mine and Black Canyon Mine. Stratton's Independence Mine and Mill — Staked on July 4, 1891, by Winfield Scott Stratton, this historic gold mine became one of the most lucrative strikes in the Cripple Creek District, making Stratton its first gold millionaire.
Where in Colorado Springs are they?
Across Franktown, Cripple Creek, Eureka Tunnel Mine, Colorado Springs and Rock Creek and 1 more. Each listing gives the neighborhood and address so you can cluster a couple into one outing.
Are any of the abandoned & forgotten places in Colorado Springs free?
Yes — 6 are free to visit, including Castlewood Canyon Dam Ruins, Stratton's Independence Mine and Mill and Eureka Tunnel Mine. The rest are mostly low-cost.
Is this a good weird date in Colorado Springs?
That's what the list is built for. Every entry has a specific move rather than a vague recommendation — at Stratton's Independence Mine and Mill, for instance: Hike the scenic trails surrounding the site to photograph the massive restored headframe and explore the interpretive signs detailing the area's rich gold rush history.
How were these abandoned & forgotten places chosen?
An agentic research system digs for the genuinely obscure — the spots even locals miss — and every one is verified against real sources before it makes the list. We deliberately skip the landmarks already on every Colorado Springs guide.