Entry No. 28 — the Durango file — filed under: ghost town
Alta Ghost Town
Perched at 11,800 feet above sea level in a tight alpine basin south of Telluride, Alta operated from 1877 until a mill fire ended it in 1948. The Gold King Mine here became the world's first industrial site to run on commercial alternating current — Lucien Nunn contracted with Westinghouse to build the Ames hydroelectric plant three miles away in 1891, cutting monthly power costs from $2,500 to $500. About 20 original structures survive: a two-story 1939 boardinghouse assembled from salvaged St. Louis mine timbers, collapsed cabin rows, ore-bin frames, and aerial tramway anchor points. The site sits on the National Register of Historic Places and charges no admission. Come for the ruins, stay for the cold wind and the view.
The move: Drive the rough Alta Lakes Road together, park among the ruins, and wander the boardinghouse and scattered cabins at 11,800 feet. Pack a lunch and eat where miners once slept. Continue the extra mile to Alta Lakes if your vehicle can handle it.
📍 Before you go Alta Lakes Road is closed by snow from roughly late October through late June — call the Norwood Ranger District to confirm. A high-clearance 4WD is strongly recommended; passenger cars can reach the ghost town in dry summer conditions but the road is rough and single-lane. The round trip from Durango is close to 6 hours with driving; start early. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in July and August — aim to be off the exposed ridge by 2 p.m. No services, no cell signal, no fee.
- 📍 Durango
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: Alta Lakes Road (Forest Road 632), approximately 8 miles south of Telluride on CO-145, then 4 miles east on FR 632. The ghost town sits at the end of the navigable section of the road, San Miguel County, CO.
Hours: Added 2026-06-11 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Proof: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4
last checked: 2026-06-11