Entry No. 94 — the Durango file — filed under: ghost town

Old Tomboy Mine

Established in 1880 at an elevation of 11,500 feet in Savage Basin, Tomboy was once a booming gold mining town housing over 1,000 residents before its abandonment in 1927. Today, the high-altitude ghost town features extensive weathered wooden cabins, rusted mining machinery, and the skeletal remains of the mill. Located along the rugged Imogene Pass, it stands as one of the highest and most dramatic historic mining sites in Colorado.

The move: Rent a high-clearance 4WD vehicle or book a guided jeep tour from Telluride to traverse the rugged Tomboy Road, stopping to safely photograph the dramatic, weathered ruins of the mine and townsite from the public roadway.

📍 Before you go 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.

• 📍 Old Tomboy Mine
• 💸 Free
• ⚡ Low-key
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: Old Tomboy Mine, Colorado 81435, USA

Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: telluride.net · fs.usda.gov

last checked: 2026-07-20