Entry No. 29 — the Pueblo file — filed under: outdoor-weird
Uptop Ghost Town
“Two New England sisters bought the entire town, fixed it up, and put it on the Register.”
In 1877 the Denver & Rio Grande crested Old La Veta Pass at 9,382 feet — the “Railroad Above the Clouds,” highest tracks on earth — and a depot town grew up top. The rails left, the highway moved in 1962, and Uptop rotted until two New England sisters bought the entire town in 2001, replaced 43 windows themselves, and got it on the National Register. Depot museum, one-room schoolhouse, saloon, dance hall, and a 1930 Chapel-by-the-Wayside that is usually unlocked. The night sky up there is absurd.
The move: Drive the old pass road up around dusk, peek into the 1930 chapel, then spread a blanket near the depot and stargaze — La Veta sits on Colorado’s official dark-sky tour for a reason.
📍 Before you go The turnoff is County Road 443 — the old pass road — off US-160 roughly 12 miles west of La Veta; the climb is graded dirt, fine for most cars in fair weather but snowy at 9,400 feet well into spring. The whole town is private property run as a historic district: the chapel is generally left open to visitors, while the depot museum and Tumbleweed Dance Hall open on occasion and for events like the September Celtic festival’s welcome night, so check ahead before counting on interiors. Stay on the road and obvious paths, and pair the trip with lunch in La Veta below.
- 📍 La Veta (Old La Veta Pass)
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 3652 County Road 443 (Old La Veta Pass Rd), La Veta, CO 81055
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