Forest City

Tucked into Dutchman Flat in the upper reaches of American Fork Canyon, within the Uinta National Forest, Forest City is a ghost town in Utah County that briefly flourished as a mining community in the 1870s. The town took shape around a smelter constructed to process ore from nearby canyon mines, and it supported a population from roughly 1871 to 1880. A railroad was planned to connect the site to the outside world, but engineering obstacles prevented it from ever reaching its destination, leaving the settlement without the infrastructure it needed to survive.

Visitors today will find a remote canyon setting rich in history, though the decade-long lifespan of the town means physical remains are sparse. The site rewards those drawn to the atmosphere of a forgotten mountain community rather than dramatic ruins. Access through American Fork Canyon is seasonal, with the high-elevation location making winter visits impractical or hazardous.