Saint Elmo

Tucked into the Sawatch Range at nearly 10,000 feet, Saint Elmo is one of Colorado's most intact ghost towns. Founded in 1880 in Chaffee County, the settlement drew close to 2,000 residents during its gold and silver mining heyday. When the mining industry began to falter in the early 1920s and the railroad pulled out in 1922, the town's fate was sealed. Today Saint Elmo is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a recognition that speaks to how well its historic character has been preserved.

Visitors arriving from Buena Vista — about 20 miles to the northeast — find a genuine window into Colorado's mining past. The surviving structures, high-elevation setting, and protected historic status make this one of the more rewarding ghost town stops in the state. Because it sits at 9,961 feet in the mountains, the accessible season runs roughly late spring through early fall, with winter bringing conditions that can make the road impassable. Summer weekends draw steady crowds, so an early-morning arrival rewards those seeking a quieter experience.