California Ghost Towns
California's ghost towns range from abandoned mining camps and desert ruins to preserved state historic parks and living communities where remnants of the past still stand. This guide focuses on places travelers can see across California, with an emphasis on what remains, how each site is preserved and what to know before visiting.
What counts as a ghost town? Some places below are true abandoned settlements, while others are living or semi-ghost towns, restored historic sites, museums or parks that preserve former mining, railroad, fishing and oil communities. Each major listing identifies the type of site and the kind of access visitors can expect.
Explore responsibly: Abandoned does not mean public property. Respect gates, fences, closures and no-trespassing signs. Never enter abandoned mines, and avoid unstable or deteriorating buildings. Remote desert and mountain sites may also involve rough roads, extreme temperatures, limited cell service or seasonal closures, so check current conditions before heading out.
Ghost Towns to Visit in California
Quick Guide
- Bodie State Historic Park: One of California's best-preserved mining ghost towns, maintained in a state of arrested decay.
- Calico Ghost Town: A restored silver-mining town and living-history regional park convenient for Southern California road trips.
- Cerro Gordo: A privately owned and unusually intact remote mining town in the Inyo Mountains.
- Ballarat: Remote Panamint Valley ruins associated with the mining history of the Death Valley region.
- Randsburg: A living ghost town where historic mining-era buildings mix with present-day residents and businesses.
- Shasta State Historic Park: Gold Rush ruins and preserved historic buildings managed by California State Parks.
- Mentryville: A preserved oil-boom town and historic site in Santa Clarita Woodlands Park.
- Laws Railroad Museum & Historic Site: A preserved railroad town near Bishop with historic buildings, equipment and exhibits.
Southern California Ghost Towns
For travelers coming from Southern California, some of the most practical ghost-town trips include Calico, Mentryville, Randsburg and Llano del Rio, with Ballarat, Cerro Gordo and Mojave Desert sites rewarding visitors prepared for longer drives and more remote conditions.
Southern California & Desert Ghost Towns
Ballarat Ghost Town
Death Valley, Inyo County
Ballarat Road & Wingate Road, Trona, CA 93592
Type/Access: Remote historic mining settlement · Roadside/backcountry setting
Located in the Panamint Valley west of Death Valley National Park, Ballarat was active mainly from 1897 to 1905 and reached a population of roughly 400–500 people, many of them prospectors supporting nearby mines. As mining declined, most residents moved on. Today, visitors can see surviving structures, ruins and the cemetery. Charles Manson and members of his group were associated with nearby Barker Ranch decades later, but Ballarat's primary significance is its mining history.
Other Death Valley-Area Ghost Towns
- Chloride City - Abandoned in 1905, remains of three stamp mills and a grave
- Greenwater - Abandoned in 1909, No remains
- Harrisburg - Only remains are one home and a bit of the mine
- Leadfield - Remains of mines, wood and tin structures, mill
- Panamint City - Remains of original structure, one currently called "The Panamint Hilton" by campers passing through, remains of old mine.
- Rhyolite, Nevada - A well-known ghost town just outside Death Valley near Beatty, Nevada. It is a useful side trip for Death Valley travelers but is not in California.
- Skidoo - No remains
Bombay Beach
9576 Avenue G, Niland, CA 92257
Type/Access: Living/semi-ghost community · Public roads and community areas
Bombay Beach is a small inhabited community on the eastern shore of the Salton Sea. Once promoted as a recreation destination for boating, fishing and watersports, the community declined as the Salton Sea's environmental problems worsened. Agricultural runoff, increasing salinity, fish and bird die-offs, flooding and recurring odor problems all contributed to the region's decline as a resort destination.
Today, Bombay Beach is better described as a living or semi-ghost town than an abandoned one. Residents remain, and the community has also developed a contemporary art identity, with installations and unusual desert artwork attracting visitors alongside the remnants of its resort-era past.
Calico Ghost Town
36600 Ghost Town Road, Yermo, CA 92398
Website: https://parks.sbcounty.gov/park/calico-ghost-town-regional-park/
Type/Access: San Bernardino County Regional Park · Restored living-history ghost town
Calico Ghost Town is now a regional park in San Bernardino County that is a well preserved old west silver mining town from 1881. Calico was a booming mining town, but it was short lived. The town was abandoned in the mid 1890s. The town was purchased by Walter Knott (yep, the theme park guy) who preserved the majority of the remaining structures.
Today, Calico is a living ghost town serving as a living history park, immersing visitors in the life of the old west. There are a number of original structures to see, plus cabins and bunkhouses for overnight stays, camping, off roading, hiking, a museum and mine tours.
Cerro Gordo
Owens Valley, Near Lone Pine, California
Type/Access: Privately owned historic mining town · Visit only with current owner permission or an authorized tour/reservation
Cerro Gordo dates to 1867 and became an important silver, lead and later zinc mining settlement in the Inyo Mountains above Owens Valley. Mining eventually declined and the town was abandoned. Today it is privately owned and is notable for its surviving mining-era buildings and artifacts.
Do not treat Cerro Gordo as an open-access ghost town. Confirm current visitor or tour availability before going. The approach includes roughly eight miles of steep gravel and dirt road and gains nearly a mile in elevation; road and weather conditions can materially affect access.
Daggett
Interstate 40, ten miles east of Barstow
Type/Access: Living/semi-ghost town · View historic buildings from public areas
Daggett began in the late 1800s as Calico Junction and was renamed in 1883. Residents still live in the area, so it is better described as a living or semi-ghost town. Several historic structures associated with its railroad and mining history remain. View old buildings from public areas and respect private property.
Death Valley Mine – Mojave National Preserve
Mojave National Preserve
Type/Access: Remote historic mine site · Backcountry conditions
Website: Mojave National Preserve
Despite its name, Death Valley Mine is in Mojave National Preserve rather than Death Valley National Park. Remnants include mining equipment, shafts and historic structures from operations that began in the early 1900s and were reactivated at different times into the mid-20th century. This is a remote desert site, so check National Park Service road and closure information before attempting a visit and never enter mine openings.
Dublin Gulch
Shoshone, CA off CA-127
Type/Access: Historic hillside dwellings · Short walking visit
Dublin Gulch is an unusual historic site rather than a conventional ghost town. Located in Shoshone, CA, the remains here are cave-style homes that were dug out of the solidified volcanic ash in the middle of the desert landscape. It is believed that this site dates back to the 1920s and was home to miners who worked in nearby mines. There are a number of dwellings carved out of the hillsides here and it is worth a trip if you are in the area. There is an easy trail to get to the site, and a nearby Shoshone Museum. This is a great side trip if you are on your way in or out of Las Vegas.
Llano del Rio
State Highway 138 near 165th Street East in Antelope Valley
Type/Access: Ruins of a former socialist colony · Roadside/historic site
Llano del Rio was a short-lived cooperative colony that operated from 1914 to 1918 and is recognized as one of America's notable non-religious utopian experiments. Residents invested in and worked for the self-sustaining community, but economic challenges and internal disagreements contributed to its collapse. Stone walls, fireplaces, foundations and cisterns remain, making it distinctive from California's mining ghost towns.
Mentryville
27201 Pico Canyon Road, Newhall, CA
Type/Access: Public historic site in Santa Clarita Woodlands Park
Website: Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority
Mentryville is a former oil boom town, home to Pico No. 4, the first commercially successful oil well in the western US. The town was named for Alexander Mentry, superintendent of the company that became Chevron. Established in the 1880s, there were over 100 families living here until the 1930s. Pico No. 4 went on to operate until 1990 - becoming the longest continually operating oil well in the world.
There are several historic buildings on site including Mentry's 13 room mansion, a school house, and a barn. As part of Santa Clarita Woodlands Park, the area is also open to hiking, biking, and equestrians.
Randsburg
Off US Route 395 between Kramer Junction and Ridgecrest, Kern County
Type/Access: Living ghost town · Public streets with active residents and businesses
Randsburg is a living ghost town that dates back to 1895. There are many tourist stops here, mixed in with historic structures, artifacts and machinery from the mining era, a museum, and old mine remains. It's worth a stop for those traveling through, and the area is popular for off roading. Stop in to nearby Red Mountain Owl Café Museum.
Eastern Sierra Ghost Towns & Historic Sites
Bodie State Historic Park
Highway 270, Bridgeport, CA 93517
Type/Access: California State Historic Park · Public visitor destination
Website: California State Parks – Bodie
Bodie is one of California's best-preserved gold-mining ghost towns. The boomtown once had a population approaching 10,000 and is now preserved by California State Parks in a state of “arrested decay,” with surviving buildings and interiors that help show what life was like before the town was abandoned.
Bodie is open year-round, with longer hours in summer and shorter hours in winter. The standard approach on State Route 270 includes about 10 paved miles followed by three miles of dirt road that can be rough. Winter snow can close normal vehicle access entirely, so check State Parks and road conditions before making the trip.
Laws Railroad Town
Silver Canyon Road, Bishop, CA 93514
Type/Access: Railroad museum and preserved historic site
Website: Laws Railroad Museum
Laws was founded as a railroad town in 1880, with the first train's arrival in 1883. Railroad operations ended in 1959. Today visitors can explore the preserved railroad town and its historic buildings, including the depot, agent's house, water and oil tanks, turntable and structures moved here from the surrounding region. The museum also preserves railroad cars, equipment and local history, making this a worthwhile stop near Bishop.
Masonic
North of Bridgeport, CA in Mono County
Type/Access: Remote mining-town ruins · High-elevation dirt-road access
Masonic was established in 1860 by a group of Freemasons searching for gold. The post office closed in 1927 as the town declined. Remains include mining features, stone cabins, ore bins and portions of the Pittsburg-Independence Mine. Check road and weather conditions before visiting; high-elevation backroads can become difficult or impassable.
Chemung Mine
Near Masonic, Mono County
Type/Access: Remote historic mine ruins · High-elevation dirt-road access
Chemung Mine is a separate nearby mining site overlooking Bridgeport Valley at roughly 8,600 feet. Remnants include portions of the mill, machinery and other mining-era structures. Stay out of mine openings and check seasonal road conditions before making the drive.
Gold Country & Sierra Nevada Ghost Towns
Cherokee
4041 Cherokee Road, Oroville, Ca 95965
Cherokee is notable because it was the largest hydraulic mine in the world, and the first diamonds in the United States were found here. The town was established by a group of Cherokee prospectors, and other miners arrived shortly after. Mining dried up here around the end of the 1800s, and the town was mostly abandoned. Today there are about 50 people living in and around the area.
Type/Access: Small historic community with mining-era remains
Cherokee is better viewed as a historic community with surviving mining-era remnants than as a fully abandoned ghost town. Visitors can see stone ruins, historic sites and a pioneer cemetery while learning about the area’s hydraulic-mining history.
Chinese Camp
Tuolumne County; NW Corner of State HWY 120 & Main Street
Chinese Camp was established in 1849. The Englishmen who founded the area hired Chinese to work as miners. At one point there were as many as 5,000 Chinese occupying the town. In the 1850s, Chinese Camp served as headquarters for stage lines and Chinese mining companies. Chinese Camp is now a California Historical Landmark, and several historic structures remain. Some of the buildings here have been featured in the filming of movies.
Drytown/Dry Diggins
Amador County
Type/Access: Living historic Gold Rush community
Drytown was established during the Gold Rush in 1848 and once supported a much larger population. It remains inhabited today, with historic structures dating to the 1850s, a cemetery and California Historical Landmark status. Treat it as a historic community rather than an abandoned town and respect private property.
Forest City
Sierra County
Type/Access: National Register Historic District · Mix of historic and privately owned property
Forest City was established in 1852 in the Tahoe National Forest. It is a National Register Historic District and features more than two dozen original structures, many dating back to the late 1800s, including a dance hall, school house, general store, and residences. Many historic structures are privately owned, so view them from appropriate public areas unless access is clearly permitted.
Hornitos
Mariposa County
Type/Access: Living/semi-ghost Gold Rush community
Located west of Yosemite, Hornitos is a Gold Rush-era community established in 1850 by prospectors and miners. It is associated with the history and legends surrounding Joaquin Murrieta, but its surviving buildings and ruins are the more useful reason to visit.
There are still a handful of people living in Hornitos, but visitors can stop here on the way to Yosemite to see a collection of ruins including the Ghirardelli General Store (yes, of the chocolate empire), the jail, a Masonic Hall, abandoned farms, and the infamous cemetery on the hilltop.
Northern California Historic Ghost Town Sites
China Camp State Park
101 Peacock Gap Trail, San Rafael, CA 94901
Type/Access: California State Park · Preserved historic fishing village
Website: California State Parks – China Camp
China Camp was a Chinese American fishing village on the shore of San Pablo Bay. The location offered ideal conditions for shrimping. The successful village processed over 3 million pounds of shrimp per year, some of it sold to local restaurants, but much of it processed, dried, and exported to China or to other Chinese communities in the US. The village was primarily occupied by Chinese immigrants from Canton, China.
China Camp is not a conventional ghost town. The State Park preserves the history of this Chinese American shrimp-fishing village, and there is a museum on site to see exhibits and learn more about the area. There are some original and preserved structures, and there are trails, beach access, campsites, and other activities to enjoy here.
Shasta State Historic Park
15312 Highway 299 West, Shasta, CA 96087
Type/Access: California State Historic Park · Public visitor destination
Website: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=456
Shasta State Historic Park preserves the remains of a Gold Rush-era town along Highway 299. Rather than an unmanaged abandoned site, it is a California State Historic Park with ruins, preserved buildings and interpretive exhibits. There is a restored courthouse from 1861 that features historical exhibits and artwork. The Shasta community was founded in 1849 and originally called Reading Springs. Fire ravaged the city twice, destroying most of the area. Business owners rebuilt with brick buildings along main street to protect against fire, but by 1888 the town was mostly abandoned.
Visitors can stop and see the ruins of what remains, including school houses from the 1920s & 30s, a brewery and spring houses, the restored Litsch General Store, blacksmith shop, cemeteries, Pioneer Barn, and more.
Find More California Gold Rush Towns
Other Ghostly Remains Of The Past
These additional sites range from abandoned mining camps to historic districts and living Gold Rush communities. Access varies widely; some are roadside historic places, while others are remote, private or inaccessible.
- Agua Mansa, San Bernardino County: Historic cemetery remains.
- Alleghany Historic District, Sierra County: Historic buildings, mining sites and cemetery.
- Ashford Mills, Inyo County: Mine and adobe remnants in the Death Valley region.
- Bennettville, Mono County: High-country cabins and mining ruins.
- Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park, Tulare County: Preserved and restored buildings from the historic community.
- Drawbridge, Alameda County: Deteriorating former community in the South Bay; access is restricted.
- Eagle Mountain, Riverside County: Modern ghost town that is not open for casual public exploration.
- Fiddletown, Amador County: Living historic community with Gold Rush-era structures.
- Lost Horse Mine, Joshua Tree National Park: Historic mine and stamp-mill remains reached by trail.
- Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park: Preserves the mining town of North Bloomfield and California's largest hydraulic mining landscape.
- New Idria, San Benito County: Abandoned mercury-mining area with environmental hazards and access restrictions; do not enter closed areas.
- Silver City Ghost Town, Kern County: A collection of historic buildings relocated from other mining communities.
Ghost Towns You Can Actually Visit
For straightforward visitor access, start with managed or clearly public destinations such as Bodie State Historic Park, Calico Ghost Town, Shasta State Historic Park, Mentryville and Laws Railroad Museum. Living communities such as Randsburg and Bombay Beach can also be visited using public streets, while privately owned or remote sites require more planning.
Ghost Towns Near Southern California
Good Southern California options include Calico near Barstow, Mentryville in Santa Clarita, Llano del Rio in the Antelope Valley and Randsburg off Highway 395. Ballarat and Cerro Gordo are farther and more remote, but they fit well into desert or Eastern Sierra road trips when conditions and access allow.
Ghost Town FAQs
What is a ghost town?
A ghost town is a settlement that lost most or all of its population after the industry, transportation route or resource that supported it disappeared. In California, the term is also commonly used for semi-abandoned communities and preserved historic towns.
What is the best-preserved ghost town in California?
Bodie State Historic Park is one of the strongest examples. California State Parks preserves the former mining town in a state of arrested decay, with numerous buildings and interiors still in place.
Are California ghost towns free to visit?
It depends on the site. Some ruins and living communities can be viewed from public roads without an admission charge, while state parks, county parks, museums, private properties and guided sites may require admission, parking fees or reservations. Check the official site before visiting.
Can you enter abandoned buildings?
Only when a managing agency or property owner clearly allows it. Many abandoned structures are unstable or privately owned, so otherwise view them from permitted public areas.
Are abandoned mines safe to explore?
No. Do not enter abandoned mine shafts, tunnels or openings. They can contain unstable ground, vertical drops, poor air quality and other hazards.
What California ghost towns are near Los Angeles?
Mentryville in Santa Clarita and Llano del Rio in the Antelope Valley are among the closest historic ghost-town-style sites. Calico, Randsburg and several Mojave Desert sites are farther but work well as day trips or road-trip stops.
Can you visit Bodie in winter?
Bodie is technically open year-round, but winter access is very different from summer. Snow commonly closes normal vehicle access on State Route 270, and California State Parks notes that winter visitors may need skis, snowshoes or snowmobiles. Always check current road and weather conditions before attempting a winter visit.
Continue exploring with our guides to California Gold Rush towns, Calico Ghost Town, the Salton Sea, Joshua Tree and the best California State Parks.
