Silver City Ghost Town

Perched at 6,180 feet in the remote Owyhee Mountains, Silver City is Idaho’s most authentic ghost town with 75 original structures including the old schoolhouse, Idaho Hotel, and War Eagle Saloon. Founded in 1863 during a silver boom, the town once housed 2,500 residents and still maintains several occupied buildings. The cemetery on the hillside tells stories of the harsh mining life, while the old mine shafts and equipment scattered around town provide a glimpse into 19th-century hard rock mining.

Reach Silver City via a steep, winding 23-mile gravel road from Highway 78 near Murphy. The road requires high-clearance vehicles and can be treacherous in wet conditions. Snow closes access from November through April. No services available in town, so bring water and fuel.

Idaho's best-preserved mining ghost town since 1863