Animas Forks Ghost Town — Upper Animas River Historic Site

Animas Forks is the real deal — a genuine 1870s silver-mining ghost town parked at the confluence of the upper Animas River forks at 11,200 feet. Original wood-frame structures still stand including the Duncan house with its distinctive bay window, a jail, and several miners’ cabins. The BLM has stabilized several buildings, so they’re not going anywhere soon. This is the natural midpoint and logical stop on any Alpine Loop run, and the fork in the road here determines whether you head over Engineer toward Ouray or Cinnamon toward Lake City.

The road in from Silverton via County Road 2 is high-clearance 4WD. The townsite itself is a short walk from where most rigs park along the road. No facilities, no water. Popular with jeep tour operators out of Ouray and Silverton during summer — expect company on weekends. Historically significant enough that you should stop even if you’ve driven this loop a dozen times.

1870s silver ghost town at the Alpine Loop fork.