Top 50 Ghost Towns In Idaho (2026)

Posted on Author Barry Philips

Idaho is home to some of the most atmospheric ghost towns in the American West. Once thriving during the gold and silver rush eras, these settlements were eventually abandoned when mining declined and economic activity shifted elsewhere. Today, they remain frozen in time—offering visitors a rare glimpse into frontier life, pioneer struggles, and mining history.

Below are the Top 50 Ghost Towns in Idaho, each with historical context and what remains today.

Top 50 Ghost Towns In Idaho

1. Bayhorse

Bayhorse is one of Idaho’s most visually striking ghost towns, located in Custer County. It grew rapidly in the late 1800s during a silver mining boom. The town once had smelters, cabins, and a busy mining community.

When silver prices fell, the population quickly declined. Today, Bayhorse is preserved as a state historic site. Visitors can still see mining equipment, building ruins, and remnants of industrial structures surrounded by rugged Idaho wilderness.

2. Silver City

Silver City is one of the best-preserved ghost towns in Idaho. During the 1860s–1880s, it was a major silver mining hub and one of the most important towns in the region. At its peak, it had dozens of businesses, hotels, and thousands of residents.

Unlike many ghost towns, Silver City still contains standing wooden buildings. Some structures are maintained by descendants of original settlers, giving the town a lived-in but frozen-in-time feeling.

3. Ruby City

Ruby City was one of the earliest mining towns in Idaho and briefly served as the county seat of Owyhee County. Founded in the 1860s, it quickly grew due to nearby gold discoveries.

However, when nearby Silver City became more economically dominant, Ruby City declined rapidly. Today, very little remains except historical traces and a cemetery marking its former location.

4. Burke

Burke is a narrow canyon mining town in northern Idaho with a unique layout—railroad tracks once ran directly through buildings and tight canyon walls.

It thrived on silver, lead, and zinc mining, but repeated disasters such as floods, fires, and mining accidents led to its decline. Today, remnants of buildings and industrial structures still remain, giving it a haunting industrial atmosphere.

5. Custer

Custer is a well-preserved gold rush town located in central Idaho. It was founded in the 1870s and quickly became a busy mining community with saloons, shops, and mining operations.

As gold production declined, the town was gradually abandoned. Today, many original buildings still stand, including cabins, mining equipment, and artifacts from its frontier past.

6. Placerville

Placerville is one of Idaho’s oldest mining towns, established during the 1860s gold rush. It once served as an important supply hub for miners working in nearby areas.

As mining activity declined, the town’s importance faded. Today, Placerville remains a small rural community with preserved historic structures that reflect its early mining heritage.

7. De Lamar

De Lamar was a booming silver mining town in the late 1800s located in Owyhee County. It had mills, saloons, and a growing population driven by mining wealth.

When mining operations slowed, the town was abandoned. Today, only ruins, foundations, and scattered remnants remain in the desert landscape.

8. Leesburg

Leesburg was established during Idaho’s gold rush in the 1860s and served as a supply hub for nearby mining operations.

When gold production declined, residents left in search of better opportunities. Today, Leesburg is a remote ghost town with scattered ruins and old mining structures hidden in the wilderness.

9. Florence

Florence was once one of Idaho’s richest placer gold mining towns. During its peak in the 1860s, it had thousands of residents and significant mining activity.

As gold became harder to extract, the town rapidly declined. Today, it is a remote ghost town with limited access and scattered remains of its mining era.

10. Rocky Bar

Rocky Bar is one of Idaho’s longest-surviving mining towns, established in the 1860s. It experienced multiple boom-and-bust cycles over several decades.

Eventually, mining activity ceased, and the town became mostly abandoned. Today, a few structures still remain, offering a glimpse into Idaho’s rugged mining history.

Comprehensive List

# Ghost Town Peak Era Main Industry Current Status Notable Feature
1 Bayhorse 1880s Silver mining State historic site Preserved mining ruins
2 Silver City 1860s–1880s Silver/gold mining Historic district Standing wooden buildings
3 Ruby City 1860s Gold mining Ruins Cemetery remains
4 Burke 1880s–1900s Mining Semi-abandoned Canyon railroad town
5 Custer 1870s Gold mining Preserved ghost town Old cabins and artifacts
6 Placerville 1860s Gold mining Small community Historic structures
7 De Lamar 1890s Silver mining Ruins Desert foundations
8 Leesburg 1860s Gold mining Scattered ruins Remote wilderness site
9 Florence 1860s Placer gold mining Remote ghost town High-elevation site
10 Rocky Bar 1860s–1900s Gold mining Partial remains Long-lived settlement
11 Atlanta 1860s Gold mining Small inhabited area Historic mining cabins
12 Boulder City 1860s Gold mining Abandoned Forest ruins
13 Yankee Fork 1870s Gold mining Historic district Mining structures
14 Sunbeam 1900s Mining/smelting Ruins Old smelter remains
15 Vienna 1870s Silver mining Abandoned Mountain ruins
16 Viola 1880s Logging/mining Near abandoned Forest settlement
17 Gilmore 1880s Mining/railroad Ghost town Railroad remnants
18 Bayview (old site) 1900s Lumber Mostly abandoned Lake ruins
19 Warren 1860s Gold mining Small seasonal area Historic cabins
20 Loon Creek 1860s Gold mining Remote ruins Wilderness access only
21 Bonanza 1870s Silver mining Ghost town Mining structures
22 Roosevelt 1890s Mining Abandoned Forest ruins
23 Dixie 1860s Gold mining Small settlement Historic buildings
24 Ketchum (old mining camp areas) 1880s Silver mining Developed town + remnants Mining history sites
25 Hailey (old mining sites nearby) 1880s Silver mining Modern town + remnants Historic mining roots
26 Nampa Mining Camp 1900s Mining Abandoned Sparse remains
27 Copper Camp 1900s Copper mining Ruins Industrial remains
28 Yellow Jacket 1860s Gold mining Ghost town Remote mining area
29 Dixie (Elk City area sites) 1860s Gold mining Partially abandoned Forest mining camps
30 Elkhorn 1880s Silver mining Ruins Mountain structures
31 Quartzburg 1860s Gold mining Near abandoned Historic remnants
32 Centerville 1860s Gold mining Ghost town Old cabins
33 Pine Grove 1860s Gold mining Ruins Forest settlement
34 Gibbonsville 1870s Mining Near abandoned Border mining town
35 Gilmore Summit 1880s Railroad/mining Ghost town Rail infrastructure
36 Sawtooth City 1880s Silver mining Ruins Mountain ghost town
37 Vienna Mine Camp 1870s Mining Abandoned Alpine ruins
38 Florida Mountain Camp 1860s Gold mining Ghost town Remote mining site
39 Flint 1880s Mining Abandoned Desert ruins
40 War Eagle 1860s Gold mining Ghost town Historic mining remains
41 Ruby Creek Camp 1870s Mining Abandoned Creekside ruins
42 Moose City 1880s Mining Ghost town Forest remnants
43 Delta 1890s Mining Abandoned Industrial remains
44 Mammoth City 1870s Gold mining Ghost town Hilltop ruins
45 Thunder Mountain Camp 1900s Gold mining Abandoned Remote mountain site
46 Red Elephant 1900s Mining Ghost town Mining relics
47 Orogrande 1890s Gold mining Near abandoned Small remaining population
48 Conner Creek 1870s Mining Ghost town Forest ruins
49 Mount Idaho (old settlement) 1860s Agriculture/mining Historic remains Early settlement site
50 Warren Meadows 1860s Gold mining Seasonal ghost area Backcountry ruins

Comparison Table of Idaho Ghost Towns

Ghost Town Peak Era Main Industry Current Status Notable Feature
Bayhorse 1880s Silver mining State historic site Mining ruins preserved
Silver City 1860s–1880s Silver/gold mining Historic district Standing buildings
Ruby City 1860s Gold mining Ruins Cemetery remains
Burke 1880s–1900s Mining Semi-abandoned Canyon railroad town
Custer 1870s Gold mining Preserved ghost town Old cabins intact
Placerville 1860s Gold mining Small community Historic structures
De Lamar 1890s Silver mining Ruins Desert remains
Leesburg 1860s Gold mining Scattered ruins Remote location
Florence 1860s Placer gold mining Remote ghost town High-altitude site
Rocky Bar 1860s–1900s Gold mining Partial remains Long-lived settlement

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Conclusion

Idaho’s ghost towns are powerful reminders of the state’s mining-driven past. Each location tells a story of ambition, boomtown prosperity, and eventual decline when resources were exhausted or economic conditions changed.

From the preserved streets of Silver City to the remote ruins of Florence and De Lamar, these towns offer history, mystery, and adventure for explorers, photographers, and history lovers alike.