Top ghost towns
Ghost TownChisana
Ghost TownDyea
Ghost TownLoring
Ghost TownKatalla
Ghost TownKijik
Ghost TownIditarod
Ghost TownAfognak
Ghost TownUnga
Ghost TownBiorka
Ghost TownKashega
Ghost TownMakushin
Ghost TownPilgrim Hot Springs
Ghost Towns by county
All ghost towns (15)
| Name | County | Elevation | Nearest town | Sky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chisana | Copper River Census Area | — | 1 | |
| Dyea | Skagway Municipality | 29 m | Skagway | 1 |
| Loring | Ketchikan Gateway Borough | — | Ketchikan | 1 |
| Katalla | Chugach Census Area | 1 m | 1 | |
| Kijik | Lake and Peninsula Borough | 79 m | Kalifornsky | 1 |
| Iditarod | Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area | — | 1 | |
| Afognak | Kodiak Island Borough | — | Kodiak Station | 1 |
| Unga | Aleutians East Borough | 18 m | Sand Point | 1 |
| Biorka | Aleutians West Census Area | — | Unalaska | 1 |
| Kashega | Aleutians West Census Area | — | 1 | |
| Makushin | Aleutians West Census Area | — | Unalaska | 1 |
| Pilgrim Hot Springs | Nome Census Area | — | 1 | |
| Council | Nome Census Area | — | 1 | |
| Dickson | Nome Census Area | 3 m | Nome | 1 |
| Sulzer | Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area | 35 m | Craig | 1 |
Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).
Map
How to photograph ghost towns
Weathered wood and rusted metal show texture best in low-angle light; overcast skies suit interiors and moody black-and-white work.
- Respect private property and closures: many ghost towns are on private land or protected historic sites — never enter unstable buildings.
- For interiors with windows, blend two exposures (one for inside, one for the view) instead of relying on HDR alone.
- Old buildings under the Milky Way make strong night images in dark rural skies.
- Look for details: door hinges, faded signs, square nails and window frames tell the story.
- Leave everything as you found it; removing artifacts from public land is illegal.
Season: High-elevation mining towns are reachable mostly from June to October; desert ghost towns are best in spring and autumn.