Top ghost towns
Ghost TownOatman
Ghost TownWhite Hills
Ghost TownHackberry
Ghost TownCharleston
Ghost TownFairbank
Ghost TownTip Top
Ghost TownCochise
Ghost TownSwansea
Ghost TownBrigham City
Ghost TownLa Paz
Ghost TownCherry
Ghost TownLee's Ferry
Ghost Towns by county
- Cochise County6
- La Paz County3
- Maricopa County3
- Mohave County4
- Navajo County4
- Pima County4
- Pinal County7
- Santa Cruz County9
- Yavapai County8
All ghost towns (53)
| Name | County | Elevation | Nearest town | Sky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oatman | Mohave County | — | Mohave Valley | 3 |
| White Hills | Mohave County | — | Dolan Springs | 3 |
| Hackberry | Mohave County | — | Valle Vista | 2 |
| Charleston | Cochise County | 1,216 m | Tombstone | 3 |
| Fairbank | Cochise County | 1,176 m | Tombstone | 3 |
| Tip Top | Yavapai County | 765 m | Black Canyon City | 4 |
| Cochise | Cochise County | — | Willcox | 2 |
| Swansea | La Paz County | — | Cienega Springs | 2 |
| Brigham City | Navajo County | 1,492 m | Winslow | 5 |
| La Paz | La Paz County | 178 m | Ehrenberg | 3 |
| Cherry | Yavapai County | — | Verde Village | 4 |
| Lee's FerryGrand Canyon | Coconino County | — | Page | 2 |
| Gleeson | Cochise County | — | Tombstone | 2 |
| Bumble Bee | Yavapai County | — | Cordes Lakes | 4 |
| Weaver | Yavapai County | — | Congress | 3 |
| Santa Claus | Mohave County | — | Golden Valley | 3 |
| Paradise | Cochise County | — | Douglas | 1 |
| Ray | Pinal County | — | Superior | 3 |
| Total Wreck | Pima County | — | Mescal | 3 |
| Alexandra | Yavapai County | — | Mayer | 3 |
| Hyder | Yuma County | — | Gila Bend | 3 |
| Vulture Mine | Maricopa County | — | Wickenburg | 4 |
| Helvetia | Pima County | — | Corona de Tucson | 4 |
| American Flag | Pinal County | — | Oracle | 4 |
| Contention City | Cochise County | — | Tombstone | 3 |
| Sasco | Pinal County | — | Avra Valley | 4 |
| Lochiel | Santa Cruz County | — | Nogales | 2 |
| Pantano | Pima County | — | Mescal | 4 |
| Twin Arrows | Coconino County | — | Flagstaff | 2 |
| Gillett | Yavapai County | — | Black Canyon City | 4 |
| Harshaw | Santa Cruz County | — | Rio Rico | 3 |
| Kentucky Camp | Pima County | — | Corona de Tucson | 3 |
| Klondyke | Graham County | — | Mammoth | 3 |
| Pinal City | Pinal County | — | Superior | 4 |
| Reymert | Pinal County | — | Gold Camp | 4 |
| Ruby | Santa Cruz County | — | Tubac | 3 |
| Canelo | Santa Cruz County | — | Huachuca City | 3 |
| Cochran | Pinal County | — | Superior | 4 |
| Big Bug | Yavapai County | — | Cordes Lakes | 4 |
| Agua Caliente | Maricopa County | — | Gila Bend | 3 |
| Bradshaw City | Yavapai County | — | Black Canyon City | 4 |
| Copper Creek | Pinal County | — | Mammoth | 3 |
| Wilford | Navajo County | — | Heber-Overgaard | 3 |
| Alto | Santa Cruz County | — | Tubac | 3 |
| Duquesne | Santa Cruz County | — | Nogales | 3 |
| Salero | Santa Cruz County | — | Rio Rico | 3 |
| Washington Camp | Santa Cruz County | — | Nogales | 3 |
| Calabasas | Santa Cruz County | — | Rio Rico | 6 |
| Castle Dome Landing | Yuma County | — | Yuma | 3 |
| Wranglers Roost | Maricopa County | — | New River | 6 |
| Obed | Navajo County | — | Joseph City | 2 |
| Alamo Crossing | La Paz County | 377 m | Bagdad | 2 |
| Sunset | Navajo County | 1,492 m | Winslow | 4 |
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.