Top ghost towns
Ghost TownThistle
Ghost TownBingham Canyon
Ghost TownIosepa
Ghost TownMercur
Ghost TownCisco
Ghost TownFruita
Ghost TownSego
Ghost TownVictor
Ghost TownHiawatha
Ghost TownFrisco
Ghost TownLund
Ghost TownGrafton
Ghost Towns by county
- Beaver County3
- Box Elder County3
- Carbon County6
- Juab County3
- San Juan County3
- Tooele County4
- Utah County5
- Washington County4
All ghost towns (46)
| Name | County | Elevation | Nearest town | Sky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thistle | Utah County | — | Woodland Hills | 4 |
| Bingham Canyon | Salt Lake County | — | Herriman | 5 |
| Iosepa | Tooele County | 1,341 m | Grantsville | 3 |
| Mercur | Tooele County | 2,030 m | Eagle Mountain | 4 |
| Cisco | Grand County | — | Moab | 1 |
| FruitaCapitol Reef | Wayne County | — | Richfield | 1 |
| Sego | Grand County | — | Moab | 1 |
| Victor | Emery County | — | Wellington | 2 |
| Hiawatha | Carbon County | — | Huntington | 2 |
| Frisco | Beaver County | — | Milford | 1 |
| Lund | Iron County | — | Enoch | 1 |
| GraftonZion | Washington County | — | LaVerkin | 3 |
| Woodside | Emery County | — | East Carbon City | 1 |
| Silver Reef | Washington County | — | Toquerville | 4 |
| Old Iron Town | Iron County | — | Enterprise | 2 |
| Clarion | Sanpete County | — | Centerfield | 3 |
| Colton | Utah County | — | Helper | 2 |
| Silver City | Juab County | — | Mona | 3 |
| Spring Canyon | Carbon County | — | Helper | 2 |
| Standardville | Carbon County | — | Helper | 2 |
| Fry Canyon | San Juan County | — | Blanding | 1 |
| Newhouse | Beaver County | — | Milford | 1 |
| Wahsatch | Summit County | — | Evanston | 3 |
| Widtsoe | Garfield County | — | Panguitch | 1 |
| Soldier Summit | Wasatch County | — | Helper | 3 |
| Salduro | Tooele County | — | Wendover | 2 |
| Giles | Wayne County | — | Moab | 1 |
| Gold Hill | Tooele County | — | Grantsville | 2 |
| Washakie | Box Elder County | — | Garland | 3 |
| Harper | Carbon County | — | East Carbon City | 2 |
| Harrisburg | Washington County | — | Hurricane | 4 |
| Sulphurdale | Beaver County | — | Beaver | 1 |
| Duncan's RetreatZion | Washington County | — | LaVerkin | 3 |
| Dividend | Utah County | — | Genola | 3 |
| Matlin | Box Elder County | — | Tremonton | 2 |
| Forest City | Utah County | — | Midway | 5 |
| Greendale | Daggett County | — | Maeser | 2 |
| Home of Truth | San Juan County | — | Monticello | 1 |
| Kelton | Box Elder County | — | Tremonton | 2 |
| Knightsville | Juab County | — | Genola | 3 |
| Mammoth | Juab County | — | Genola | 3 |
| Mill Fork | Utah County | — | Mapleton | 3 |
| Paria | Kane County | — | Kanab | 1 |
| Peerless | Carbon County | — | Helper | 3 |
| Hite | San Juan County | — | Moab | 1 |
| Winter Quarters | Carbon County | 2,464 m | Fairview | 2 |
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.