Beyond scenic vistas and wooded forests, some of America's most fascinating hiking trails lead to the crumbling remains of ghost towns, derelict mines, and deserted homesteads. Exploring these remnants of history makes for an epic adventure.
Lace-up your boots and grab your camera to check out these top hiking trails culminating in abandoned ruins and artifacts:
Bodie Ghost Town, CA
For a true ghost town experience, hike the 13 miles along the Masonic Mountain Trail to Bodie State Historic Park in California’s Sierra Nevada range. Arriving at the preserved ruins of this 1870s gold rush boom town is like stepping back into the Wild West era. Peek inside decaying wooden buildings and imagine the bustling mountain town in its heyday.
Sutro Baths, San Francisco, CA
Hike 2.5 miles along the Lands End Trail from the Sutro Heights parking lot to arrive at the iconic ruins of the Sutro Baths. Opened in 1896 as a lavish swimming complex, six seawater pools once accommodated thousands of visitors. Today, the concrete ruins offer an intriguing coastal scene to explore.
Bannerman Castle, NY
Bannerman Castle is one of the Hudson Valley’s most striking abandoned sights, reachable via a half-mile hiking trail. Built in 1901 as a warehouse for the Bannerman military surplus business, the imposing castle later caught fire and was abandoned. While part of the building remains intact, exploring the ruins is an eerie adventure.
Kolmanskop, Namibia
Travel halfway across the world to Kolmanskop, an abandoned diamond mining town slowly being reclaimed by the Namib Desert. Popular tour operator guided hikes explore the ghost town where desert sands have invaded the buildings. Photograph the deserted homes and schoolhouses in haunting decay.
Kennecott Mine, Alaska
Access the abandoned mining camp of Kennecott, Alaska, by hiking or taking the shuttle along the 5-6 mile Kennicott River Trail from McCarthy. At the end lies the massive remains of the early 20th-century copper mine and company town. Marvel at the intact 14-story Concentration Mill.
Pripyat, Ukraine
Perhaps the most famous (and chilling) abandoned area is Pripyat near Chernobyl. Various tour companies lead guided hiking tours through the overgrown city frozen in time after the nuclear disaster. Wander silent streets scattered with gas masks, children’s toys, and Soviet architecture.
Titan Missile Museum, Arizona
Hike through the Sonoran Desert to reach this decommissioned Titan II missile silo left as a “cold war” relic. The 1.5-hour guided tour takes you deep below ground to see the abandoned control room and nuke chambers. A haunting vestige of the nuclear era.
Machu Picchu, Peru
While far from abandoned, the majesty of Machu Picchu feels amplified after hiking the challenging Inca Trail for days to reveal the mountaintop citadel. Traversing peaks and cloud forests builds anticipation before the Sun Gate unveils the iconic ruins and your journey’s end.
Whether longing to watch the past fade into nature or conjure histories of how people once lived, hiking to ruins allows you to rediscover forgotten places. At day’s end, you’ll treasure the rare chance to glimpse locations left behind by time.
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