Top 3 Ghost Towns to Visit in California This Fall
Hi friends! If you love road trips, history, and a touch of spooky adventure, California’s ghost towns are calling your name this fall. From the Mojave Desert to the high Sierra, these long-abandoned settlements whisper stories of gold, silver, and the boom-and-bust dreams that built the West. Each one offers something unique with their eerie beauty, rugged charm, and just enough ghostly legend to make your October road trip unforgettable.
So grab your camera, lace up your boots, and get ready to explore three of California’s best-preserved ghost towns: Calico, Silver City, and Bodie. Whether you’re traveling between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, road-tripping through the Southern Sierra, or exploring the eastern edge of Yosemite, these destinations perfectly blend Old West history with spooky fall vibes.
Calico Ghost Town in the Mojave Desert
1. Calico Ghost Town
A Desert Stop Between LA and Vegas
Tucked into the Mojave Desert just 10 miles northeast of Barstow, Calico Ghost Town is one of the most convenient and colorful ghost towns to visit in California. Located right off Interstate 15, it’s the perfect halfway stop between Los Angeles and Las Vegas — an easy detour that feels like a journey back in time. The drive alone sets the mood: rugged desert hills, wide-open skies, and the feeling that you’ve crossed into another century.
Exploring the Calico Ghost Town
Historic structure at Calico Ghost Town
A Rich Silver Rush History
Founded in 1881, Calico was once a bustling silver-mining boomtown of over 3,500 people. In its heyday, more than 500 mines produced nearly $86 million in silver and $45 million in borax — a staggering fortune for the time. But when silver prices plummeted in the 1890s, Calico was abandoned almost overnight, leaving behind dusty streets and forgotten dreams.
In the 1950s, Walter Knott — yes, the same Knott behind Knott’s Berry Farm — purchased and restored Calico, carefully preserving its Old West character. Today, it’s officially recognized as California’s Silver Rush Ghost Town, while Bodie holds the title of California’s Gold Rush Ghost Town.
Maggie Mine Tour at Calico Ghost Town
Calico Ghost Town Main Street
Exploring Calico Today
Visiting Calico today feels like stepping into a living museum. Wooden storefronts line the dusty main street, saloons swing open with a creak, and the old schoolhouse still stands proudly against the desert sun. A few of the don’t-miss stops are:
• Maggie Mine Tour: A self-guided journey through one of Calico’s original silver mines.
• Calico & Odessa Railroad: A short but scenic train ride through the surrounding hills.
• Calico Mystery Shack: A quirky, mind-bending experience where gravity doesn’t seem to work quite right.
• Old West Shops: From handmade leather goods to vintage curios, these little stores are a fun way to bring home a piece of Calico.
• Lil’s Saloon & Calico House Restaurant: Grab a burger and an ice-cold sarsaparilla before continuing your adventure.
Halloween at Calico Ghost Town
Halloween in Calico
October is a great time to visit. During its annual Calico Ghost Haunt celebration, the town transforms into a Wild West Halloween wonderland, complete with haunted attractions, ghostly decorations, trick-or-treating, and live shows. Kids love the costumed characters, while adults can appreciate the perfectly eerie setting of an abandoned mining town under the desert moonlight.
Exploring Calico Ghost Town in California’s Mojave Desert
Zzyzx in Mojave National Monument near Calico Ghost Town
Know Before You Go
• Admission: There’s an entry fee to access the ghost town, which is managed by San Bernardino County Regional Parks. Some of the special activities, like gold panning, the mine tour, the mystery shack, and the train ride, require additional fees. Visit the official Calico Attractions website for more info.
• Hours: Calico is open year-round, but operating hours may vary by season or during special events like Halloween. Check the official website before your visit to confirm times.
• Accessibility: While the main street down Calico is accessible, many of the older structures and attractions, like the mine tour, may not be suitable for those with mobility issues. The park is undergoing renovations to improve accessibility, so be sure to check with park staff for updates and specific accessibility information.
• Caution: Be extra cautious when exploring the areas around the Maggie Mine and Glory Hole. The landscape is rocky and rugged, so plan footwear accordingly. And never venture beyond any posted signs warning of unstable terrain. There is a large network of old mine tunnels throughout this region, and exploring beyond the park perimeter can be extremely dangerous.
• More Information: Check out my full Calico Ghost Town post.
• Add-On Nearby Adventure: Just a short drive down the road in Mojave National Monument, LA to Vegas road trippers can explore another spot with a bizarre past. In the mid 1900s, a charismatic radio evangelist and self-styled "doctor” filed a mining claim here and established a health resort on the land. Zzyzx Mineral Springs and Health Resort featured a castle, dining hall, pool house, and even a goat farm. Visitors flocked to the spa to enjoy its treatments, including dubious "medicinal" concoctions that could treat anything from baldness to cancer. For more information, check out my full Zzyzx post.
Silver City Ghost Town in Bodfish, CA
2. Silver City Ghost Town
Kern Valley’s Hidden Haunt
Nestled in the small town of Bodfish, California, near Lake Isabella and the Kern River, Silver City Ghost Town is a fascinating roadside stop for anyone exploring the Southern Sierra Nevada. Just 45 minutes from Bakersfield and about two hours from Los Angeles, it’s an easy and family-friendly day trip that feels worlds away from city life.
Exploring Silver City Ghost Town
Old mining town structures at Silver City Ghost Town
A Patchwork of Gold Rush History
Unlike Calico or Bodie, Silver City wasn’t one single mining town — it’s a composite ghost town built from authentic 19th-century structures relocated from around the Kern Valley. In the late 1960s, Dave and Arvilla Mills began rescuing historic buildings from nearby abandoned camps like Keyesville, Whiskey Flat, and Claraville, preserving them from decay.
Decades later, the Corlew family lovingly restored these structures, using a preservation technique called “arrested decay” — meaning everything is kept as-is, aged and authentic, without over-restoration. The result is an atmospheric open-air museum where history quite literally surrounds you.
Old Jailhouse at Silver City Ghost Town
Exploring Silver City
Step through the gates and you’ll find over 20 historic structures filled with artifacts from the Gold Rush era. Highlights include:
• The Old Jailhouse: Once home to notorious outlaw Newt Walker — and yes, you can step inside the cell and shut the door behind you if you dare.
• The Weathered Church: Complete with a coffin, piano, and Bible — equal parts haunting and fascinating.
• The Apalatea/Burlando House: The oldest surviving building in Kern Valley, originally serving as a saloon and country store.
• The General Store: Creaky floors, vintage goods, and an old violin swaying gently in the breeze outside.
Throughout the property, you’ll find thousands of authentic relics — bottles, mining tools, clothing, and photos — that bring the region’s wild frontier history vividly to life.
Silver City Ghost Town church
Know Before You Go
• Hours: Open daily from 10 AM to 4 PM (5 PM on weekends), Silver City Ghost Town is available to visitors year-round, though hours shift seasonally.
• Admission: Tickets are $7 for adults and $4.50 for children ages 6-12, with all proceeds dedicated to ongoing restoration efforts.
• Getting There: Due to unreliable GPS directions, travelers are advised to use a map or follow the town's coordinates (35.596986, -118.491306).
• More Information: Check out my full Silver City Ghost Town post.
Bodie State Historic Park in California’s Eastern Sierra
3. Bodie State Historic Park
California’s Most Famous Ghost Town
High in the Eastern Sierra, just 13 miles off Highway 395 north of Mono Lake and northeast of Yosemite’s Tioga Pass, lies Bodie State Historic Park, the crown jewel of California ghost towns. Sitting at nearly 8,400 feet elevation, Bodie can be tough to reach (depending on the season), with the final three miles on unpaved road, but it’s worth every bump.
Mining structures at Bodie State Historic Park
Inside the Miller House at Bodie Ghost Town
Gold, Fire & Gone
Founded in 1876 after a rich gold strike, Bodie quickly exploded into a booming frontier town with nearly 10,000 residents, 30 mines, and 60 saloons. But as fast as it rose, it fell — gold veins ran dry, fires swept through, and by the 1940s, Bodie stood eerily empty. Unlike many ghost towns, Bodie has been frozen in time through “arrested decay.” The California State Parks system preserves it exactly as it was left with peeling wallpaper, dusty furniture, and rusted machinery still in place.
Bodie State Historic Park in CA’s Eastern Sierra
Methodist Church at Bodie State Historic Park
Exploring Bodie
Less than 10% of Bodie’s original 2,000 buildings still stand today, however this is an incredible ghost town featuring nearly 200 structures. Before you start thinking of scary stories, a true ghost town is simply an old west town that’s been completely abandoned where no one lives anymore...and Bodie is a remarkable example of this, holding the title of California’s Gold Rush Ghost Town. Notable stops include:
• Methodist Church: Built in 1882, it’s Bodie’s only church that survived the fires and still remains standing today.
• Miners Union Hall: Now a small museum filled with artifacts and photos from Bodie’s heyday.
• Miller House: One of the few buildings visitors can enter, you can see preserved furniture, old pictures, and walls layered with 19th-century wallpaper.
• Schoolhouse: Desks, papers, and globes still sit where students left them over 80 years ago.
• Bodie Bank: The brick vault survived even the 1932 fire that destroyed much of the town.
• Standard Mill Site: Guided summer tours offer a rare glimpse inside the mine that produced over $18 million in gold.
Exploring the ruins of Bodie Ghost Town
Know Before You Go
• Hours: Park admittance is only available during park hours, which are 9am-6pm in Summer (May 15th to Oct 31st), and 9am-3pm in the Winter (Nov 1st to May 14th). However Summer evening hours are available on select dates (see the park website for exact details).
• Admission: The park entrance fee is $8 for adults and $5 for children ages 4 to 17.
• Accessibility: While the Museum and Visitor Center is considered wheelchair accessible, the rustic nature of the town site can create challenges. Visitors with disabilities may call (760) 616-5040 when the Museum is open to make special arrangements to drive directly to the red barn where a balloon tiered wheelchair is available for a loan.
• Preservation: Bodie must continually compete with other state parks for limited funding and resources. The Bodie Foundation is dedicated to the preservation of California’s official Gold Rush ghost town…for more information visit www.bodiefoundation.org.
• Road Access: Bodie State Historic Park is most easily accessed during the Summer. At other times the weather is unpredictable, and off-season visitors are encouraged to contact the park for road and weather conditions before taking the trip.
• More Information: Check out my full Bodie State Historic Park post.
J.S. Cain House at Bodie State Historic Park
Downloadable Itineraries & Travel Guides
Planning a trip to California and the west coast? I’ve got in-depth travel guides and itineraries for several national parks and beautiful destinations. Check out a few of them below, or click here to see them all!
Exploring Silver City Ghost Town near Lake Isabella
In Summary
Thanks so much for joining me this week. For a virtual visit of my top 3 ghost towns in California, make sure to watch my Behind the Blog video located at the top of this post, or watch it on YouTube here. Until next week, I hope you find adventure and encouragement wherever you go.
Mystery Shack at Calico Ghost Town
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About Me
I’m Dawn Marie, a travel and lifestyle blogger based out of Southern California. With in-depth articles, travel guides, and reviews on hotels & products, I seek to share my journeys to help you plan for your own. My adventures take me all over California, the western United States, and around the globe...and every Monday I post new content here, including a comprehensive blog post and YouTube video.
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