Entry No. 96 — the Colorado Springs file — filed under: mine
Johnny Mine
Located in the rugged Rock Creek Canyon south of Colorado Springs, the Johnny Mine is a historic, defunct mining and quarry site. It is documented on USGS topographic maps near Keeton Reservoir and the Cheyenne Mountain Complex. Today, the site is completely inactive, with its old workings reclaimed by the surrounding wilderness on private land.
The story
If you trace the USGS topographic quad map south of Colorado Springs near Keeton Reservoir and the Cheyenne Mountain Complex, you'll find a ghost printed on the grid: the Johnny Mine. Tucked into the rugged folds of Rock Creek Canyon, this historic, defunct mining and quarry site exists today almost entirely as a cartographic footprint rather than an accessible roadside stop.
Unlike public ghost towns or open national forest ruins, Johnny Mine is hidden on private property within a residential stretch of Rock Creek Canyon. Over the decades, nature has steadily reclaimed what industrial activity left behind, quietly swallowing old quarry cuts and mine workings into pine-covered hillsides. There are no trailheads, visitor centers, or historical markers waiting at the end of a dirt road.
That phantom status is precisely what makes places like this intriguing. It is a real piece of regional history recorded in geological databases, yet strictly sealed off behind property boundaries and active trespassing laws. You didn't hear it from us, but if you want to absorb the canyon landscape where it sits without receiving a citation, stick to the public views along Highway 115 or the nearby trails of Cheyenne Mountain State Park.
What it's like
Don't expect to hike up to physical timber shafts or quarry tailings here. The site is situated on private residential land and is strictly off-limits to visitors due to safety hazards and private property laws. To take in the surrounding landscape legally, take a scenic drive down Highway 115 or hit the public trail network at Cheyenne Mountain State Park to scan the contours of Rock Creek Canyon from a safe distance.
The move: Since the mine is located on private property and actively off-limits, couples can instead enjoy a scenic drive along Highway 115 or hike the nearby public trails of Cheyenne Mountain State Park to take in the dramatic mountain landscapes.
📍 Before you go The abandoned mine is located on private property within the residential Rock Creek Canyon area and is strictly off-limits to the public due to trespassing laws and safety hazards.
- 📍 Rock Creek
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Johnny Mine, Rock Creek, CO 80926, USA
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.
Pair it with
- May Natural History Museum & Herkimer the Giant Beetle — Located just down the canyon from Johnny Mine's private boundaries, this roadside museum lets you trade off-limits ruins for a 16-foot giant beetle and thousands of preserved insects.
- Eureka Tunnel Mine — Pair a distant view of Rock Creek's private land with an accessible trek into Pike National Forest to spot another historic, defunct mine shaft.
- Starr Kempf's Kinetic Sculptures — Swap the hidden quarry history of Rock Creek Canyon for massive 30-to-50-foot steel wind sculptures standing in a quiet neighborhood yard.
- The Rabbit Hole — After scouting the mountain backdrop near Cheyenne Mountain, head underground into a gothic speakeasy housed inside Colorado Springs' former city morgue.
Good to know
Can I visit or tour the Johnny Mine?
No. The site is located on private property in Rock Creek Canyon and is strictly off-limits to the public due to trespassing laws and safety hazards.
Where exactly is the mine documented?
It is recorded on USGS topographic maps in Rock Creek Canyon, located near Keeton Reservoir and south of the Cheyenne Mountain Complex.
How can I safely view the canyon landscape near the site?
You can drive along Highway 115 or hike the designated public trails at nearby Cheyenne Mountain State Park to take in the mountain scenery.
What was the Johnny Mine originally?
Geological indices and historical topographic maps document it as an inactive, defunct mining and quarry site that has since been reclaimed by wilderness.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: topoquest.com · mineralienatlas.de · mapcarta.com · expertgps.com
last checked: 2026-07-20