Entry No. 87 — the Durango file — filed under: ghost-town
Ironton Townsite
Founded in 1883, Ironton was a bustling transportation hub and supply town in the Red Mountain Mining District that once boasted over 1,000 residents. The town slowly declined after the silver crash and was completely abandoned by the mid-1960s when its last resident passed away. Today, about a dozen wooden structures remain standing among the aspen trees, including a prominent Victorian-style home and a cabin with a covered walkway to its outhouse.
The story
In 1883, when silver ore was pouring out of the Red Mountain Mining District, Ironton wasn't just another temporary camp—it was the supply hub. Over 1,000 miners, teamsters, and merchants squeezed into this glade along the San Juan transit corridor to service the surrounding mines. When silver markets collapsed in the late 19th century, stripping the economic floor out from under the valley, neighboring camps vanished overnight. Ironton took a much slower route out.
The town didn't burn down or slide off a cliff; it emptied out person by person over seven decades. Residents boarded up windows, abandoned homes, and moved down the valley, leaving a handful of stubborn holdouts behind. By the mid-1960s, the final solitary resident passed away, officially closing the book on a place that had spent seventy years quietly decaying into the soil.
Today, about a dozen grey timber structures remain standing among the aspens. The most famous survivor is the two-story Victorian-style 'White House,' but pay attention to the small details—like the cabin featuring a wooden, covered bridge connecting the back door directly to the outhouse. In an area that gets hammered by San Juan winters, that wasn't a luxury; it was the only way to avoid digging through six feet of snow at two in the morning.
What it's like
Pull off US 550 (the Million Dollar Highway) into the designated Forest Service parking area between Silverton and Ouray. Unlike most San Juan ghost towns that require a high-clearance 4x4 and nerves of steel, reaching Ironton takes an easy, flat 0.5-mile walk along a well-maintained trail. You'll enter a quiet grove of aspens where the grey timber ruins sit on public land jointly managed by Ouray County and the U.S. Forest Service. It's accessible to standard passenger cars, silent, and easily explored on foot in under an hour.
The move: Park at the trailhead off the Million Dollar Highway and take a scenic, easy half-mile walk together to photograph the historic wooden cabins and the iconic Victorian 'White House' nestled in the forest.
📍 Before you go The townsite is situated on public land managed by the U.S. Forest Service and Ouray County, with a well-maintained trail and parking area open to visitors.
- 📍 Ridgway
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Ridgway, CO 81432, USA
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.
Pair it with
- Yankee Girl Mine Headframe — Located just 1.6 miles away, this iconic headframe marks the source of the rich silver veins that built Ironton's boom-era supply economy.
- National Belle Mine — Perched 2.4 miles up the road on 'the Knob,' this ruined mine offers a stark high-altitude contrast to Ironton's low-glade timber remains.
- Animas Forks Mine and Ghost Town — Compare Ironton's gentle aspen-grove decay with Animas Forks, a much higher alpine ghost town sitting above timberline at 11,200 feet.
Good to know
How do you get to Ironton Townsite?
Drive US 550 (the Million Dollar Highway) between Silverton and Ouray. Park at the signed trailhead off the highway and follow the flat 0.5-mile trail into the townsite.
Do I need a 4WD or high-clearance vehicle?
No. The parking area sits directly off the paved highway, making it accessible to standard sedans.
Is Ironton open to the public and is there an entrance fee?
It sits on public land managed by the U.S. Forest Service and Ouray County, so access is free and open to visitors year-round (subject to highway winter closures).
What specific ruins remain at the site?
Roughly 12 wooden structures survive, including a prominent Victorian home known as the White House and a miner's cabin with a covered walkway attached to its outhouse.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: historynet.com · gjhikes.com · myhikes.org
last checked: 2026-07-20