Ghost Towns in California

On the map

240 ghost towns

40% sit on public land · 61 with a free-licensed photo

16261521220114143
  • BLM 16
  • National Forest 26
  • National Park Service 15
  • Other federal 2
  • State 12
  • City, county 20
  • Land trust 1
  • Tribal 1
  • Military, DOE 4
  • Private or unlisted 143
Illustration of a desert landscape
Illustration of the most common landscape type among California's ghost towns.

The largest share, 143 of 240, sits on land missing from the public lands database, which usually means private property: look from the road unless the owner says otherwise. Each town page has the land manager, monthly weather and the nearest open town.

CalicoBodieCerro GordoSilver CityEagle MountainBallaratLeadfieldDrawbridgeForestRandsburgMentryvilleAlmaAmboy
  • BLM 16
  • National Forest 26
  • National Park Service 15
  • Other federal 2
  • State 12
  • City, county 20
  • Land trust 1
  • Tribal 1
  • Military, DOE 4
  • Private or unlisted 143

Each dot is a ghost town, colored by who manages the land at its location. Labels mark the most searched. Live map: © OpenFreeMap, OpenMapTiles, OpenStreetMap contributors.

Most searched in California

Ghost towns near Los Angeles · Ghost towns near Sacramento · Ghost towns near San Diego · Ghost towns near Bakersfield · Ghost towns near Fresno · Ghost towns near Barstow

All 240 by county

Alameda County 3

Alpine County 2

Butte County 7

Calaveras County 7

Contra Costa County 10

El Dorado County 2

Fresno County 1

Glenn County 1

Humboldt County 1

Imperial County 2

Inyo County 36

Kern County 24

Kings County 3

Los Angeles County 5

Madera County 1

Mariposa County 12

Merced County 1

Mono County 8

Nevada County 5

Placer County 3

Plumas County 3

Riverside County 9

Sacramento County 4

San Benito County 2

San Bernardino County 30

San Diego County 7

San Joaquin County 5

San Luis Obispo County 1

San Mateo County 1

Santa Barbara County 1

Santa Clara County 5

Santa Cruz County 5

Shasta County 4

Sierra County 2

Siskiyou County 3

Solano County 1

Sonoma County 2

Stanislaus County 2

Trinity County 6

Tulare County 3

Tuolumne County 5

Yolo County 3

Yuba County 1

County not recorded 1

Other states