South Pass City: Wyoming's Preserved Gold-Rush Ghost Town

South Pass City grew out of Wyoming's late-1800s gold rush, and today the state has preserved it as a true walk-back-in-time townsite rather than a recreation. Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites & Trails manages the property, keeping the family cabins, the hotel and restaurant, the jail, and other original buildings standing along the old main street.

A visit centers on the museum and the restored structures, with seasonal touches like gold panning in Willow Creek and tours of the Carissa Mine and the English Tunnel. Three interpretive hiking trails leave from the townsite, and the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail passes through, so the stop rewards both history travelers and hikers.

For RV travelers, South Pass City pairs naturally with a Wind River Country loop. The site sits 37 miles southwest of Lander on Highway 28, an open high-country drive that suits a rented motorhome and connects to the broader South Pass mining area nearby.