Explore What’s Left of the Abandoned Town of Apex, Colorado

As time goes by, many of Colorado's historic mining towns are now just a marvel of the past. Mountain communities once bustling with prospectors and their families sit quietly undisturbed, tucked away from the rest of modern civilization.

The abandoned town of Apex is one of those places.

Apex was established in 1891, a full 30 years after nearby towns like Nevadavilleand Central City had already been settled. Sitting at 9,842 feet, the remote destination in Gilpin County became a prosperous spot for gold ore. Therefore, eager prospectors flocked to Colorado's high country to set up camp.

Apex became so popular, that it was considered the capital of the Pine Creek Mining District in the 1800s.

In 1900, the mining community reached its peak population of approximately 1,000 residents. During this time, there were over 80 commercial buildings, including two hotels, a general store, a few saloons, and a lively dance hall. Stagecoaches often passed through town to visit the businesses along Main Street.

The town began producing its own newspaper called the Apex Pine Cone in 1897 and an official post office operated intermittently from 1894 to 1932.

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Once the mines dried up, most of Apex's residents moved on from the area. Following that, two separate wildfires destroyed much of the original business district.

Nowadays, Apex is basically a ghost town.

A handful of buildings remain scattered around the valley, including a few summer cabins. The scenic Pine Creek continues to flow behind the former townsite. You can still see the schoolhouse across from the worn-down, false-fronted hotel. A brass medallion hanging on the front of the hotel notes the structure as being the first site in the Gilpin County Historical Register. The wooden posts were added on the sides to keep the building from falling.

There's reportedly one year-round resident still living in the town, an elderly gentleman who calls himself the “Mayor” of Apex.

The easiest way to get to the remains of Apex is from Black Hawk. Take CO 119 toward Nederland and look for Apex Valley Road off Colorado 119. This graded dirt road will lead you to the townsite.

From there, the road forks. Towards the left is Elk Park Road, which passes by several of the cabins and the "Mayor's" house. If you continue on this road, the route gets steep and rocky, requiring a 4x4 vehicle. The rugged terrain leads to multiple former mining camps up on Pile Hill: Nugget, American City, and Kingston, then descends into Mammoth Gulch.

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Taking the right fork in the road leads to what was once Main Street in Apex. This is where the hotel and schoolhouse can be found. The best time to explore this historic destination is during the spring and summer, once the snow has melted away.

Get a deeper tour of the town in this interesting video: