Capitol City

Capitol City is a ghost town in Hinsdale County, Colorado, with roots stretching back to 1877, when it was originally platted under the name Galena City. The settlement grew out of the mining activity that once drew prospectors and settlers to the area.

Today the townsite sits along the Alpine Loop National Scenic Back Country Byway, making it accessible to visitors exploring that route. Expect remnants of a vanished community rather than a living town — the draw is the history embedded in the landscape and the scenic byway experience itself.

Access via a back country byway means road conditions and seasonal closures are real considerations. High-elevation Colorado terrain typically limits reliable access to summer and early fall, and winter travel on this route is not advisable.