Bayhorse Ghost Town

Check out the remains of an abandoned silver mining town.

Bayhorse ghost town is located near Challis, Idaho. This mining town was established in 1877 but has been a ghost town since 1897. It was a major site for mining lead, silver, and charcoal and is part of the Land of Yankee Fork State Park.

An estimated 300 people first settled the Bayhorse mining settlement. It was a booming town with so much potential. Many homesteads were built, and the town prospered for many years. A fire wrecked the town in 1889 and destroyed many buildings, causing the town to try and rebuild. Later that same year, there was a water shortage, which caused the town to shut down completely. There were attempts to rebuild again, but by 1989, the town was declared permanently closed and dismantled.

Today there are still buildings that visitors can see. There is a 0.9-mile loop to hike and explore what it was like in those days. You also get to see the Stanley/Challis area's beautiful mountain range that helps make the trip worthwhile.