It's one thing to read about Idaho’s short-lived mining history, but quite another to actually walk through an old Idaho ghost town and experience it firsthand. The buildings resonate from another time; the streets are narrow, dusty, and rugged. The homes are practical more than they are comfortable and are smaller than many walk-in showers nowadays. Not to mention the barren, perilous, rocky canyons that housed many of these townsites made for challenging logistics for even the most successful of mining operations. Altogether, there's no doubt that Idaho's ghost towns were only for the most tenacious of individuals. Nestled in east-Central Idaho's Land of the Yankee Fork State Park are three townsites that, in many ways, look just as they did well over a century ago. But Bayhorse ghost town, nestled in the heart of the park, although definitely recognizable, doesn't seem to get the same attention as its counterparts, Custer and Bonanza. Nevertheless, the buildings that remain standing almost seem as though its residents were plucked out of thin air and their homes left to tell the story.

The ghost town of Bayhorse, Idaho, was once a lively community with a population of 300 to 500 in the 1860s.

While the original prospector's name is long forgotten, his two bay horses were not, giving the town its name.

The original mill is still standing on a hillside overlooking the town.

The buildings perched on the hill originally provided the means of grinding and processing the silver ore, but the historic town is a main attraction. It offers a weathered "downtown," with homes and a hotel in various states of decay.

While the 1880s and 1890s saw the town rise and fall, eventually, Bayhorse died a slow death as the challenges of hauling wagons full of ore in and out of the rugged canyon made the economic realities of falling silver prices a reality. The small town, built beneath its towering mill, was gated and locked until becoming a state park in 2006.

Uniquely, the camping area for the park is right in the heart of the official townsite.

And while you stay, there are plenty of places to explore!

If you visit during the right season, you might just catch the annual "Ride the Bayhorse" ATV event, which brings dozens of motorists onto the OHV trails.

The Lombard Trail starts at the main park and runs to Bayhorse.

From Bayhorse, there are a variety of trails that take you to some old mines and into the mountains where the views are endless.

Or, just take a walking tour of this eerie ghost town in Idaho at your own pace. Guides will be there to answer your questions!

While Bayhorse is as isolated as it sounds due to its canyon setting, it's an easy day's drive from Salmon and set in one of the most overlooked regions in Idaho. That means no crowds, and plenty of opportunities to take your time exploring Bayhorse and the other nearby townsites.

Want to see this treasured Idaho ghost town from a new perspective? Check out this drone video by YouTube user Mali Mish!

Camping out in Bayhorse ghost town is such a unique opportunity - how's that for your next Idaho adventure?! How many ghost towns in Idaho have you visited? For more information about exploring and staying at the Land of the Yankee Fork State Park, check out the its official website.

While you're visiting the park, be sure to check out this behemoth piece of mining history, the old Yankee Fork gold dredge. Those who are passionate about places like Bayhorse should take a look at our list of abandoned places in Idaho. These spots are so hauntingly beautiful.

Save