California's best-preserved gold-rush ghost town sits at ~8,400 ft in the Bodie Hills east of the Sierra, maintained by State Parks in a deliberate state of arrested decay. Dozens of original buildings, stamp-mill ruins, and a cemetery remain open for self-guided walking when the seasonal road is open. The remote high-desert setting and intact street grid make it a defining Southwest mining-town stop.
Field facts
| Region | Mono County, CA |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 38.2121, -119.0121 |
| ARPA | Artifacts & structures are protected by federal law (ARPA) — take only photos, leave every relic in place. |
| Access | From US-395 ~7 mi S of Bridgeport take CA-270 east ~13 mi (last ~3 mi unpaved); day-use fee; seasonal hours |
| Elevation | ~8,375 ft |
| Era | Peak boom late 1870s–1880s; State Historic Park since 1962 |
| Facilities | Parking, restrooms, museum/bookstore when open; no services in town |
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