Kerwin, Wyoming

Echoes of Gold in a Forgotten Mountain Town

High in the Absaroka Mountains near the headwaters of the Wood River, the remains of Kerwin, Wyoming lie hidden among dense forest, alpine meadows, and the rugged beauty of the Shoshone National Forest. Once a bustling mining town fueled by gold fever and remote ambition, Kerwin has since returned to silence its cabins collapsed, its mill rusting, and its memory fading into the mountainside.

But for those willing to make the journey, Kerwin offers one of Wyoming’s most atmospheric and secluded ghost town experiences, wrapped in scenic splendor and layered with stories of boom, bust, and abandonment.

Gold in the High Country

Kerwin was established in the late 1890s after promising gold and silver discoveries drew prospectors into the high country west of Meeteetse. At its peak around 1905, the town boasted more than 200 residents, along with cabins, bunkhouses, a school, and a massive 40-stamp mill designed to crush ore from the surrounding claims.

The remote location, harsh winters, and unreliable transportation made life in Kerwin a challenge from the start. Supplies had to be hauled in over mountain passes, and snow would often isolate the town for months. Still, hope and hard work persisted for a time.

By 1907, production slowed as ore proved less profitable than hoped. Mining companies pulled out. Residents moved on. And the town, like so many in the West, was left behind.

A Ghost Town in the Trees

Today, Kerwin is a ghost town in the most literal sense a handful of crumbling cabins, rusted machinery, and the skeletal remains of the mill stand quietly beneath the shadow of the Absarokas. Trees grow where miners once walked. Wildflowers bloom in what were once doorways. Elk, moose, and grizzlies roam the same ground that once echoed with hammers and hope.

There are no services, no signage, and no modern development just the wind in the trees, the rush of the Wood River nearby, and the sense that something important once happened here.

For photographers, hikers, and ghost town explorers, Kerwin offers a powerful sense of place, not just for what’s left standing, but for what the landscape has reclaimed.

Getting There

Kerwin is located about 34 miles west of Meeteetse, Wyoming, via the Wood River Road (Forest Road 200). The drive begins as a well-graded gravel road but becomes rougher as you ascend into the forest. High-clearance vehicles are strongly recommended, and four-wheel drive may be necessary depending on weather and road conditions.

The road follows the Wood River deep into the Absarokas, offering stunning views of meadows, cliffs, and mountain peaks along the way. Eventually, it dead-ends near the site of Kerwin. A short walk brings you into the heart of the old townsite.

This is bear country, including grizzly territory, so visitors should carry bear spray, practice proper food storage, and stay alert.

A Journey Worth the Effort

Visiting Kerwin isn’t easy and that’s part of its appeal. The journey is long, the road rough, and the site remote. But what you find when you arrive is rare: a place that time forgot, still folded into the mountains, largely untouched by modern hands.

It’s a place to reflect on the dreams that built the West, the hardships endured, and the way nature always reclaims what’s hers. It’s also a place of deep quiet, broken only by wind through the lodgepoles and the sound of water tumbling over stone.

If you’re exploring the Meeteetse area, or seeking a real off-the-map adventure in Wyoming’s high country, Kerwin offers a window into history surrounded by some of the wildest, most beautiful landscapes in the state.