About this location
Kirwin is a ghost town at the headwaters of the Wood River in Shoshone National Forest, about 38 miles southwest of Meeteetse, Wyoming. Gold and silver were discovered on nearby Spar Mountain in 1885, and the Wood River Mining District organized in 1891; by the mid-1900s Kirwin was a "model mining camp" of around 200 residents with electricity and telephone service. A 1907 avalanche off Bald Mountain killed three people and wrecked several buildings, and the town never fully recovered — later dude-ranch and mid-century mining revivals both failed. Amelia Earhart was reportedly having a cabin built here before her 1937 disappearance. In 1992 a conservation fund bought the site and donated it to the public; the Forest Service now manages and stabilizes what remains. It's a real, standing ghost town on public land, reachable by high-clearance vehicle or ATV.
Always seek permission where required, follow local laws, and practice Leave No Trace. Locations and details are community-submitted and may be inaccurate. Not sure what's legal here? Read our full guide to rockhounding laws by land type.
Found Here
The Wood River Mining District produced gold and silver as its primary commodities. The batch's broader specimen list — azurite, barite, chalcopyrite, cuprite, galena, gold, limonite, malachite, pyrite, quartz, sphalerite — is consistent with a base-metal/precious-metal vein district of this type, though sourcing for this dossier confirmed gold and silver specifically rather than verifying each individual mineral at Kirwin itself.
Difficulty
Getting there
Kirwin sits at the end of the Wood River Road, roughly 38 miles southwest of Meeteetse, Park County, Wyoming, inside Shoshone National Forest. The access road is unpaved and commonly traveled by high-clearance vehicle, ATV, or UTV in season; it's not a paved or year-round route.
Collecting here
Shoshone National Forest generally allows personal rock, mineral, and fossil collecting with hand tools only — no mechanized equipment, blasting, or excavation. This is the general USFS rule for the forest, not a Kirwin-specific permit; contact the Wapiti Ranger District for current guidance before a trip. Kirwin's standing structures are a protected historic site — don't disturb or remove anything from the buildings themselves, separate from any mineral collecting in the surrounding forest.
Know before you go
Kirwin is public land managed by the U.S. Forest Service (Shoshone National Forest, Wapiti Ranger District) since a 1992 conservation purchase and donation. The ghost town's buildings are under active stabilization and should be treated as a historic site, not a salvage opportunity. The access road is high-clearance/ATV terrain, closed by snow much of the year — check current conditions with the ranger district before heading out.
Location on Map
Coordinates: 43.87455, -109.28483
Nearby rockhounding locations
- Owl Creek — GoldWY · 12.1 mi
- SC-270 — FossilWY · 18.6 mi
- Meeteetse — Agate, JasperWY · 26.5 mi
- West of Dubois — FossilWY · 31.7 mi
- Helt Claims — Beryl, WolframiteWY · 34.5 mi
- Cedar Mountain — TravertineWY · 43.2 mi
Frequently asked questions
Is Kirwin, Wyoming open to the public?
Yes. Kirwin is public land managed by the U.S. Forest Service within Shoshone National Forest, reachable via the Wood River Road about 38 miles southwest of Meeteetse.
What minerals were mined at Kirwin, Wyoming?
The Wood River Mining District around Kirwin was worked primarily for gold and silver, discovered on nearby Spar Mountain in 1885.
Can you collect rocks at Kirwin, Wyoming?
Shoshone National Forest generally permits personal-use rock and mineral collecting with hand tools, but Kirwin's historic buildings themselves are protected — check current rules with the Wapiti Ranger District before visiting.
Why was Kirwin, Wyoming abandoned?
A 1907 avalanche off Bald Mountain killed three residents and destroyed buildings, triggering rapid depopulation; later dude ranch and mid-20th-century mining revival attempts also failed.
⚠️ Always verify current regulations, weather conditions, and access requirements before visiting any location. Information provided is based on community submissions and may not be current or accurate.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirwin,_Wyoming — history, mining district, 1907 avalanche, 1992 conservation purchase, USFS management
- WyoHistory.org, "Kirwin Inspired Dreams of Prosperity, Solitude" (via search synthesis) — Wood River Mining District formation, town character
- Meeteetse Visitor Center, "Explore Kirwin Ghost Town" (via search synthesis) — ATV/UTV access description
- General Shoshone National Forest rockhounding rule (via search synthesis, USFS hand-tool collecting policy) — cited for the general forest collecting rule, not a Kirwin-specific permit
Recommended Gear for Wyoming
Estwing E3-22P Rock Pick
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Clear Anti-Fog Safety Glasses (4 Pack)
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Watertight Medical Kit
Compact, waterproof first aid kit with bandages, moleskin, and field essentials.
Northwest Treasure Hunter's Gem and Mineral Guide
Whether you're digging for the first time or are an experienced rockhound or "prospector," with a simple rock hammer and...
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