Alma Colorado is the second highest incorporated town in the US, sitting at a breathtaking 10,578 ft. Alma was the first highest town in the US, a title it took away from Leadville Colorado. However, Winter Park Colorado assumed the position of the highest incorporated town in the US when it annexed the Winter Park Ski area. The town of Alma is located on Colorado Route 9, north of Fairplay Colorado and south of Hoosier Pass. Previously a bustling mining town and known as Buckskin Joe, the original town site is now a ghost town. The current town lies downstream from the original Alma.

More Alma Town Facts

In it’s heyday, Alma’s mines generated over a million dollars a year. Times were good, but eventually the strikes became more rare and the mines played out. Some die hard miners stuck around, but a smallpox outbreak was the towns undoing. Any residents who hadn’t contracted the pox, left, leaving the sick and dying behind. A ghost town tale is told about a saloon dancer, referred to as Silver Heels, staying behind to nurse the remaining ill residents. As the story goes, toward the end of the epidemic, she came down with the pox. She survived, but the pox scarred her beautiful face so badly that she went away, embarrassed by her appearance, and faded into obscurity. Never to be seen again. The Sweet Home Mine, which is located on the road from Alma to Kite Lake is still active. The mine started in the 1800′s as a silver mine. Today, rhodochrosite is it’s claim to fame. As a silver mine, the rhodochrosite was seen as an annoyance. Miners were encouraged to throw it out. At one time you could find rhodochrosite crystals all over in the mines tailing piles, but those and the area around the mine have been picked clean! Today, Alma welcomes mountain-hiking enthusiasts, ghost hunters, tourists and explorers. If you make the trip to this high altitude town, make sure to include in your visit a trip up to Kite Lake, at a crisp 12,400 feet. Other must see items in the area are the ghost town of Buckskin Joe and Alma’s spooky cemetery.

Alma Colorado Attractions

• Sweet Home Mine - This mine, founded in 1873 was originally a Silver mine. Still containing some 60 valid minerals, it’s current claim to fame is the rhodochrosite crystal called the “Alma King” which is currently displayed in the Denver Museum of Nature and History.
• Kite Lake – To get to Kite Lake follow the signs in Alma and take County Road 8 5 1/2 miles northwest. Kite Lake is located above timberline so be prepared for high altitude conditions. There is a picnic area as well as a campground. The campground is a pack it in pack it out area. No campfires are allowed at this campground and the is no drinking water available. Tables are located in each site and there are vault toilets. At 12,000 feet, Kite Lake Campground is the highest campground in the state. It’s a popular base camp for individuals wanting to summit Mt. Democrat, Mt. Lincoln or Mt. Bross. All three peaks are part of Colorado’s famous “14er’s”.
• Hoosier Pass – This Colorado mountain pass sits on the boundary between South Park and Summit county. Take Colorado State Highway 9 from Fairplay on the south or Breckenridge on the north reach this scenic mountain pass. The summit at 11,541 ft, sits atop the continental divide. The accent from both sides is a popular ride for bicyclers and the area as a whole provides some great hiking opportunities.

Alma Photo Gallery

Directions to Alma Colorado

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