La Veta Pass-Uptop Historic District

The Uptop Historic District, sitting at an elevation of 9,382 feet, is a ghost town located on top of Old La Veta Pass. On the border of Huerfano and Costilla County, Uptop can be accessed most of the year along County Rd 443.

In 1877, the “Railroad Above the Clouds” was built over Old La Veta Pass, which brought miners and tourists alike to the area. While the railroad lines ceased operation by 1900, Uptop continued to grow and thrive alongside the area’s coal and lumber industries.

At its height, Uptop featured a bustling tavern and a small ski resort. At the turn of the new millennium, Uptop was purchased and restored, eventually becoming a Colorado State Historic District.

The town is a National Historic District which sits atop Old La Veta Pass, and consists of eight historic buildings dating from 1877-1960. Six of the buildings are restored including the dancehall, railroad depot, schoolhouse, chapel, homesteader’s cabin, and tavern keeper’s apartment. This property is in the mountains at high elevation, 9,382 feet above sea level, but it is easily accessed by a wide and well maintained county road.

Approximately 40 acres around the buildings are fairly flat and easily accessed, with fields and woodland. The remaining 86% of the property is protected under a Conservation Easement, and consists mostly of steep woodland which is recovering from a forest fire, or woodland that has been clear-cut into a meadow.

Plan Your Visit

Traveling east or west, County Rd 443 to Uptop can be used as a scenic detour along Highway 160. With this route, motorists in all vehicles can travel over the Old La Veta Pass, bypassing North La Veta Pass and Sangre De Christo Pass.

In general, County Road 443 remains open from the west side year-round, however, access from Highway 160 may be restricted due to seasonal snowstorms or wildfires.

From La Veta / Walsenburg

• Heading west from Walensburg, travel along Highway 160 approximately 12 miles from La Veta
• Cross the highway to bear left onto CO Rd 443 and continue to Uptop

From Fort Garland

• Heading east, travel approximately 18 miles from Fort Garland along Highway 160
• Turn right onto Rd Vv 5 and drive about 2 miles to the ghost town