Keane Wonder Springs and Cyty’s Mill
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (Beatty Junction area)
Follow the pipeline from the Keane Wonder Mill to find the Keane Wonder Springs and ruins of Johnnie Cyty’s mill.
Rhyolite Ghost Town
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (Beatty Junction area)
Short-lived boom town from the Death Valley mining era, with remnants of extensive infrastructure and a nearby open-air art museum.
Cape Romano Dome House
Location: Florida, Everglades Area, Marco Island
The ruins of a famous local landmark – a beach house made of interconnected domes – are slowly being lost to the sea, creating a great spot for snorkeling.
Mill Ruins Park
Location: Minnesota, Minneapolis/St. Paul
Picturesque park showcasing the 19th century water power features, canals, and tailraces of the milling operations that made Minneapolis into a thriving industrial powerhouse.
Δ Death Pit and Ore Cart Mine Δ
Location: Secret (West Coast, United States)
Fabulous mine site with excellent artifacts and mine shafts
Keane Wonder Mine
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (Beatty Junction area)
Hike to the ruins and (closed off) mine shafts from one of Death Valley’s most successful gold mines.
Charcoal Kilns
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (Panamint Springs Area)
Remarkably well-preserved large beehive shaped charcoal kilns built in 1877
⊗ Keane Canyon ♦
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (Beatty Junction area)
Technical canyon descent through an area with lots of great mining ruins
Titus Canyon
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (Beatty Junction area)
Backcountry road through some stunning scenery including colorful hills, a narrow canyon, a ghost town, and petroglyphs.
Leadfield Ghost Town
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (Beatty Junction area)
Small, picturesque ghost town off a backcountry road with the intact remnants of a couple of buildings
Harmony Borax Works
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (Furnace Creek area)
Ruins of the successful borax plant near Furnace Creek where 20-mule teams were used to haul the borax across the desert to the railroad
Ashford Mill Ruins
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (Ashford Junction area)
Small collection of ruins from an early 1900’s mill and mining settlement
Keane Wonder Mill
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (Beatty Junction area)
Easy to access ruins of the mill and tramway for the very successful Keane Wonder Mine.
Muang Khoun
Location: Laos, Northern, Xiangkhoang Plateau
Although the town was almost completely destroyed by US bombing raids during the 1960’s and 70’s, remnants of Muang Khoun’s rich ancient history shine through the ruins alongside evidence of their more recent history and role in the Second Indochina War.
Plain of Jars
Location: Laos, Northern, Xiangkhoang Plateau
Experience one of archaeology’s greatest mysteries by visiting the huge Iron Age stone jars clustered on hilltops and valleys throughout the Xiangkhoang Plateau.
Old Highway 80
Location: California, San Diego area
Travel the once-thriving Route 80 to see historic road side attractions, abandoned buildings, railcars, and modern day ghost towns
Phaselis
Location: Turkey, Antalya Region, Kemer
Picturesque ruins of an important ancient harbor city sacked by pirates
Termessos ♦
Location: Turkey, Antalya Region
Well-preserved ruins of an ancient fortified city in the mountains including numerous impressive remaining structures
Chimaera
Location: Turkey, Antalya Region
Mountain used by ancient sailors as a lighthouse, due to flames burning there for centuries because of gas vents in the limestone rock
Machu Picchu
Location: Peru, Sacred Valley
One of the wonders of the modern world, the beautifully located ruins of this Incan citadel feature outstanding ruins and nice trails to more remote sites in the complex
Cruzmoqo ♦
Location: Peru, Sacred Valley
Checkpoint and outlook for the Incan city of Tipon, with beautiful views, ruins of the city walls, and ancient petroglyphs
Pikillacta
Location: Peru, Sacred Valley
Ruins of a large, pre-Inca cultural site
Saqsaywaman
Location: Peru, Cusco Region
Ruins of an Incan fortified citadel complex overlooking Cusco featuring huge, precisely cut stone blocks
Cusco
Location: Peru, Cusco Region
Former capital of the Inca Empire and general tourist Mecca; home to numerous Inca and Spanish colonial historic sites
Tipon ♦
Location: Peru, Sacred Valley
Large, less visited Incan archaeological site characterized by huge terraces and an extensive canal system
Ollantaytambo
Location: Peru, Sacred Valley
Former royal Incan estate turned stronghold of the Inca Resistance
Choquequirao ♦
Location: Peru, Cusco Region, La Convención Province
Backpacking through spectacular Andean scenery to the ruins of a remote and extensive Incan city
Xunantunich
Location: Belize, Western, Cayo District
Compact, significant Mayan sites with numerous ruins including the notable “El Castillo” with friezes on its upper walls
Pacbitun
Location: Belize, Western, Cayo District
Site of largely unexcavated (and possibly significant) Maya ruins
Caracol
Location: Belize, Western, Cayo District
Major Mayan archaeological site with numerous ruins and structures to explore, including Caana (the Sky Palace)
Tikal
Location: Guatemala, Northern, Tikal National Park
Famous Mayan archaeological site with numerous temples and complexes; site is also interlaced with trails and provides nice wildlife viewing opportunities
Yaxha
Location: Guatemala, Northern, Yaxha-Nakum-Naranjo National Park
Less visited Mayan archaeological site picturesquely located on the banks of a lake
Doane Valley
Location: California, San Diego area, Palomar Mountain
Hike through pretty scenery including a pond, creek, rolling hills, and the ruins of a 1920’s dam and gauging station
Mt. Lowe Railway
Location: California, Los Angeles area, San Gabriels
Hike the route of the historic Mt. Lowe railway, exploring the ruins of the two major stops along the route
⊗ Rubio Canyon
Location: California, Los Angeles area, San Gabriels
Canyoning through a historic area with multiple waterfalls and a few ruins
⊗ Little Santa Anita Canyon
Location: California, Los Angeles area, San Gabriels
Nice beginner canyon with a straightforward approach, lots of rappels, and an occasional keeper pothole; optional extension on the approach through a historic area with a few ruins
Zzyzx ♦
Location: California, South Central Desert, Northeast of Los Angeles
Abandoned buildings and infrastructure of a 1940’s era Health Resort on the edge of the Mojave Desert
Gibbet Hill
Location: Massachusetts, Groton
Picturesque ruins of small castle built in 1906
Diana’s Baths
Location: New Hampshire, Bartlett
Nice series of cascades and pools which are great for swimming in warm weather
Moanalua Valley to Haiku Stairs ♦
Location: Hawaii, Oahu, Southeast
Excellent ridge hike with Jurassic Park-esque views leading to the top of the famous Haiku Stairs (where they can be legally viewed without trespassing) and World War II era top secret military radio station
Rolous Temple Complex
Location: Cambodia, Northern, Siem Reap Area
Lesser visited temple complex a short distance away from the main Angkor Wat complex
Angkor Thom
Location: Cambodia, Northern, Siem Reap Area
Walls, gates, towers, and causeways of the last capital of the Khmer empire
Prasat Bayon
Location: Cambodia, Northern, Siem Reap Area
Ornate temple in the Khmer baroque style with a multitude of carved stone faces
Prasat Krachap
Location: Cambodia, Northern, Koh Ker
Large complex lying mainly in ruins, notable for the inscriptions covering the doorways and pillars of the western gate
Prasat Krahom
Location: Cambodia, Northern, Koh Ker
Interesting red temple in the Prasat Thom complex, famous for its unusual lion statues
Prasat Pram ♦
Location: Cambodia, Northern, Koh Ker
Site of ruined temple buildings with extremely picturesque strangler fig on-growth
Prasat Thom
Location: Cambodia, Northern, Koh Ker
Koh Ker’s main temple complex, featuring Prasat Prang, a unique seven-tiered step pyramid
Preah Khan ♦
Location: Cambodia, Northern, Siem Reap Area
Excellent ruined temple left in a stabilized unrestored condition, complete with excellent vegetative growth on and around the ruins
Ta Som
Location: Cambodia, Northern, Siem Reap Area
Small temple left in a state of picturesque stabilized neglect
Ta Prohm
Location: Cambodia, Northern, Siem Reap Area
Extremely picturesque temple in a state of stabilized neglect, famous for being featured in Tomb Raider
Beng Mealea ♦
Location: Cambodia, Northern, Kulen National Park region
One of the Khmer Empire’s larger complexes, this site has a great Indiana Jones feel to it and sees few tourists
Limekiln Trails
Location: California, Central Big Sur
Nice hike through forests to historic limekiln ruins and a waterfall
Tanbark Trail and Tin House ♦
Location: California, Big Sur, Northern
Great hike through redwood forests with a waterfall and great views, ending at the ruins of an old tin house
Mrauk U ♦
Location: Myanmar, Western, Rakhine State
Former capital of the ancient Arakine Kingdom, Mrauk U is a remote area with a fascinating history and excellent Indiana Jones-esque temples
Sagar
Location: Myanmar, Western Shan State
Rarely visited ruined royal capital south of Inle Lake, famous for its sunken stupas
Sutro Bath Ruins
Location: California, San Francisco
Explore the ruins of a late 19th century swimming pool complex
Marin Headlands ♦
Location: California, San Francisco Bay Area
Explore a beautiful historic military area including old batteries and bunkers.