Experience The Friendly Chipmunks of St. Elmo

Visit the historic ghost town of St. Elmo to feed the friendly chipmunks.

St. Elmo, Colorado, a former gold mining camp in Chaffee County, is nestled in the Sawatch Range, 20 miles southwest of Buena Vista. Today, it is one of the best-preserved ghost towns in Colorado and the entire district was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

While the historic buildings are definitely worth the visit, it’s the town’s small, fuzzy residents that make the experience unique. Visitors are encouraged to feed the wild chipmunks, and it is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

To tour the ghost town and experience the St. Elmo chipmunks for yourself, head toward Mt. Princeton and then keep following the road up to the top. The road is good enough that any vehicle can make it all the way up, no 4×4 required.

Check out the gallery below featuring the incredibly adorable Chipmunks of St. Elmo. As long as you’re quiet and patient, the chipmunks will gladly climb into your hands and lap to eat the seeds.

The Chipmunks of St. Elmo

Terry West
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