How to balance safety vs. adventure at Utah's ghost towns and abandoned mines

As Halloween approaches, Utah's ghost towns hold spooky appeal — but visitors should approach with caution.

Why it matters: Most of the state's ghost towns are connected to abandoned mines, whose hazards have left dozens of explorers injured, trapped or killed.

State of play: Utah officials are scrambling to seal off old mines, where falls, loose rock, tainted water and poisonous air are common perils.

• They also have served as dumpsites in homicides, like the murders of Brelynne "Breezy" Otteson and Riley Powell . For years, crews and volunteers have also searched mines in the West Desert for the remains of Susan Powell , who famously disappeared from West Valley City in 2009.

The other side: Ghost towns and abandoned mines are beloved by historians — and thrill seekers who compare their explorations to other potentially risky adventure sports like spelunking or canyoneering .

• Davis County residents, for example, balked in 2020 when Farmington's popular Patsy's Mine was closed off .
• In Eureka, city and state leaders are trying to preserve mine buildings that are "historically significant" but frequently targeted by thieves.

By the numbers: Utah is home to about 17,000 abandoned mines, according to data from the state's Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program .

• About 7,000 had been sealed off with metal grates, concrete and backfill as of 2023 .
• There have been 11 recorded deaths in old mines since 1982, with another 45 injuries, falls and entrapments, state mining officials told Axios.

Pro tips: It's considered trespassing to enter mining structures that are locked, sealed or marked with warning signs, even if the buildings and shafts are on public land, the AP reports .

• Don't take out souvenirs — and before you touch anything, remember that many undetonated explosives have been found in abandoned mines and adjacent buildings.
• Don't enter private property. The proliferation of "no trespassing" signs around Ophir Canyon in Tooele, for example, is due to a rash of break-ins at old mining sites where landowners could be liable if someone were injured.