All the town buildings are gone. Found some foundations, old appliances, sinks, bathtubs, lots of likely fuel oil barrels, etc. Game warden told us a few years ago the last buildings were demolished due to bad condition and a safety hazard.

Area itself was pleasant.

The road has deep potholes and not recommended for a sedan. 

We went out to lester as a part of a canoe trip in the stampede pass area. Driving the gravel roads is what you would expect, dusty and full of potholes but overall passable for most vehicles.

The ghost town trek itself starts at a blocked bridge into the watershed, and is a straightforward path on a gravel road, with one washed out section the has a clear detour. The hike itself is quite and isolated, very nice of you're already up in the pass.

None of the old buildings of the ghost town remain as they were taken down by staff out here due to people's negligence and danger about 5 years ago. Do not do this hike if ghost towns are what you want. 

Wow, what adisappointment! After parking at the gate my friend and I walked all the way to the town, only to discover that the remaining buildings/houses had all been torn down, so it’s really not even a ghost town anymore. I should have trusted the WTA warning, but I was going there primarily to do some metal detecting, so I thought it would still be worth it. If you’re thinking of going there to see a ghost town, just stay home or go to another one. 

I heard rumors the 2 remaining buildings in Lester had been demolished this past spring. The rumors are true. After running into a Forest Ranger who escorted me out of the area (due to a new fire on Sawmill Ridge/Lester Creek), he explained why the buildings were torn down.

He told me Facebook had created a large interest in the area over the last year. He mentioned in 2016 he had to break up a Halloween party that had 200 people at the site! Other visitors have been seen crawling around in the collapsed barn and other dangerous areas. Because of these series of events, the liability became too high for the Forest Service to ignore. Thus the removal of the buildings. :(

FYI - FS Road 54 is now CLOSED from Stampede Pass. The Ranger said the road will reopen 12/31/2017. He also mentioned if we get some serious rain, to check the Forest Service website or contact the local Ranger Station to see if the closure dates have changed.

Also, if you are caught in the "fire zone" they will escort you out of the area. I was asked for my ID (to document your name) and hand my picture taken for their records. This is so I don't go back into the area.

They will site you if you do.

THERE IS A SIGN THAT LITERALLY STATES DO NOT ENTER AT THE END OF THE TRAIL. "watch out for trains" That being said please do not enter the water shed it is a 1000$ fine, It saddens me that they tore the old structures down but that is life when people cannot respect private property. Love the history of the town itself the old site of Lester offers a 8 mile flat RT walk. We will probably never go back because the rules have become stringent but if its open I say give it a go its a very relaxing walk. you can hear the wind talking to the old town while looking out of the surrounding valley walls take care and keep an eye out for mountain lions.