Gold Mine Tours in Colorado

"Pike's Peak or Bust" That rallying cry brought over 50,000 fortune seekers to Colorado during the1800's. The initial gold discovery in Colorado was at the confluence of the South Platte River and Cherry Creek, some 60 miles north of Pike's Peak. But, it was Pike's Peak that served as a beacon for miners and adventurers as they crossed the eastern plains.

Once word got out about the Colorado gold strike, towns sprung up along the gulches of the western and southern mountains. Discoveries made while "panning" for gold led miners to seek upstream for the ore's source, rich lode deposits of gold that often required hard rock mining to extract.

Today, families can tour many of these early gold (and silver) mines and get a sense of what Colorado was like in the days of "Pike's Peak or Bust". Many of the mine tours also offer the opportunity to try your own luck at panning for gold. Bring a light jacket since it can be cool inside mine tunnels. Also, don't be a "claim jumper". Most mining claims throughout Colorado have been active since the turn of the 20th century. Taking a pan and heading to the local creek is highly discouraged. It would be a shame to find out that your new found fortune belonged to someone else.

Argo Gold Mine and Tour
Idaho Springs, CO
303-567-2421
www.historicargotours.com
Open until Mid Oct.
Daily: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

The Argo mill processed over $100 million in gold bearing ore from the Double Eagle gold mine. After touring the mine you'll head down through the mill to view displays of equipment, tools and relics used by the miners. You'll also be given a live demonstration of crushing, milling, and rock drilling. Following the tour, there are free panning instructions. You need to purchase the sacks of placer ore to pan but you are guaranteed the sack will include gold or a gemstone.

Bachelor-Syracuse Mine Tour
Ouray, CO
970-325-0220
www.bachelorsyracusemine.com
Open until Mid Sept.
Daily: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The Bachelor-Syracuse Mine tour takes you 1,800 horizontally into Gold Hill, rich in gold, silver, and other precious metals. Guides have first-hand experience working the mine and are eager to share the mine's legend and lore. Guests will visit work areas and learn how explosives are used. After the mine tour, gold panning lessons are available at a discounted price.

Country Boy Mine
Breckenridge, CO
970-453-4405
www.countryboymine.com
Open until Mid Oct.
Daily: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., through Aug. 31
Fri. to Mon. through Oct. 15

At the only authentic mine tour in Summit County visitors can travel 1,000 feet underground on a hard-hat tour, climb on a steam shovel, slide down a 55 foot ore chute and pet gentle, friendly burros. After your mine tour, your guide will teach you how to pan for gold in Eureka Creek. Check your tour photos carefully. A ghostly image, perhaps a former miner, has been known to appear.

Edgar Mine Tour
Idaho Springs, CO
303-567-2911
www.mines.edu/academic/mining/edgar_mine.htm
Open until late Aug.
Mon. - Fri., 1:00 p.m. tour

In the 1870s the Edgar Mine produced high-grade silver, gold, lead and copper. Today, the mine provides Colorado School of Mines students with a unique environment for research and practical training in mining techniques and systems. Students and mine staff conduct tours more than one-half mile underground. Over 100 years of mine development, drilling, blasting, and mucking are covered on the tour along with discussion on mining practice, mining economics and the role of the mining industry in modern society. Tours can be tailored to accommodate special requests.

Hard Tack Mine Tour
Lake City, CO
970-944-2506
www.hardtack81235.tripod.com
Memorial Day - Labor Day
Tues. - Sat., 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

At the Hard Tack see how miners really lived during a walk through the 100 year old mine. Displays depict how workers dug and blasted through rock using only hand tools and dynamite.

Lebanon Mine Tour
Georgetown, CO
303-569-2403
www.georgetownlooprr.com
May 24 - Sept. 1 and weekends in Sept.
Daily: Trains depart beginning at 9:45 a.m.

The Lebanon Mine Tour is only accessible by the Georgetown Loop Railroad Silver Plume route and is an additional fee. This walking tour takes you 500 feet into the mine to see rich veins of silver and learn about early-day mining. The tour also includes visits to the manger's office, the miners' changing room and the tool shed.

Matchless Mine Tour
Leadville, CO
719-486-1229
Memorial Day - Labor Day
Daily: 9:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., weather permitting

"Hold on to the Matchless…it will pay millions again." Baby Doe Tabor was steadfast to her husband Horace's deathbed instruction. At one time a very rich body of silver ore in the mine netted $2,000 a day and vaulted Horace and Baby Doe to the height of Colorado society. It seemed that the riches from the Matchless Mine would last forever. However, the drop in silver prices along with poor investments and the repeal of the Sherman Silver Act of 1893 claimed Tabor's $9 million fortune. Baby Doe held onto the Matchless for 36 years and was found frozen to death, penniless and alone. This surface tour includes the mine's hoist house and the cabin where Baby Doe was found.

Mollie Kathleen Mine Tour
Cripple Creek, CO
719-689-2466
www.goldminetours.com
Open through October
Daily: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Free on Father's Day

Of all the gold discoveries in Colorado, nothing approached the strike at Cripple Creek, "The World's Greatest Gold Camp". These deposits helped establish the United States Mint in Denver and literally and figuratively, put the gold on the Colorado capitol dome. The Molly Kathleen features America's only vertical shaft tour. An experienced miner/guide takes you on a two minute, 1,000 foot vertical shaft descent through several levels of mine workings. After exiting the shaft, you will explore a maze of crosscut tunnels, drifts, winze and stope workings, that still contain gold veins. For the "rock hound" there is a mineral display that showcases Cripple Creek gold.

Mayflower Gold Mill Tour
Silverton, CO
970-387-5838
www.silvertonhistoricsociety.org
Open in summer
Daily: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The San Juan Mountains of southern Colorado were one of the last ranges to be prospected. The Mayflower Mill is a National Historic Landmark and an excellent example of the methods used to process precious ores from the Silverton mining area.

Old Hundred Gold Mine Tour
Silverton, CO
970-387-5444
www.minetour.com
May - Oct.
Daily: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Follow a vein one-third mile into Galena Mountain and experience actual mining operating equipment in a real mine setting. The highlights of the tour are actual mining demonstrations using authentic equipment. You'll see how drilling progressed from the 1900's single-jacking, to 1930's drifter air drills, to the 1960's jack-leg drills. Other equipment shown includes a tugger hoist, air slusher and the amazing mucking machine, all demonstrated and explained by your miner-guide. After the tour or while you wait, your family can pan for silver, gold and semi-precious gemstones in the sluice boxes outside the mine. A mine tour can also be arranged in connection with a trip on the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.

Phoenix Gold Mine Tour
Idaho Springs, CO
303-567-0422
www.phoenixgoldmine.com
May - Oct.
Daily: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The Phoenix vein was originally discovered in 1871 by a man with the prophetic last name of Miner. Historical mining tools, ladders, milling equipment, buckets, emergency equipment and much more is on display throughout the tour. You will be able to see deposits of gold, silver, copper, iron pyrite and tellurium (tellurium — the material they make solar panels out of) The Phoenix Tour mine is actually lit by sun light, using solar panels as its only energy source. After the tour you can try your hand at panning or you can experience panning on its own for a small fee.