Travel Tips & Trends

Colorado gold mines

Pikes Peak or bust!" That rallying cry brought more than 50,000 gold seekers to Colorado during the 1800s. Today, many of the early gold mines can be toured. Bring a light jacket—it can be cool inside the tunnels.

Many mine tours also offer the opportunity to try gold panning. Taking a pan of your own and heading independently to a local creek is not the way to go: prospecting is highly regulated and most mining claims throughout Colorado are still active, so any gold you find almost certainly belongs to someone.

Argo Gold Mill, Idaho Springs

The Argo mill processed more than $100 million in ore. After seeing the Double Eagle mine, visitors walk down through the mill building with its original equipment and tools. Live demonstrations of crushing, milling and rock drilling are available. Small bags of placer ore can be purchased for panning, guaranteed to contain gold. 303-567-2421, www.historicargotours.com.

Bachelor-Syracuse Mine, Ouray

The Bachelor-Syracuse Mine tour takes you 1,800 feet horizontally into Gold Hill. Guides have first-hand experience working the mine. Guests will visit work areas and learn how explosives are used. Gold panning is available. 970-325-0220, www.bachelorsyracusemine.com.

Country Boy Mine, Breckenridge

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 a burro. After the tour, a guide will teach you how to pan for gold in Eureka Creek. 970-453-4405, www.countryboymine.com.

Edgar Mine, Idaho Springs

In the 1870s the Edgar Mine produced silver, gold, lead and copper. Today it is a practical training ground for the Colorado School of Mines. Students and staff conduct one daily tour and explain mine development, drilling, blasting, mucking, mining economics and mining in modern society. Tours can be tailored to accommodate special requests. 303-567-2911.

Mollie Kathleen Mine, Cripple Creek

The huge gold strikes at Cripple Creek helped establish the United States Mint in Denver. The Mollie Kathleen offers the nation's only vertical shaft tour. Guides take visitors on a 1,000-foot, two-minute descent through several levels of mine workings and a maze of crosscut tunnels. 719-689-2466, www.goldminetours.com.

Mayflower Gold Mill, Silverton

The San Juan Mountains 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 in the Silverton area. 970-387-5838, www.silvertonhistoricsociety.org.

Old Hundred Gold Mine, Silverton

Follow a vein into Galena Mountain and see mining demonstrations using authentic equipment, from periods ranging from the 1900s to the 1960s. Visitors can also pan for silver, gold and semi-precious gemstones in the sluice boxes outside the mine. 970-387-5444, www.minetour.com.

Phoenix Gold Mine, Idaho Springs

Historic equipment is on display, and deposits of gold, silver, copper, iron pyrite and tellurium are visible in the mine. Today the mine uses solar panels as its only energy source. Gold panning is available. 303-567-0422, www.phoenixgoldmine.com.