Mine Tours

The mountains hold the stories. Come hear them.

What to Expect

THE MOUNTAINS HOLD THE STORIES. COME HEAR THEM

In Clear Creek, you can follow mining history from gold still visible in the rock to the machinery that helped separate it from the ore. Step inside a historic mine, explore the Argo Mill, and meet guides who help make sense of the work, ingenuity, and everyday lives behind it all. These places give you something a photograph or history book can’t: a chance to stand where it happened.

CLOSE TO DENVER. DEEP INTO THE STORY.

Start with coffee in the city and make the mountains your next stop. Idaho Springs is roughly 30 miles west of Denver, putting mine tours, historic storefronts, and mountain scenery within reach of a day trip. Leave time for the drive and even more for exploring once you arrive.

MORE WAYS TO MAKE A DISCOVERY

Follow a gold vein underground at Phoenix. See the original equipment inside the Argo. Pair a scenic train ride with the Lebanon Silver Mine. With underground tours, mill visits, and gold panning to choose from, you can build a day around your group’s curiosity and comfort. Check each experience’s age and access requirements before booking.

MAKE HISTORY PART OF A WHOLE MOUNTAIN DAY

Come for the tour. Stay for a shared pizza, a little browsing, or a slow evening in town. Book a room and let tomorrow begin with breakfast and another place you’re curious about.

ARGO MILL & TUNNEL

See what happened after the gold was found.

Follow the journey of gold-bearing ore through the historic Argo Mill in Idaho Springs. See original processing equipment, look inside the tunnel entrance, and hear about the people and ingenuity behind the operation. Finish with gold or gemstone panning and a little discovery of your own.

Allow about an hour for the guided tour. The mill involves multiple staircases, so contact the operator about access before booking if stairs are a concern.

Explore the Argo

CAPITAL PRIZE GOLD MINE

Follow the tunnel. Find a little wonder.

Walk more than 1,000 feet into the mountain with a guide and hear the stories of the people who worked here. Capital Prize is still an active gold mine, bringing yesterday’s mining methods and today’s work into the same visit. Leave time for rock breaking afterward and take home a small piece of your discovery.

Tours take about an hour. Bring a light jacket and closed-toe shoes for the cool underground air, and reserve ahead. The route is generally level, but ore cart tracks mean wheelchairs and strollers aren’t permitted. Contact the team with questions about walking or access before booking.

Explore the Capital Prize Mine

PHOENIX GOLD MINE

Look closely. The gold is still in the rock.

Head underground with a guide at this family-owned mine near Idaho Springs. Learn how miners followed gold veins, see historic equipment, and discover the geology behind the search. Gold panning is included with the Phoenix Mine Tour.

The tour takes about 45 minutes to an hour and follows roughly 300 feet of passage on one level. Bring a warm layer for the approximately 45-degree underground temperature and wear closed-toe shoes. Mine-cart rails cross the walking surface; contact the team about mobility or stroller needs..

Explore Phoenix Gold Mine

Lebanon and Everett Mines

A scenic ride. A story beneath the mountain.

Pair your train ride with a guided walking tour into the Lebanon Silver Mine. Explore a tunnel first worked in the 1870s and learn how miners searched for silver beneath the mountains. Choose the tour with gold panning or explore farther underground on the extended tour.

Allow about two and a half hours for the combined train and mine experience. Mine tours operate seasonally and involve roughly three-quarters of a mile of walking, including uneven terrain and dark, enclosed spaces. Children must be at least five to enter the mine; wheelchairs and strollers are not permitted. Check available departures and tour options before booking.

A LITTLE PREPARATION. MORE TO DISCOVER.

Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes and bring something warm, even on a sunny day. Check each tour’s walking distance, stairs, age limits, and reservation requirements before choosing an experience for your group.

Stay with your guide, wear any required protective equipment, and follow instructions around historic machinery and underground passages. Explore mines only through authorized tours, and leave closed tunnels and abandoned workings alone.

Leave room for dinner.

Find a table. Settle in. Share the stories of the day while a local kitchen takes care of dinner. Stay the night and give tomorrow a slower start, with coffee, breakfast, and a little more time in the mountains.