There was a time when people believed that if you dug deep enough into the Rockies, riches would pour out. For some intrepid entrepreneurs, that's exactly what happened. For others, the backbreaking labor of penetrating the granite peaks brought only hardship.
Today you don't have to do much digging to uncover thousands of stories about the miners' grit and determination, their ambition and good luck, their hardship and perseverance. All you need is a trusty guide and a sense of adventure to see, hear and feel the captivating history that pulses through the Rockies' ore veins.
What specific adventures can you expect in the tunnels, caverns and gold-speckled creek beds of the state? Here are some of the top experiences, and where they can be enjoyed.
For a quick link to our mine tours listings, click HERE.
Ride the Rails Into an Ore-Rich Mine
See How Heavy Equipment Worked
Understand the Process From Drilling to Milling
Pan For the Precious Mineral
Hold Gold in Your Hands
Meet the Lucky and Unlucky Characters of the Past
Good to Know Before You Go
Ride the Rails Into an Ore-Rich Mine
The old adage "getting there is half the fun" is actually the honest truth with a mine tour in Colorado. Many of these adventures begin with a ride on the "trammer"—an authentic train of ore carts that rides along rails into the depths of the mine. Another fun transport into the mine is an elevator ride 1,000-feet down a vertical shaft. By riding into the mine on one of these unique conveyors, you step into the shoes of a miner.
Board a trammer at any of these mine tours:
See How Heavy Equipment Worked
Mining isn't just digging until you hit pay dirt. In most cases, mine operators had to get crafty in how they extracted ore from the challenging terrain. On these tours you can witness first-hand the sophisticated aerial trams, "air slushers" and "widow-makers" that helped streamline the operations of the mine. Some mine tours even offer demonstrations of the equipment.
Check out these mine tours to see marvels of mining mechanics:
Understand the Process From Drilling to Milling
While prospectors sought veins of rich ore in the mines of Colorado, finding it was only the first step. The ore still had to be transported to a mill where gold and silver (as well as copper, zinc and other precious minerals) were extracted. Mills were often located right next to mineshafts, and at select places you can tour both in tandem. Over the course of an hour, you'll get the story behind the gold and silver and see why these minerals were—and remain—so valuable.
These comprehensive mine tours will help you see the big picture of gold and silver mining:
Pan For the Precious Mineral
Striking it rich didn't always demand a big operation. Prospectors often took to the streams of the Colorado Rockies to scoop up silt and swirl water over it in a pursuit known as gold panning. Even today, the streambeds of the state's rivers still possess the coveted mineral, albeit in small amounts. Wade into the waters, and learn from the pros how to pan. This activity is especially fun for kids, but regardless of age, you'll get a kick out of seeing the glittering beauty of gold emerging from the waters.
Prospect for gold streamside at the conclusion of these mine tours:
Hold Gold in Your Hands
While panning won't yield a bona fide nugget of gold, odds are, you'll get a chance to hold a piece of history in your hand during your tour. In fact, some tours give you a free sample of gold-laced ore to take home, while others let you chisel away at a vein inside the mountain. Within the mines, a variety of other fascinating minerals are extracted, and there's a good chance you and your family will get to see them firsthand. Pyrite, copper and beautiful yet little-known minerals like covolite can all be investigated up close.
Here's a sampling of mine tours where you can enjoy the splendor of obtaining and holding precious minerals:
Meet the Lucky and Unlucky Characters of the Past
You can ride the trammer or pan for gold, but the one experience that really brings Colorado's mining industry to light is listening to the stories of those who laid their reputations on the line to find their fortune. Tour guides throughout the state relish the opportunity to share tales from the mine's past. For children, hearing about the men and women whose luck boomed and busted with Colorado's mining industry is both captivating and educational.
See the history of Colorado's mining past come alive with these tours:
Good to Know Before We Go
- Even in the middle of summer, many mines have a brisk temperature hovering between 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. It is recommended that you bring a light jacket for the tour.
The Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology is a fantastic resource for finding out more regarding Colorado's tourist mines.
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