Colorado Gold Rush Mountain and Mine Half-Day Tour from Denver
Description
• Follow the steps of the1859 Gold Rush, travel up rugged Clear Creek Canyon looking for the state mammal, Big Horn Sheep, on the steep canyon walls. Visit the historic town of Central City and admire the architecture in what was once considered the richest square mile on earth and hear the stories of the hard rock miners and their way of life. Then visit a Real Ghost Town from the mining boom, then enjoy the scenic mountain views as you head over to tour a real Gold Mine and learn about the history and modern day mining techniques, you can even try your luck at striking it rich! Finish with a drink or shopping in a historic mining town. See Learn and Explore the Wild West on this fun Colorado Gold Rush Tour. *Important You will only tour one gold mine on this tour in either Idaho Springs or Georgetown but not both. The mine and town is determined by the availability for that day. *
Tour Options
Itinerary
Meet at the flagpole in front of historic Union Station on Wynkoop Street located in lower downtown Denver.
Drive up into the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Colorado and follow the footsteps of the pioneers and miners on their quest for a new life and trying to strike it rich. See wonderful mountain views and rugged canyons.
Travel through this beautiful rugged mountain canyon following Clear Creek and the gold rush trail of 1859. Look for Bighorn Sheep on the steep canyon walls and rock climbers.
Walk down the historic streets of Central City, what was once considered the richest square mile on earth during the 1859 Pikes Peak or Bust Gold Rush Days. Visit a real ghost town from the boom times.
Take a tour in a real gold mine. Learn about old and new mining techniques. Experience what it was like to be a hard rock miner back in the 1860's in Colorado. * Either the Phoenix or Capitol Prize Mine will be visited but not both*
Visit Idaho Springs where the Victorian architecture of the mining days still stands. Grab a drink in the local brewery or shop in one of the local stores or just admire the history that surrounds you in this quaint historic mountain town. *Please note either Idaho Springs or Georgetown will be visited but not both. Town is dertermined by mine schedule availability*
Go more than 1,000 feet into this fully operational historic gold and silver mine. See and experience the historic and modern day mining techniques. Your guide will teach you all about this important part of Colorado's colorful history. Try your hand at striking it rich and keep your findings. * Either the Phoenix or Capitol Prize Mine will be visited but not both*
Walk down the Historic street of Georgetown once one of the wealthiest mining towns in Colorado. The historic buildings have been well preserved and house many local stores and not to be missed the delicious Georgetown Candy Company. *Please note either Idaho Springs or Georgetown will be visited but not both. Town is dertermined by mine schedule availability*
End you tour back where it began at historic Union Station located in lower downtown Denver
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation in the unlikely event there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund
- We will walk into the mine on the tour, not recommended for anyone that is claustrophobic
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately and bring a jacket for inside the mine
- Some places in the mine can be a little muddy please wear shoes that clean up easily
- Please eat breakfast or lunch prior to your tour pick up time
- Only 1 mine will be visited in either Idaho Springs or Georgetown not both
Reviews(51)
It was fun. Not exactly what I was expecting but I did have a good time. The travel guide was great. She was knowledgeable and personable.
Awesome, personable tour. Will was an amazing tour guide with lots of knowledge about the area and the mines.
Our group of four was blown away by the kindness and knowledge of our guide. We learned a lot of interesting facts along the entire route of our tour and felt very well taken care of. The gold mine was a highlight, and the entire trip was a better experience for us than we could have had just driving around on our own. We'll remember this as the fun adventure we were looking for in Colorado.
Blown away—now that’s what we like to hear! Thank you so much for the awesome feedback. Leaving the navigation to a pro is the absolute best way to actually relax and soak in the adventure, and we're stoked that the gold mine and our guide's fun facts made the day so memorable for your group of four. Thanks for choosing us for your Colorado getaway, and catch you on the next tour!
Fun tourist thing to do. Typical mine tour with panning for gold option. Nice surprise in taking the dirt "back door" road between Idaho Springs and Central City.
You gotta love a mine tour! I hope you struck it rich. There are a lot of fun ghost towns, dirt roads and history on these tours. We are glad you enjoyed it.
Will is great tour guide. The copilot and I loved it. We saw so many places and old mines. Very informative.
Love it! Thanks for the awesome review. We’re so glad Will kept things super informative and that you and your copilot had a blast exploring the old mines and scenic spots with him. Colorado’s mining history is so unique, and Will is the perfect guide to bring those old stories to life. Thanks for choosing Colorado Sightseer, and happy trails to you both until next time!
Hans, our tour guide, was a retired school teacher. He was very personable, knowledgeable, and friendly. He frequently checked in to make sure everyone in the tour group was having fun, comfortable, and take care of. The tour was fantastic, the mine and panning for gold were wonderful as well. Definitely a must-do for anyone even tangentially interested in history, geology, or learning about the state!
It sounds like you had a fantastic day at the mine! Hans has a 'teacher’s heart,' and it really shows in how he cares for his groups and ensures everyone is comfortable and involved. We’re so glad you enjoyed the gold panning—it’s such a fun way to connect with the state's heritage. We will be sure to share your kind words with Hans; he’ll be delighted to know he made your trip so special!
Worth seeing tour with lots of experiences and information. The tour guide knew well and has been able to report a lot of historical
Herzlichen Dank für das wunderbare Feedback zu unserer Tour und den historischen Einblicken Ihres Guides. Wir freuen uns sehr, dass Ihnen die Informationsfülle gefallen hat, und hoffen, Sie bald wieder auf einer weiteren lehrreichen Reise begrüßen zu dürfen.
Colorado Sightseer was incredibly reliable and responsive to our inquiries. Christine on the WhatsApp line was super helpful, clarifying our doubts and efficiently handling our bookings for the Golden Mine tour and Red Rocks tour. Our tour guides, Matt and Stephen, were outstanding - knowledgeable, engaging, and made the trip a blast! 😊 Both tours were totally kid-friendly, with convenient stops for hydration, washrooms, and photo ops. Highly recommend!
Thank you so much for this wonderful shout-out to our entire team. We’re thrilled to hear that Christine made the booking process a breeze on WhatsApp—we know how important those quick clarifications are when planning a family trip! It’s also fantastic to hear that Matt and Stephen delivered such engaging experiences on the Golden Mine and Red Rocks tours. We take great pride in being a kid-friendly operator, so knowing the logistics like hydration and washroom stops worked perfectly for your group is the best feedback we could ask for. We hope to see your family back in Colorado again soon!
Alex did an amazing job and kept us entertained with conversation and facts. It made the rude to and from go by so quickly. The actual mine tour was great very informative and entertaining too. I would highly recommend this tour especially if you are interested in gold mining.
Hey! Loved taking you out! It was a great little 'private' tour wasn't it? Next time you come back to visit your son give us a call. I would love to take you out on tour again!
It was great. Hans did a terrific job of explaining the history of the area. Also asked us about our expectations. Then tailored each stop to things we expressed interest in.
We are delighted you had a great experience! It's fantastic to hear that Hans did a terrific job of explaining the history and, most importantly, tailored each stop based on your interests. We love that he took the time to understand your expectations! Thank you for sharing your feedback.
