Phoenix Gold Mine: Visit A Colorado Gold Mine

ByChristine Updated on

The Phoenix Gold Mine is located in Idaho Springs, Colorado. It’s a family friendly fun and unique mine tour experience because you have time for some fun photo ops, actual gold panning yourself, and even riding in a mine train.

We had a great time visiting with friends, but we know our kids would have loved it too so bring the whole family!

You can’t be in this part of Colorado and not do something related to the Gold Rush! Here is what you can expect and some tips for your visit!

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Colorado Gold Rush

There are several gold mines that you can tour in this area, as Idaho Springs was a key location in the Colorado Gold Rush.

There’s a lot written online about the history of the mine, so I won’t go into it other than to say that it’s impressive how long it’s been in operation, the cheap price some buyers got for it along the way, and the tenacity miners showed in continuing to work on the mine despite set-backs, because it definitely paid off.

The Basics

  • What: Fun gold mine tour. Not something you see everyday!
  • Who: Anyone interested in getting a glimpse inside a gold mine.
  • Where: Idaho Springs, CO
  • When: According to website it is open from 10-4 daily.
  • Why: Learn some history. See the inner workings of a gold mine. Learn something new!
  • How: It was easy enough just to drive up, pay, and get on the next tour. Not much waiting required. Make sure to bring some layers and wear closed toed shoes. It is a bit chilly in there and it is a mine after all.

Take The Tour

The Phoenix Gold Mine tour is pretty laid back. We were given helmets and were able to take as many pictures as we wanted.

The guide had a light and there was some lighting around the mine, but we also used flashlights on our cell phone which was nice to see things more clearly, especially if you weren’t right next to the guide or wanted to look at something a bit longer. Bring your cell phone or a little flashlight along for that purpose.

Along the way you could see where shafts were dug up and down to various levels in the mine. Apparently this one went for a long ways. They did keep various sections of stone un-mined so it could continue to help support the walls provided greater stability.

The tour guide gave us time for a fun photo-op picture. Fire in the hole!

This machine is called the “Widow Maker.” The use of this drill killed miners because of the silicosis of the lungs it caused due to the dust it created. We were glad to hear of its eventual replacement with other methods.

The Resurrection Vein, found in a newer section of the mine, according to the Phoenix Gold Mine website is “a very rich gold vein, by mining standards, providing over 2 ounces of gold per ton and frequent small pockets of pure GOLD!” It was definitely neat to see these areas where the gold could be seen at the surface.

It was also neat to see the processing room, the ball mill, and the shaker table all used to process the mined rock and separate out the gold and other precious metals. Very interesting place!

Ride a Mine Car

An exciting alternative to the regular tour, a second option is to ride a mine train to the oldest part of the Phoenix Gold Mine. Keep in mind you’ll have to walk a bit uphill to get to the train, but it seems worth it for this neat way to ride to the mine entrance.

Once there, you’ll have a dark mine tour with lanterns to light the way. Apparently there are glow in the dark rocks too! I’ve never seen these outside of a museum.

Since we have been on the regular mine tour, this is the one I would pick for our next visit to the Phoenix Gold Mine!

Go Panning For Gold

If you want to get even more hands on in experiencing gold mining for yourselves, you can go panning for gold in either the creek when the weather is good, or underground when the creek has iced over.

This experience is included in the ticket price for either tour. Personally I’d rather pay less for the tour and have the option to add this on or not, but since it’s already included it thankfully sounds pretty cool.

Usually you’ll find places that offer fabricated “gem mining” with pre-stocked bags, but I would actually try this gold mining experience as I could picture standing in this creek during the Gold Rush and hoping for a lucky break. This sounds like a fun experience and you get to keep what you find!

Visiting With Kids

Our kids would love this tour and I think yours will too. They make the tour not only educational but fun. If you combine it with a mine train ride or the gold panning, kids are sure to have a blast.

The mine describes itself as family friendly and for all ages, so be sure to bring the kids along. We would have, we just went before we had any kids!

You’re even allowed to bring your pets. The traditional tour can even accommodate strollers as long as they are singles and not too wide. Ones like what we have with beefier tires work better. Bring a front baby carrier if you take the mine car tour though.

Since kids can get themselves soaking wet any time there is water, I’d recommend a change of clothes just in case they need a fresh set after panning for gold.

What To Do Next?

From here, go into Idaho Springs and check out the shops and restaurants. Our favorites are Beau Jo’s Pizza with the most delicious crust that you can put honey on as a built-in dessert, and Tommy Knocker Brewery.

Spend another day driving to the top of Mount Evans, one of Colorado’s 14ers, or whitewater rafting Upper Clear Creek Canyon.

Christine is the co-founder of Never Stop Adventuring, and an avid traveler who started traveling the world as a child growing up in a military family. She even lived in Germany for numerous years. Since then she has been to 48 U.S. states, 17 countries, and traveled the U.S. in an RV for over 7 years.

With her 3 kids, the adventures continued family travel style. She has planned and coordinated travel with kids for the last 10 years and shares family travel tips and tricks, destinations, costs and even the mistakes so you can be empowered to take your own family trips with confidence!