Historic Gold Mining and Panning Adventure

Overview

While you’re in port in Juneau, venture to Gold Creek and Last Chance Basin for a true Alaskan gold adventure! Hear about the historic Alaskan Gold Rush and learn how to pan for gold – you’ll keep all the gold you find! Your guide, dressed in traditional 19th-century attire, will take you to a secluded location along Gold Creek, only accessible with a special permit, and show you what it was like during the Gold Rush for the thousands who flocked to the region. Choose to either pan in the creek or enter the waist-high water in the demonstration trough – either way, you’re guaranteed to find gold!

City: Juneau

Mon 12 May

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $99.00

Make a reservation

Mon 12 May

Starting at $99.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Worry-free Shore Excursion Guarantee

All necessary equipment

Transportation

Guide

Additional Info

Service animals allowed
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Children 13-17 must have a signed parental consent form to participate in the absence of a parent or guardian

What To Expect

Last Chance Mining Museum

Catch “gold fever” and experience what it was like to seek your fortune during Gold Rush days! Learn to pan for gold and keep all you find! Discover Juneau’s colorful mining heritage for yourself. Head out with your prospector/guide for a historical tour of Juneau, including the state capitol. Then, turn up the road to Gold Creek and “Last Chance Basin,” where Joe Juneau and Richard Harris struck gold in 1880. In a beautiful, secluded setting near a waterfall alongside Gold Creek — only accessible for groups under our tour’s special permit — your prospector shows you how gold panning is really done. Then, it’s your turn, as you expertly work the pan with helpful tips and advice in the creek, or in the waist-high demonstration trough. People of all ages and mobility limitations can learn how to pan and capture the full gold-rush experience. You’re guaranteed to find gold, and all that glitters is yours to keep! See the remnants of the original buildings of the Alaska-Juneau Mining Company all around you. At the height of production, it was the largest operation of its type in the world. You’ll learn about the mining techniques used, and the quest for gold that is such a major part of Alaska’s history. Take home a souvenir Orelove Brothers Gold Claim Certificate, all the gold you find, and an appreciation of what it was like to seek your fortune in the wilds of Alaska more than a century ago.

Cancellation Policy

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (40)

Odyssey808738

Aug 2024

We had a lot of fun in the rain trying to pan for gold. The pay dirt paid out, but finding it on our own was a lot harder and challenging. We had a lot of laughs with our guide/bus driver. He was full of info and great tips on finding some naturally. I would recommend this experience to any and everyone.

littlejet

Aug 2024

Had fun with this excursion! Although our driver wasn’t dressed in period-costume, she gave us a nice history of the area. She was driving and narrating though. Wish someone else drove so she could give us her full attention. When we arrived at gold creek, she used the standing up test box to show us how to pan. Each of our pre-arranged pans had some flakes of gold in it which we put in tiny 1-ounce vials she gave us. Then, if you wanted, you could walk to the creek and do more panning for gold. Afterwards, she dropped us off at the salmon bakery. Panning for gold was one of my teenage son’s favorite parts of our trip!

jcbtexas

Jul 2024

Raining and cold, but bus ride and narration was enjoyable. Driver looked the part and explained the process well. Would have been nice to find more than a few tiny flakes or to let the kids get another pan to sift through, but a good opportunity for first time “miners” to learn the process.