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Long-forgotten mines in North America that once echoed with the clatter of picks and the rumble of carts now offer curious travelers the chance to descend into history.
These abandoned mine tours aren't just dusty tunnels; they're immersive experiences filled with stories of booms and busts, ghost towns, and the grit of the American frontier. Whether you’re a geology geek, history buff, or just love a good thrill, these off-highway adventures are like time capsules waiting to be explored.
From the rugged cliffs of Colorado to the sun-scorched deserts of Nevada, mine tours span the country, each with its own unique slice of industrial lore. Ready to head underground? Here are 15 of the best historic mine tours in the U.S. that dig deep into the nation’s mining past.
Kennecott Copper Mine – Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska
Getting here is an adventure in itself. Located in the remote landscape of Alaska, the Kennecott Copper Mine is considered the best remaining example of early 20th-century Copper Mining. Of its original 76 buildings, many still stand today of its well-preserved mining operation and community—perched amongst 2,800 acres of surrounding glacier-capped peaks and picturesque mountain landscapes.
Choose from a self-guided or ranger-led tour through the National Historic Landmark's iconic red mill building, which offers stunning views and gripping stories of life in one of the harshest mining environments in the country.
Copper Queen Mine – Bisbee, Ariz.
Don a hard hat, miner’s headlamp and yellow slicker as you board a mine train that takes you deep into this century-old copper mine in southern Arizona.
Guided by former miners, the Queen Mine tour offers an in-depth and personal look at one of Arizona’s most productive mines. The underground passages are extensive, making it one of the most immersive mine experiences in the country.
Crater of Diamonds State Park - Murfreesboro, Ark.
Not your typical underground mining tour experience, this mining experience in southwest Arkansas has you mining for diamonds above ground.
The only place in the world where the public can search for real diamonds in their original volcanic source, Crater of Diamonds is a one-of-a-kind experience that brings people to the 37-acre field, the eroded surface of a volcanic crater, in search of a variety of rocks, minerals, and gemstones – and any rock or mineral you find is yours to keep.
More than 35,000 diamonds have been found by park visitors since the Crater of Diamonds became a state park in 1972.
Empire Mine State Historic Park – Grass Valley, Calif.
Once one of California’s oldest and richest gold mines, the Empire Mine features restored buildings, a blacksmith shop, and beautiful gardens alongside underground displays.
The park contains many of the mine’s buildings, the owner’s home and restored gardens, as well as the entrance to 367 miles of abandoned and flooded mine shafts. Guided tours explain the work needed to extract gold from the 367 miles of underground tunnels as well as a look at the historic estate that reveals the opulent lives of the owners of the mine.
The park is located off of Colfax Highway, which links the foothill town of Colfax to the historic 1800 town of Grass Valley. The mountain route takes drivers through beautiful Sierra landscapes.
Gold Bug Mine - Placerville, Calif.
The Gold Bug Mine, nestled within Gold Bug Park in Placerville, Calif., is an authentic hard-rock gold mine dating back to 1888.
Visitors can explore a 352-foot drift lined with wooden walkways and natural air shafts that keep the tunnel cool year-round. Whether you choose a self-guided audio tour—complete with a hardhat and narrated insights—or a docent-led experience, you’ll uncover the fascinating geological and historical context of California’s Gold Rush era.
Beyond the mine, Gold Bug Park spans over 60 acres and offers a variety of activities where you can pan for riches in the gem panning trough, visit the historic Stamp Mill and working Blacksmith shop.
Matchless Mine – Leadville, Colo.
Once owned by the infamous silver tycoon Horace Tabor, this mine is part of Leadville's larger mining heritage.
Visitors can explore the surface structures and learn about the Tabor family's tragic rags-to-riches-to-rags story. Though limited underground access is available, the site is rich in history and ghost town vibes. Be sure to also stop in at the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum—known as the “Smithsonian of the Rockies.”
Gold Belt Scenic Byway in Colo.
Hit the road with a driving tour along Colorado’s Gold Belt Scenic Byway. Connecting the small towns of Cripple Creek and Victor Mining District—the site of the world’s largest gold rush—to the nearby communities of Canon City and Florissant.
The 131-mile driving route winds through scenic aspen groves, iconic mountain peaks, and numerous historic mining sites. Take to the trails and explore the Vindicator Mine Valley Trail in Victor, or descend 1,000 feet into America’s only vertical shaft gold mine tour at the Mollie Kathleen Mine.
The historic mine offers an authentic glimpse into the workings of a hard rock mine, complete with machinery demos and geological wonders. This scenic route can be accessed at the northern end of the Byway from U.S. Highway 24 and the southern end via U.S. Highway 50.
Crystal Gold Mine – Kellogg, Idaho
Re-discovered accidentally in the 1990s after being closed for 100 years, the Crystal Gold Mine ran as one of the first hard rock mines in Idaho’s Silver Valley in the 1880s.
The well-preserved gold mine offers a walk-through tour 900 feet below the surface, filled with visible gold veins you can still see and touch, while guides share colorful tales of Idaho’s gold rush and the miners who worked in near darkness.
Adventure Mine – Greenland, Mich.
Located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, this copper mine offers several levels of exploration, from easy walking tours to rugged rappelling adventures. Its dark, dripping chambers showcase how hand tools and dynamite shaped the region.
The Adventure Mine lives up to its name with an adventurous experience rappelling down a mine shaft, underground drilling and blasting workshops, or an easy guided walking tour.
World Museum of Mining - Butte, Mont.
A mining city that was so big, it was a state before it became an incorporated city in Montana. Butte, Montana, known for a while as “Butte, America,” is the best example of a rich mining town that went bust.
During the late 1800s, Butte was the biggest and richest mining town in the country, with deep mines that you can explore with a tour, some running one mile deep underground. Visit the World Museum of Mining—one of the few museums in the world located on a real mine yard – the Orphan Girl Mine.
This currently operating mine stands tall with its 100-foot steel headframe and mine shafts that run to a depth of 3,200 feet, which produced silver, lead, and zinc from 1875 until 1956. Take a tour of the massive steel headframe and explore the depths of the Orphan Girl Mine on their Underground Mine Tour.
Ponderosa Saloon & Underground Mine Tour – Virginia City, Nev.
Visit C Street in Virginia City—one of the top historic main streets in the U.S.—and step right beneath the boardwalks of this historic boomtown into a well-preserved 1860s gold and silver mine connected to the Ponderosa Saloon.
The short but informative tour of the old Best & Belcher mine is a great add-on to a visit to Virginia City, blending Wild West history with hands-on mining education.
Expect a 25-minute guided tour featuring over 300 pieces of equipment on display. It’s the best of both worlds: a real mine that has been stabilized and retrofitted to feel like a museum.
Emerald Hollow Mine - Hiddenite, N.C.
You might strike it rich at the Emerald Hollow Mine, the only emerald mine in the world open to the public for prospecting.
Nestled in the foothills of the Brushy Mountains in North Carolina, 60 miles north of Charlotte, the mine is host to more than 60 different types of naturally occurring gems and minerals, including emeralds, aquamarines, sapphires, topaz, amethyst, and citrine.
Sterling Hill Mining Museum – Ogdensburg, N.J.
Nestled in the small town of Ogdensburg, New Jersey, the world-famous mineral deposits of the Sterling Hill Mine are a geological wonderment.
The zinc mine features fluorescent mineral displays that light up like a natural neon show. Once a major hub of the East Coast mining industry, Sterling Hill now educates visitors on geology, mining equipment, and mineral science.
Don’t miss the Rainbow Tunnel—one of the most Instagram-worthy spots underground.
Lackawanna Coal Mine – Scranton, Pa.
Descend 300 feet beneath the surface into this historic anthracite coal mine that originally opened in 1860.
Guides, including retired miners, lead you through cool, dark tunnels and explain the harsh realities of coal mining. The tour sheds light on the darkest of places that reveal the tough lives of coal miners who powered the Industrial Revolution.
Broken Boot Gold Mine – Deadwood, S.D.
Discover the beauty of the Black Hills and its gold rush history with a visit to the quirky, yet authentic, Broken Boot Gold Mine.
Named after a lone boot found during its original excavation, this South Dakota gold mine played a significant role in the Black Hills gold rush in the late 1800s (one of America’s last great gold rushes). Head underground and learn about the lives of prospectors, how to pan for gold, and the colorful history of the Wild West.
CANADA
Drivers also can find historic mines when traveling to Canada. Here are some of the top spots:
Bellevue Underground Mine - Alberta
Take the time to drive the scenic route along Crowsnest Highway in Alberta, Canada, to the top of the mountain pass for a tour of western Canada’s only underground coal mine tour. At Crowsnest Pass, 2.5 hours south of Calgary, the Bellevue Mine offers a fascinating glimpse into Canada’s coal mining history. A one-hour guided tour descends nearly 1,000 feet into the underground inner workings of this historic mine, while you listen to Heritage Interpreters recount gripping stories of the miners' daily lives and the catastrophic 1910 explosion.
Britannia Mine Museum "The Underground" - British Columbia
Head to Canada’s westernmost province to discover a deep dive into what was once the largest copper mine in the world. Situated along the shores of Howe Sound in British Columbia, the Britannia Mine Museum tells the stories and history of this mining community that once housed 60,000 residents.
Don your hard hats and board a historic mine train that takes you through the original underground mining tunnels. Listen and watch as knowledgeable guides demonstrate drilling techniques and recount the hard lives of miners. After the tour, take the time to explore the rest of the historic site with gold panning stations, interactive exhibits, and the award‑winning BOOM! multi-sensory mill show.
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