Learn about the Rocky Mountain Gold Rush and watch as history comes to life during this family-friendly tour of the Mighty ARGO Gold Mill and Mine. You'll get a lesson from a professional about panning for gold and have the chance to put your skills to work as you search for the real deal in your bag of complimentary gold ore.

Interactive tour of historic ARGO Mill
Travel back in time with an expert guide
Learn about the Rocky Mountain Gold Rush
Pan for gold and keep what you find
Tour a real mine and check out historic artifacts
Perfect for families and history lovers

What's Included

Professional guide

Gratuities

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

Argo Mill
Argo Mill, Idaho Springs, CO 80452, USA

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Travel back in time on this family-friendly adventure to the ARGO Mill and Tunnel. Follow your expert guide through all of the top attractions and watch a movie that explains the origins of this iconic American destination. witness a mining equipment demonstration and travel to the local ore mine known as the Double Eagle. Descend through five stories, past artifacts and left items en route to the museum room, located at the bottom of the mine. The museum room is filled with photos, antiques and plenty of history and facts about early life at the ARGO mill, particularly during the Gold Rush Era. You'll get an expert lesson in panning for gold and have the chance to test your skills (and keep what you find!) on this tour. Travelers can also opt to add a gem panning experience.

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Children must be accompanied by an adult

Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

Operated by ARGO Mill & Mine

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.5

901 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

Showing 1-9 of 901 reviews

Great Gold Mine Tour

Ashley_B, Aug 2023

Allie was a Fantastic tour guide! Very knowledgeable and interesting, answered all our questions with grace and joy.

Fun day trip

Gerri_K, Jul 2023

Interesting information about the history of mining in Colorado as well as the mine/tunnel itself. Gold panning at the end was fun

Great tour of Argo Mill

Johanna_D, Jul 2023

Our guide who was knowledgeable, spoke in depth about the history of the area and had a great sense of humor! Overall it was all fascinating.

Tour guide was very knowledgeable and helpful

Erin_D, Jun 2023

Being told that kids from 6yrs-12-yes were working in these conditions. Being able to pan for gold was a new experience that my group always wanted to do.

Fun, informative tour....

David_K, Jan 2023

Fun, informative tour. Would recommend to others. Interesting to the learn the history of the mine and the work life of the miners.

Mike was our guide and...

Erica_N, Jul 2022

Mike was our guide and WOW! He’s so knowledgeable and made our tour so informational and fun. We (my boyfriend and I) were in a tour with older couples and families with young kids and everyone had a great time! Ask for Mike, he’s the best! All staff were super friendly and helpful! Thank you!

Interesting information about mining. Nice tour. Very informative

Randolph_M, Oct 2021

Learning how to pan for gold was fun. They give you some sand that has been salted with some gold flakes and tell you how to find them by panning

A MUST see part of Colorado and American history!!

LynnMarie_S, Dec 2020

My wife and I were amazed by seeing first hand, everything - the equipment, the working conditions, the enormity of the mill and the events that took place. You gain such perspective on the history of not just mining and mill work, but life in America and the sacrifices made by ordinary men, children and families in extraordinary times.

I'm mechanically inclined and a history...

Jeff B, Aug 2016

I'm mechanically inclined and a history buff so the trip appealed to me.