Catch gold fever with guaranteed gold. Keep all you can find!

Duration

Approximately 1.5 Hours

About

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.

What's Included

Escorted tour by prospector/guide from the dock; van transfer to Gold Creek; use of rain ponchos if needed; gold panning lessons; narration on the gold discovery of Juneau and hard rock mining; take home the gold you pan; gold claim certificate; return transfer to the dock.

Additional Information

• Participants should be prepared for inclement weather and dress in warm layers. Raingear is provided; however, guests are encouraged to bring their own to ensure maximum comfort while on tour. Suitable for all ages and no prior experience necessary.
• Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Children ages 13-17 must have a signed parental consent form to participate in the absence of a parent or guardian.
• This tour is not suitable for guests confined to wheelchairs due to the rocky, uneven terrain at Last Chance Basin.
• Multiple daily departures late April through mid-October at times to accommodate cruise ship or tour schedules. This tour operates in all weather conditions.