This Colorado Tour Takes You 1,000 Feet Under the Earth Into a Real Gold Mine

You know how you sometimes stumble on something that feels part history lesson, part adventure playground? That’s exactly what awaits when you wander into a mountain and find yourself shoulder-to-shoulder with the tools, tunnels, and tales of gold miners from a century ago. The air shifts, your ears hear distant drips and echoes, and suddenly, you’re not outside viewing things — you’re in the thick of them.

You’ll creep through dimly lit corridors hewn from rock, pass rusted ore carts frozen in time, hear stories of blasting and mucking, and maybe—just maybe—get your hands dirty breaking open a rock to see hidden specks of gold. It’s not a museum that shouts “don’t touch this,” but a living, breathing mine where the past and present overlap: the drip of water, the crunch underfoot, and the hush that makes every echo feel sacred.

That place? It’s called Capital Prize Gold Mine Tours, a working old-mine turned visitor experience. You’ll go underground (over 1,000 feet into the mountain), learn mining techniques past and present, see veins, tools, sluice boxes, and even crack open ore you get to keep a bit of. It’s a Colorado mine tour with stakes—and sparkle.

What We Love

Deep Tunnel Walk
You don’t just peek in—your feet carry you a full 1,000 feet into real tunnels carved into the mountain. You’ll traverse rock walls, cross rails, and feel the cool, tight hug of the subterranean world.

Then-And-Now Mining Contrast
You’ll see ancient hand tools and blast sites side by side with modern sluice boxes, shaker tables, and classifiers. It’s a living contrast between Wild West grit and today’s mechanical precision.

Hands-On Rock Breaking
After the guided tunnel tour, you’ll stomp back to the surface and crack open your own piece of ore—just like geologists do—and keep any flecks you find.

Cool Constant Temperature
Inside, the mine stays around 49–50 °F, so it’s refreshingly cool in summer and comfortably stable in winter. (Bring a jacket.)

Engaging Guides
Tour guides don’t just recite facts—they weave in human stories, local legends, blasts of humor, and even ghostly lore as you pass through tunnels. The narration keeps things lively.

Atmosphere & Setting

Walking into the mine is like stepping through a secret door: the light dims, the walls narrow, and a hush falls. Lanterns or soft artificial lighting accentuate the rock’s uneven texture and the glint of mineral veins. Inside, sounds carry—your footsteps click, water drips echo, and the guide’s voice seems to cleave the silence. Above ground, the setting is rustic and mountainous: the mine portal is tucked against slopes, timber frames, old equipment, and mining relics scattered about. Outside, views of Colorado’s rugged peaks peek through breaks in the trees. The space flows from surface buildings (ticketing, meeting area) into the adit, then deeper into branching tunnels, narrowing or widening as history intended.

Value (Is It Worth It?)

A standard hour-long tour costs $30 for adults and $20 for children ages 4–16; kids under 3 are free. Tours run on the hour from about 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (in summer) and you’ll want to allow extra time before or after for rock-breaking, lingering, or exploring the surface artifacts. Most folks stay 90 minutes to two hours total. For what you get—a real underground walk, hands-on mining, rich storytelling—it’s time well spent. It’s ideal for families, curious adults, and anyone who loves mixing a little rugged history with actual exploration.

Other Considerations

The mine’s interior is level and generally over six feet tall in most passageways, so stooping is minimal.
But—wheelchairs, strollers, or people with serious mobility constraints may find the tracks, rails, or uneven terrain tricky; they’re not officially allowed in the tunnel.
Because the temperature stays around 49–50 °F, bring a light jacket or sweater. Closed-toe shoes are recommended.
Tours require reservations—slots can fill up fast, especially in summer.
The mine may adjust availability due to weather or road conditions, so check before you go.
There’s no full snack bar or full restaurant inside the mine interior itself; plan ahead.
Parking is available near the site; public transit options are limited, so a car is best.

It’s not every day that you get to wander deep into a mountain, chisel at your own rock, hear the echoes of past miners, and end up with a speck—or more—of gold in your hand. If you’re cruising through Colorado and itching for something that’s part history, part hands-on adventure, this one’s a gem of a detour.

Capital Prize Gold Mine Tours
📍 1016 Biddle St, Georgetown, Colorado 80444