We're here to help
    Book online or call (650) 414-7338
    1. Local experiences/
    2. Idaho Springs, CO/
    3. Land Activities/
    4. Guided Tours/
    5. Find & Keep Real Gold in Mountain Creek
    Why travelers choose Greetwell
    Curated by our team

    Every experience is selected and approved for quality and safety

    Personal concierge

    Real humans available to help before, during, and after your booking

    Intimate & authentic

    Including unique in-home experiences you won't find anywhere else

    Easy booking

    Reserve in minutes with flexible cancellation on most experiences

    Greetwell

    Greetwell curates authentic local experiences and provides personal concierge support in over 500 destinations, helping you explore confidently wherever you go.

    About

    • Our Story
    • For Experience Providers
    • For Hospitality Partners

    Concierge Support

    • Help Center
    • (650) 414-7338
    • Contact our team

    Safe & Secure Payments

    © 2026 Greetwell, Inc. All rights reserved.
    Privacy PolicyTerms
    Gallery image
    Gallery image 1
    Gallery image 2
    Gallery image 3
    Gallery image 5

    Find & Keep Real Gold in Mountain Creek

    Keep every glittering flake you uncover during hands-on panning

    From$18/ person

    Duration

    30 mins minimum

    Includes

    15-min lesson, Gold pan loan

    Highlights

    Step into the Rockies and try your luck at real gold panning. After a brief lesson from experienced staff, search for flakes in a mountain creek or indoor tank and keep every speck you discover.

    • Learn classic panning techniques in 15 minutes
    • Pan outdoors in the creek during summer months
    • Prospect underground in a tank when the creek is frozen
    • Use provided gold pan or bring your own gear
    • Keep every piece of gold you uncover

    What's Included

    • Gold panning lesson with a team member
    • Gold pan loan during your visit
    • Unlimited time to pan until dark

    Things to know

    Arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled time. Creek panning is available May–September; winter sessions are held indoors. Water shoes and a light jacket are recommended.

    Cancellation policy

    Cancel at least 24 hours before the start for a full refund. No refunds are given for no-shows. If the operator cancels due to weather or other circumstances, you may choose a full refund or rebooking. Refunds for late cancellations or other situations are at the operator's discretion.

    Meeting location

    800 Trail Creek Road, Idaho Springs, CO 80452

    Experience provided by Phoenix Gold Mine
    Experience provided by Phoenix Gold Mine

    How can we help?

    We are here to assist with special requests, large groups, last minute needs, and any questions you may have.

    Call or text (650) 414-7338

    Reference #RZZC8R

    Adult

    $18

    Ages 17+

    0

    Child

    $16

    Ages 4-16

    0

    Why book through Greetwell?

    • Greetwell Approved

      This experience meets our quality and safety standards

    • Includes Concierge Support

      Our team is here to help with questions, timing, or special requests

    • Flexible Cancellation

      Plans change? Most experiences offer flexible cancellation

    Search all experiences

    Discover what we've curated for you

    4.8 stars• 716 reviews

    Review summary

    4.8
    Excellent
    716 reviews•Google Maps

    Visitors consistently praise the knowledgeable and engaging tour guides here, with Izzy, Julian, Ruth, and Pete earning special mentions for making the experience both educational and entertaining. The tours cover fascinating mining history and geology, with options to explore two different mines that showcase various aspects of Colorado's gold mining past. Tour guides field questions enthusiastically and clearly love what they do, which makes the experience that much more memorable. Beyond the mines themselves, expect some delightful extras. Gold panning proves surprisingly rewarding, with several visitors finding actual gold specks and nice quartz specimens. The friendly chipmunks are an unexpected highlight that nearly everyone mentions—you can buy food to hand-feed them, which is especially popular with kids. The setting is genuinely beautiful, nestled in a valley along a creek. Just bring a jacket since the mines stay cold year-round, and taller visitors should be prepared to duck occasionally, though even guests over six feet manage fine. The Mother Lode package gets recommended for those wanting the full experience.

    What people are saying

    Review 1 of 5
    5/5

    Absolutely amazing experience. We did the complete tour (both mine tours plus gold panning) and had a blast the entire time. There was so much to learn and the staff was extremely friendly and loved talking to us. Make sure you ask questions on the tours - the tour guides love answering questions and it will really add to the experience. Also - BRING YOUR DOG. The Phoenix gold mine is completely dog friendly and our little guy enjoyed the experience. We hope to come back in a year or two when they have their third mine open for touring (Jimmy’s mine).

    Photo of Brad J

    Brad J

    August 26, 2025

    Review 1 of 1
    5/5

    Absolutely amazing experience. We did the complete tour (both mine tours plus gold panning) and had a blast the entire time. There was so much to learn and the staff was extremely friendly and loved talking to us. Make sure you ask questions on the tours - the tour guides love answering questions and it will really add to the experience. Also - BRING YOUR DOG. The Phoenix gold mine is completely dog friendly and our little guy enjoyed the experience. We hope to come back in a year or two when they have their third mine open for touring (Jimmy’s mine).

    Photo of Brad J

    Brad J

    August 26, 2025

    Nearby activities

    Thumbnail

    Pan Real Gold in Historic Colorado Gold Mine

    From$28/ person
    Thumbnail

    Gold Mine Tour with Train Ride & Keep Your Gold

    From$54/ person
    Thumbnail

    Historic Mine Train & Centurion Level Lantern Tour

    From$32/ person
    Thumbnail

    Half-Day Guided River Kayaking with Experts

    $99/ person
    Thumbnail

    Upper Colorado River Guided Rafting Half Day

    From$89/ person
    Thumbnail

    Half Day Guided River SUP Tour in Silverthorne

    $99/ person