Juneau: Underground Gold Mine Tour & Panning with Pickup

Summary

Gold mine tunnels, real panning and miner tales in Juneau

You’ll walk deep into Juneau’s only underground gold mine with a local miner as your guide, try your hand at real gold panning (and keep what you find), see historic mining machines in action, and wander through authentic displays before heading back—all with easy pickup included. The echoes and stories linger long after you’re above ground again.

What’s the experience like?

"You ever smell dynamite before breakfast?" our guide Mike grinned as he handed out hardhats by the van. I hadn’t, obviously, but he had that kind of face where you believe he probably has—more than once. The ride along Gastineau Channel was short, maybe ten minutes, with those low clouds that make everything feel like it’s holding its breath. We piled out and walked the old boardwalk into the tunnel, helmets bumping, boots echoing off wet rock. It smelled like cold iron and something earthy—hard to describe if you’ve never been underground.

Mike used to work these tunnels before they turned into tours. He showed us how miners drilled and set charges (the drill was so loud my teeth buzzed), then flicked his flashlight at tiny veins in the stone. “That’s what they chased,” he said, tapping a spot barely wider than my finger. I tried picturing hundreds of men down here every day, hauling ore in pitch dark—can’t really imagine it until you’re standing there with water dripping somewhere behind you. I kept thinking about how quiet it is now compared to what it must’ve been.

Back outside at the old mill, we watched this ancient machine—the John Peterson Stamp Mill—clatter to life for a few minutes. The whole thing shook; I felt it in my chest more than my ears. Then came the gold panning part. They handed us pans of dirt (they call it “pay dirt”) and showed us how to swirl for flecks of gold and garnets. My hands got muddy fast and I almost lost my pan twice—Li laughed at me while she found three little specks right away. You get to keep whatever you find; mine are still taped inside my journal.

I wandered through some displays after that—a steam engine from the 1800s, old photos of miners staring straight through you—and poked around the General Store for a weird souvenir (I settled on a tiny vial for my gold). There was something about leaving that tunnel and stepping into daylight again that stuck with me longer than I expected. Maybe just knowing there’s so much history under your feet here in Juneau—you don’t really shake it off when you leave.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Juneau underground gold mine tour

• Ride along Gastineau Channel
• Put on hardhats
• Walk 360 ft into tunnel
• Watch hard rock mining demo
• Learn mining lifestyle
• See John Peterson Stamp mill operate
• Try panning for gold and garnets
• Explore mining displays
• Visit General Store

Top questions

How do I get to the Juneau underground gold mine tour?

The tour includes all transportation—no private vehicles are allowed or needed.

Is the Juneau underground gold mine tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the experience is wheelchair accessible and suitable for all fitness levels.

Can children join the underground gold mine tour?

Yes, infants and small children can join; strollers or prams are allowed.

Do I get to keep any gold I find during panning?

Yes, you keep whatever gold or garnets you find during panning—pay dirt is guaranteed.

Who leads the underground gold mine tour in Juneau?

An experienced former miner guides you through the tunnel and demonstrations.

How far do we go inside the tunnel?

You’ll walk about 360 feet into Alaska’s only underground tunnel open for tours.

Is lunch included on this tour?

No lunch is included; however, there is a General Store on site for snacks or souvenirs.

What will I see besides the tunnel on this day trip?

You’ll see historic mining equipment like the John Peterson Stamp Mill and Alaska’s first steam engine.

What’s included

Your day includes private transportation from Juneau (no need to drive yourself), entry into Alaska’s only underground gold mine tunnel with a local guide who worked these mines himself, hands-on gold panning with guaranteed pay dirt (and yes—you keep what you find), plus time to explore historic displays and browse the General Store before heading back downtown.