Tillie Doyle
Cripple Creek, Colorado, is known as the World's Greatest Gold Camp. Gold was first discovered in the area in 1874, and by 1891, a very rich vein had been found, leading to a gold rush. Today, visitors can descend 1,000 feet into the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine to learn about the history of the gold rush and see gold veins in their natural state. There are also gold panning experiences at the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum, where you can try your hand at finding Cripple Creek turquoise, topaz, and other gems, as well as real gold.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Gold Panning Location | Victor Lowell Thomas Museum |
| Gold Panning Time | Memorial Day Weekend through the end of September |
| Gold Panning Days | Monday to Friday |
| Gold Panning Time Slots | 10 am to 4 pm |
| Gold Panning Activity | Gem and Gold Panning |
| Gold Panning Fee | Not mentioned |
| Gold Mine Tour | Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine Tour |
| Gold Mine Location | Cripple Creek, Colorado |
| Gold Mine Depth | 1,000 feet underground |
| Gold Mine Temperature | 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit (10 to 16 degrees Celsius) |
| Gold Mine Accessibility | Not ADA accessible |
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What You'll Learn
The Victor Lowell Thomas Museum
During the summer months, the museum offers gold and gem panning daily from 10 am to 4 pm. Visitors can try their luck at finding Cripple Creek turquoise, topaz, and other gems, as well as real gold. The gold panning trough is stocked with real gold and is open from Memorial Day Weekend through the end of September, weather permitting. The museum also offers walking tours of the Sunnyside Cemetery, where visitors can learn more about the 1890s gold rush that made Victor and Cripple Creek famous.
In addition to gold panning, the museum has a variety of exhibits and themed rooms, including an old-fashioned doctor's office and a media room where visitors can watch a free video about Lowell Thomas. The museum's gift shop offers a unique selection of books, historic maps, postcards, Victorian jewellery, and even gold ore and rocks.
For those interested in learning more about the gold rush history of the region, the nearby Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine in Cripple Creek offers a unique underground experience. Descending 1,000 feet into the mine, visitors can explore the fascinating engineering feats of the early days of the gold rush and learn about the extraction of gold ore from the Rocky Mountains.
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Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine
The Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine is a historic vertical shaft mine located near Cripple Creek, Colorado, in the United States. The mine is named after Mollie Kathleen Gortner, who staked the original claim in 1891. It is the first claim to be struck by a woman in the Cripple Creek and Victor gold camp.
The Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine is a unique attraction that allows visitors to descend 1,000 feet (300 m) underground—the same depth as the height of the Empire State Building!—into a real mine from the early days of the Cripple Creek Gold Rush. Visitors are provided with state-required hard hats and are advised to wear good walking shoes. The mine maintains a consistent temperature of 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit (10–16°C).
Once inside the mine, visitors can learn about the history of the gold mine and Colorado's early gold rush years. The tour includes views of real gold veins in their natural state, a mineral display, and mining equipment from different eras. Visitors can also ride in an underground tram air locomotive and explore historic equipment and outbuildings above ground.
The Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine operated for decades, adapting through many mining processes, until a lack of ore processing methods in the region made mining too difficult. Today, it continues to operate as a tourist attraction, offering daily tours that depart on the hour from 10 am to 4 pm. Adults cost $20.00, and children are $12.00.
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Mueller State Park
The park is located in Divide, Colorado, just 40 minutes from Colorado Springs, and sits at the base of Pikes Peak. It spans 5,121 acres of natural land, rich in wildlife and history. Once a Ute hunting ground, the area later witnessed the Pikes Peak gold rush in the late 1850s and the Cripple Creek gold rush in the 1890s, attracting prospectors and settlers. The land has been used for various purposes over the years, including gold panning, lumber harvesting, farming, and even bootlegging.
Today, the park is home to a diverse array of plant and animal life. The park uplands are dominated by mixed coniferous and aspen forests, montane grasslands, rock outcrops, and wetland communities. Rare plant species in the park include calypso orchid, rattlesnake fern, grass fern, maidenhair spleenwort, bunchberry, swamp violet, and golden sedge. Wildlife species roaming the park include elk, black bear, eagles, and hawks.
The Mueller Visitor Center is located 1.5 miles from the park entrance on Wapiti Road and is open daily from 9 am to 4 pm. Pets are allowed in the campsites, picnic areas, and on paved roads but are prohibited on all trails and in the backcountry. Check-in time for camping is 4 pm on the day of arrival, and check-out time is noon on the day of departure. A reservation is necessary, with a minimum reservation of two nights for cabins.
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Cripple Creek's tours
Cripple Creek, Colorado, is a historic mining town that offers a range of tours and attractions for those interested in gold panning and the history of the Gold Rush. Here are some places you can visit and activities you can do while in Cripple Creek:
Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine Tour
The Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine is a must-visit attraction in Cripple Creek. This authentic gold mine, discovered in 1891, offers a unique opportunity to descend 1,000 feet underground and experience the life of gold miners during the Gold Rush. Hard hats are provided, and good walking shoes are recommended for this tour. Above ground, you can explore historic equipment, outbuildings, and a gift shop selling minerals, jewellery, and souvenirs.
Victor Lowell Thomas Museum
During the summer months, the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum hosts gold and gem panning activities. Visitors can try their hand at panning for Cripple Creek turquoise, topaz, and even real gold. The museum also offers special panning activities during Gold Rush Days, held on the third weekend in July.
Cripple Creek Tours
Cripple Creek offers a variety of tours that showcase the history and heritage of the Gold Rush era. Visitors can explore the old saloons and brothels that once lined Bennett Avenue and Myers Avenue, also known as the Red Light District. The Homestead Museum, once a popular brothel, provides insight into the lively entertainment scene that flourished during the Gold Rush.
Gold Mine Tour
In addition to the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine Tour, there are other gold mine tours in the area that allow visitors to vertically descend into the earth, witness underground mining, ride an underground tram air locomotive, and view gold veins in their natural state. These tours provide an immersive experience of the "Old West" and the challenges faced by hard rock gold miners.
Gold Panning in Nearby Areas
While there may be some spots for freelance gold panning near Cripple Creek, such as east of Victor or along certain creeks and canyons, it is important to be cautious and respectful of private property and claim markers. Additionally, certain state parks, such as Mueller SP and Fairplay, offer gold panning with the purchase of a daily permit.
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Gold panning in Denver
For those looking for a more authentic gold panning experience, the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine in Cripple Creek offers a unique opportunity to descend 1,000 feet into a real mine from the Gold Rush era. Here, you can learn about the history of the mine and the engineering feats that allowed miners to extract gold ore from deep beneath the Rocky Mountains. Above ground, you can explore historic equipment and outbuildings, as well as purchase souvenirs, minerals, and even gold at the gift shop.
In addition to these sites, there are other spots near Cripple Creek where you can try your luck at freelance gold panning. These include areas east of Victor, as well as dried canyons, riverbeds, and hard rock pockets in pegmatite. Keep in mind that local clubs and state parks may also allow gold panning with the appropriate permits.
While Denver itself doesn't have the same gold-rich history as Cripple Creek, there are still opportunities to learn about and experience gold panning in the area. The Arapahoe bar in Denver, for example, offers a guaranteed chance to find gold, although conditions may vary depending on the season.
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Frequently asked questions
Gold panning is a fun activity for all ages in Colorado. While there are no guarantees, you can try your luck at Mueller State Park, which is the closest to Cripple Creek. Fairplay, Colorado, is another option, where you can pan with a $10 daily permit.
Yes, the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum in Cripple Creek hosts gold panning during the summer months. You can also try your hand at finding Cripple Creek turquoise, topaz, and other gems.
Yes, the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine in Cripple Creek offers tours where you can descend 1,000 feet into a real mine from the early days of the Cripple Creek Gold Rush.
Visiting a gold mine in Cripple Creek, such as the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine, allows you to learn about the history of Colorado's Gold Rush days. You can discover the feats of human engineering involved in underground mining, view gold veins in their natural state, and experience the sights and sounds of mining equipment.
Yes, Cripple Creek offers various tours and experiences related to its gold mining history. For example, you can sift and sort tailing piles, explore historic equipment and outbuildings, and visit the Homestead Museum, which was once a popular brothel during the gold rush.
