How to Find Gold in Breckenridge: A Guide to Discovering the Town’s Hidden Treasures and Mining History

June 22, 2024

Country Boy Mine offers an authentic gold panning experience that appeals to all ages.
Country Boy Mine/Courtesy of

A century before the five peaks shaped the identity of the town of Breckenridge, the mountains were the last thing that drew people to this small town on Colorado’s western slope.

The reign of outdoor recreation began at the end of the 20th century and has not lost any of its importance since then. However, attentive observers will notice the remains of an industry that was dominant almost 100 years before the first ski resort was built: mining.

Once the snow melts and the crowds leave the resorts, Breckenridge’s history comes to life again. Thanks to the efforts to preserve history, Breckenridge has been able to develop another branch of the tourism industry, with people visiting the town to learn more about the town’s rich heritage that endures to this day.

Whether it’s hands-on activities, guided tours or hikes with hidden treasures: there are plenty of stories to discover.

Entitlement to an award-winning experience

Miners stand in front of the first successful Pelton wheel, which was put into operation in Summit County in Breckenridge around 1880.

Mining experiences have become so popular in Breckenridge that one business received a coveted Michelin star in 2023. The award-winning Country Boy Mine experience takes place in French Gulch, just outside of downtown.

The mine offers visitors an authentic experience led by staff who know the area’s history better than most. The site features donkey rides, hayrides, treasure hunts and of course mine tours and gold panning.

A 45-minute tour of the Country Boy Mine gives visitors an insight into the work in the ore veins beneath Breckenridge.

From the moment you arrive, it’s clear that Jon Bellew, the manager of the Country Boy Mine, is passionate about passing on his knowledge to guests. He doesn’t just send people into the mine and pan for gold with the words “Have fun.” Rather, he wants to make sure people understand the story behind what they’re seeing so they can enjoy the full experience.

The mine offers a 45-minute mine tour that allows visitors to see the veins of ore that made Breckenridge famous. Bellew said the experience is appropriate for all ages.

He said that in addition to the obvious favorites like gold panning and mine tours, people also love the treasure hunts.

“It requires a lot of compass and map knowledge,” Bellew said. “It’s like an outdoor escape room.”

The mine tour includes free gold panning and participants can stay in the creek until the mine closes. The mine tour and gold panning package starts at $42.50 per person and reservations are recommended as tours fill up quickly. Visitors can skip the mine tour and dive right into Eureka Creek with a gold panning pass that starts at $19.95 per person.

The mine is open Wednesday through Sunday and offers tours from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The mine is located at 0542 French Gulch Road and closes at 5 p.m.

For more information visit CountryBoyMine.com.

Searching for gold in the city centre

Just below the Country Boy Mine is a center that displays many well-preserved aspects of Breckenridge’s history.

Breckenridge History – a local nonprofit organization dedicated to educating visitors about the town’s storied past – features museums, artifacts, stories and experts at all downtown locations, as well as interactive tours that immerse visitors in the experience.

Mining and gold panning expert Isaac Salazar said one of his top recommendations for immersive experiences is Lomax Gulch, which was an active gold mining site in the 1860s.

History expert Isaac Salazar recommends gold panning in Lomax Gulch as one of the most popular mining activities in Breckenridge.

Breckenridge History’s Gold Panning in Lomax Gulch, which costs $20 for adults and $10 for children, acts as a time machine that takes visitors back to the 19th century. Salazar said the tour gives a glimpse into miners’ cabin life and shows people the process used to extract gold and valuable minerals from rock.

“People can try it out and crush rocks themselves and pan for gold to see what’s inside,” Salazar said. “The gold panning is incredible because it’s an old active gold mine.”

He said this is just one of many mining experiences the historical society offers. He said there is one tour that is not advertised as a mining tour but teaches visitors far more about the trade than they expect.

“The Tombstone Tales tour is definitely worth taking,” Salazar said. “It’s a cemetery tour that’s interesting, but also full of mining history. It’s just great.”

On Breckenridge History’s “Hike Home with a Miner Tour,” which costs $25 for adults and $15 for children, visitors take on the role of miners and hike around a former active hydraulic mine.

The Washington Mine and Milling Exhibit is another fan favorite, where visitors get a glimpse into mining life in Breckenridge in the past.

Salazar also pointed out the Edwin Carter Museum, which he said is one of Colorado’s first museums and another place to learn about mining history without losing sight of downtown.

The nonprofit also hosts other guided and interactive tours, typically costing $15 for children and $25 for adults, that showcase various aspects of the area’s past. From the Bawdy Breckenridge Tour, which tells of the escapades of the Red Light District, to the Hike the Golden Horseshoe Tour, which takes visitors down paths less traveled, Breckenridge History offers activities for all ages.

As for summer tours, Breckenridge History’s offerings begin in June and run through Labor Day. All of Breckenridge History’s museums are free, but certain guided walking tours and tours require reservations and fees, most of which are around $15 for children and $25 for adults. The nonprofit is open every day except Monday.

For current hours and more tour information, visit BreckHistory.org/experience..

Find hidden treasures on hiking trails

This photo, believed to have been taken in the late 19th century, shows the Jessie Mine and Mill in northeast Breckenridge.

Breckenridge’s mining history isn’t just alive in local museums; it’s also often stumbled upon by accident. Numerous historical sites can be found along the trails and hikes in Breckenridge, whether you’re exploring Iowa Hill near town or the Golden Horseshoe region on hikes like the B&B, Aspen Alley, Sallie Barber Mine, or Baker’s Tank trails.

According to U.S. Forest Service ranger Adam Bianchi, Breckenridge and Summit County are prime examples of what preserving history in the outdoors should look like. Most sites have posters and signs to educate trail users, and Breckenridge History staff are excellent at helping visitors research and educate them on treasures they come across.

Bianchi praised the work that has been done to preserve historic buildings like cabins in a region that experiences extreme weather. He said many of Breckenridge’s canyons contain historic treasures that can be discovered while hiking, and mining history is also hidden in other areas of Summit County, such as the ghost town of Masonville near Frisco or Mayflower Gulch near Copper Mountain.

“Mayflower Gulch is great,” Bianchi said. “There are some historic cabins in this high alpine setting above the tundra with great views.”

He said McCullough Gulch is another great place to see.

If you do go treasure hunting, Bianchi stresses the importance of leaving no trace when visiting historic sites in Breckenridge.

“It’s really important to respect it for what it is so that other people can enjoy it too,” Bianchi said, noting that people in the past have tried to add windows and other amenities to historic cabins.