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Argo Mill And Tunnel Tour Review: A Fascinating Look at the History of Gold Mining in Colorado

One of the biggest attractions in Idaho Springs, Colorado, is the Argo Mill tour.

As you step inside this historic landmark you’ll be transported back in time to the early 1900s, immersing yourself in the well-preserved corridors that once buzzed with activity.

It’s an incredible experience to witness firsthand the machinery and infrastructure that played a crucial role in the mining industry of the era.

As you explore the corridors, you’ll learn fascinating details about the history of the mill and the various mining processes that were used to extract precious minerals from the surrounding earth.

It’s a unique opportunity to gain insight into the ingenuity and hard work that shaped the development of the region during that time period and below, I’ll tell you everything you need to know before your visit.

Table of Contents

What is the Argo Mill?

The Argo Mill is a historic gold mill located in Idaho Springs, Colorado, that played a major role in the Colorado Gold Rush for several decades. Today, visitors can take a tour of the mill, learn about its history, and even partake in some gold panning (and yes, you can keep what you find)!

It was built in 1891 and was one of the largest and most technologically advanced mills in the world at the time, processing ore from several mines in the area and becoming a major economic driver for the region.

Equally impressive was the Argo Tunnel, a remarkable engineering marvel that served a dual purpose. Not only did it effectively address the crucial mine drainage needs, but it also provided a more efficient means of transporting the valuable ore.

The Colorado and Southern Narrow Gauge Railroad ran directly in front of the Argo Mill and provided easy transport to the smelters and the United States Mint , which was located in Denver due to its proximity to these riches.

The Argo Mill was closed in 1943 following a fatal underground accident, which you will learn plenty about. However, it was restored in the 1970s and is now a popular tourist destination and a National Historic Landmark.

How to book a tour to The Argo Mill

If you want to visit the Argo Mill, I’d highly recommend that you book online . Some of the tours do sell out in advance and we had a 100% full tour when we visited, so you don’t want to wait around too long.

Here are the tour prices you can expect:

• Adults:  $25
• Children (ages 5–16):  $20
• Children age 1-4:  $4
• Infants:  Free

It is possible to just book a panning session but I’d highly recommend that you go for the full tour.

How to get to the Argo Mill

The Argo Mill is located in Idaho Springs, Colorado, right along I-70 about 40 minutes west of Denver.

If you pull up the address via Google Maps directions might try to take you to the rear of the mill but you can easily find the parking lot if you turn onto Riverside Drive and simply head towards the main parking lot.

You’ll see a building for Argo Mill tours and you can head inside to check-in at the cashier.

Our experience at The Argo Mill

The experience kicks off with an informative video introduction that delves into the significance of the Argo Mill and the Argo Tunnel.

You’ll gain a deep understanding of the pivotal role these structures played in the mining industry and their extensive network of tributaries. The video provides a captivating overview of the historical context, showcasing the immense scale of operations and the vital contributions made by the mill and tunnel in processing and transporting precious minerals

After the movie, it will be time to head outside and take the shuttle bus up to the top of the mill.

It’s a steep drop off from the side of the dirt road and there are no rails so if you are afraid of heights it’s best to just not look that way. Luckily, it’s a short journey.

As you make your way across the top of the mill, you’ll have some great views of Idaho Springs and the lower portions of the structure. You really get a sense of how big the facility was.

Once we made it to the top, the first destination to explore was the Argo Tunnel. But before heading inside you need to grab a hardhat.

Then it’s time to venture inside the tunnel and explore its intriguing corridors, but don’t worry, you won’t be trekking for miles in a sketchy cave!

Your journey will take you approximately 60 yards into the Argo Tunnel, a remarkable feat of engineering that stretches a staggering 4.16 miles (6.69 km) in total.

As you delve into the well-lit tunnel, you’ll discover the story of the catastrophic flood that wreaked havoc within its depths. It’s both fascinating and horrifying to think about the power of mother nature that burst through this tunnel, now contained behind the mighty bulkhead structure.

You’ll then get a chance to explore the claims office where miners would come to register their mining claims and deal with legal matters pertaining to their operations.

The claims office served as a hub of activity, where miners would present their documentation, discuss property boundaries, and resolve disputes. It was here where contracts were negotiated, fees were paid, and the legal framework of mining operations was upheld.

Be sure to pop in for a couple of minutes to check out some of the historical photographs and articles.

Then it’s time to head inside the big red Argo Mill, which is the highlight of the tour in my opinion.

Taking in the scents of aged wood, metal, and earth, you’ll be transported back in time to the bustling world of gold milling. The mill is a remarkable sight to behold, with its intricate machinery and towering structures — you just imagine all the bustling activity that took place.

Inside, you’ll have the opportunity to explore all of the different levels of the mill. From the crushing and grinding rooms to the cyanide processing areas, lots of the original equipment is still intact.

Along the way, knowledgeable guides will share fascinating details about the various steps involved in the milling process, including how the ore was crushed, pulverized, and treated with chemicals to extract the precious gold.

Standing in the chambers once used for the stamp mill you can imagine the sounds of these contraptions rhythmically pounding on the rocks, generating a thunderous noise as pieces of ore were pulverized into tiny rocks.

It’s also quite powerful to learn about the challenges and obstacles that workers faced while working in the mills.

The conditions were often harsh, with loud machinery causing hearing loss over time, and the constant exposure to dust and hazardous chemicals leading to respiratory diseases. The toll on their health was significant, and many workers faced shortened life expectancies due to the demanding nature of their jobs.

Understanding the sacrifices and risks they endured adds a somber perspective to the history of the mills and reminds us of the human cost behind the quest for gold during the Colorado gold rush.

Once you’ve had the opportunity to explore several levels, you will eventually descend to the museum level. Here, a wide array of artifacts awaits, transporting you back to the mining era.

From old paystubs to captivating historic photographs, you can immerse yourself in the rich heritage of those days.

Additionally, you can even experience the sensation of handling some of the tools once wielded by the miners themselves.

When you exit the museum, you’ll be back on the main ground level where even more old mining artifacts are on display, including a stamp mill that once crushed rocks to extract gold and other precious minerals.

Gold panning

Each tour ticket price includes gold panning lessons, giving you the opportunity to test your luck with an ore sample containing genuine “placer gold.”

Placer gold, formed through the erosion and deposition of gold by natural forces like water or wind, is commonly found in stream beds and riverbanks and that’s what you’ll be looking for.

The experienced guides will teach you the proper techniques of swirling the pan, allowing the heavier gold particles to settle at the bottom.

Tip: Record the steps because there are a lot and you’ll be able to reference them later, even if it’s another time!

As you gently shake the pan, the lighter sediment washes away, revealing the glimmering specks of gold. It’s an exciting and hands-on experience that connects you to the exhilaration and anticipation that prospectors felt during the Colorado gold rush.

Whether you strike it rich or not, the thrill of uncovering genuine gold flakes is an unforgettable moment that brings the history of the gold rush to life.

On average, you’ll find about three little flakes of gold although some will find more than that (I had four).

I’m not going to lie, I suspect these pans are pre-loaded with gold flakes. But regardless, it was still really cool to find some little shining pieces of gold that I could take home.

Tip: To make it easier for your eyes to spot the shimmering gold, avoid choosing a spot in the shade.

It’s not just gold you’ll find; you may also find a variety of gemstones like Peridot, Topaz, Garnet, Quartz, Amethyst, Citrine, or Agates.

Once you finish up with the panning, you can head to the gift shop and find some souvenirs.

Overall, if you have an interest in the history of mining or the Colorado gold rush, this tour is a really interesting way to spend about an hour and a half. I learned a great deal throughout the tour and had fun with my first ever attempt at gold panning! If interested, I’d highly recommend that you book online !

Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and the credit card app, WalletFlo . He is a former attorney turned travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, and CNBC. Read my bio .

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Our Argo Gold Mine Tour was fabulous... - Argo Mill and Tunnel

• United States    
• Colorado (CO)    
• Idaho Springs    
• Idaho Springs - Attractions    
• Argo Mill and Tunnel

Our Argo Gold Mine Tour was fabulous thanks to guide Andrew!

We toured the Argo Gold Mine and the experience was delightful, informative and filled with fun facts and laughs...thanks to our wonderful tour guide Andrew. Andrew used his geology background with a quick-witted sense of humor to inform and entertain all the guests in our group.

We learned a lot from our tour of the Argo. Our tour guide told us the history along with how it is being preserved today with help from the EPA.

It was great! It doesn’t really go into the tunnel because you can’t but the explanation of the milling process was great!

I took a group of 4-6 graders here after studying the gold rush! It was awesome! They had a great time. It was easy, informative, and the gold panning was perfect!

Patty’s knowledge on Argo history was amazing!! She was kind, and allowed the group to take their time with photo ops and questions.

Our tour guide (Andrew, i think) was very friendly and knowledgeable. This was a unique and fun tour. We had a snowy day so had to walk instead of take the bus - keep this in mind if you have limited mobility - but it was no issue for us. We also could not pan for gold due to weather but they sent us home with a goody bag instead - very thoughtful. I would definitely recommend this tour to CO locals and visitors. It was interesting to learn about Colorado and mining history!

Argo Mill and Tunnel

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ARGO MILL AND TUNNEL: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Argo Mill and Tunnel

Top ways to experience Argo Mill and Tunnel and nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Also popular with travellers

Argo Mill and Tunnel - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

Argo Mill & Tunnel

Review Highlights

“ Oh and the gold panning is really good- if you know what your doing you can pan the tar out of it at their panning exhibit! ” in 12 reviews

“ Very interesting hour tour into the reason why there is that big red building on the side of the mountain in Idaho Springs . ” in 6 reviews

“ The actual tunnel is very short but impressive! ” in 2 reviews

Location & Hours

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2350 Riverside Dr

Idaho Springs, CO 80452

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About the Business

Experience the wonder of ingenuity, technology, and entrepreneurial spirit that is the Argo Mill & Tunnel with a guided walking tour. Situated in Historic Idaho Springs in the heart of Colorado Gold Country sits the Mighty Argo Mill and Tunnel, one of the most striking and prominent Heritage Landmarks in the American West. The Argo is a central character in the story of the Colorado gold-rush, and remains one of the largest, most well-preserved historic gold mills in the world. Plan to be on the tour at the Argo for an hour and a half to two hours for the full experience. Each professionally guided tour of the Argo Mill and Tunnel takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. A gold panning lesson and experience, which lasts about 20 minutes, is also included with every Argo Mill and Tunnel tour. …

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How long is the tour from start to finish?

The Argo Mill and Tunnel Tour in Idaho Springs, Colorado lasts about an hour and also includes panning for gold! Lots of fun for all ages!

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Thunder Valley Icon. It was cool to visit an icon in the area and see much of the original equipment still in place--cooler than a museum with pieces and equipment out of context. Yes, panning gold was part of the theme park experience where you quickly discovered they placed 3 flecks of gold per pan of ore... but you still learned the technique. Yes the poor guides are tired of the same spiel. But the legend is real. And the story chilling.

See all photos from Lu-Shien T. for Argo Mill & Tunnel

I tried to email this review instead of making it public, but the email address on your website did not work. I took my family to Argo yesterday for a tour. There were eight of us and an infant, plus another couple not related to us. The tour guide, a young man, wore an ill-fitting, soiled, thin mask which kept falling down. He spoke loudly and we were often in small, enclosed spaces, and I thought- if he is carrying COVID, we are all going to get infected. Please, please, provide your employees with well fit KN95 masks ($7 for two at Ace Hardware) to protect guests. If we all contract COVID, you'll be hearing from me again.

My family (wife, son age 7, son age 5) had a great time here! The 90 minute tour was entertaining, and educational! The guide (Allie) was fantastic. She was fun, and our kids loved her energy. The panning-for-gold at the end was fun, too. Our boys were excited to bring home 'gold dots', and show their teachers at school. One point of caution is that this tour has a lot of steep, narrow stairs. We carried our 5 year old for a few stretches so he wouldn't slip.

We had a great time. Our guide Ally was very friendly and was great with the kids. She was very knowledgeable about the mill and the processes and answered every question, even the silly ones. Would recommend for the kids.

I loved the tour so much! The tour guide was hilarious and brilliant. This was definitely worth the trip.

Stopped here after a morning of skiing and really glad. Kenny was a great tour guide. Very informative and patient with the group. Learned so much about American history.. You also get to pan for gold.. Altho I didn't find any, someone I was with did.. I did get some stones as a second place

Save your money! Our guide, Zach, wasn't helpful in telling us anything about the Argo mine. We were supposed to see a short video before the tour, and that never happened. Zach, our guide, talked in a singsong voice, and made cheesy jokes at the customer's expense. I have no idea how mining is done, and I was on the tour for almost 1 1/2 hours. Going into the mine was super short, and I have no idea why there is a metal retaining wall in the tunnel. Lots of stairs. LOTS! So small children should not go on this tour. Nothing our guide told us was helpful. Everyone kept on giving each other sideways glances. Panning for gold after the tour was also disappointing. Save your money, don't go to this mine tour.

Yes. Ryan our tour guide was great. He was very knowledgeable & answered any questions we had...(& had a sense of humor.) The mine tour starts with a 6 minute very informative video on the history of Argo mine. Afterwards you take a short bus tour to the top of the mountain....and enter a very short tunnel of the mine. Overall a great historical tour that lasted about 1 hour 15 / 20 minutes. After the tour I also paid for the additional gold panning...found a few small flakes! I would recommend for adults & older kids. There werr alot of steps in the 'mill' portion that may be tricky for very young children or the elderly.

See all photos from Beth C. for Argo Mill & Tunnel

Enormous rip off. Kid (28 yr old) giving tour was awful. Was confusing and he was sing-songy throughout the tour. Didn't really go into the mines and information given was vague and not helpful to understand how the operation was run at one time. SAVE YOUR MONEY.

Great place! I read reviews prior and was skeptical to go here. Let me dispel any skepticism you may have. This place is GREAT!! My wife and I went and our tour guide was Ally (hope I spelled that right) she was PHENOMENAL! She really knew a lot about the mine and the history. She was upbeat and any question we asked she knew the answer to. The whole tour was extremely informative and I felt I learned so much about the history of Idaho springs and the tunnels etc. We walked thru the mill and at the end got to pan for gold (great touch to end the tour) especially if you have kids!!

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ARGO Mill Tour provided by Argo Mill and Tunnel

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• Idaho Springs

Argo Gold Mine & Mill Tour

2350 Riverside Drive, Idaho Springs , Colorado 80452 USA

• Independent
• Credit Cards Accepted
• Not Wheelchair Accessible
• Public Restrooms
• Outdoor Seating

“A former mining and milling property”

In 1893 construction of the Argo tunnel began. It took 17 years to complete the route to Central City, 4.5 miles away. The tunnel provided water drainage, ventilation, and economical transport of the gold bearing ore from the mines. The Argo Mill was built to process the ore. The gold fetched prices from $18 to $35 an ounce.The Mill stands today as a memorial to the hard rock miners from the days when GOLD WAS KING. The Mill tour is educational and fun for all ages.

Reviewed by ErinHarlineEichelberger

I gave this a five star rating just for being pet friendly. We didn't get to do the tour due to our time restrictions. But they allow leashes dogs to go on the tour as long as they are nice dogs. Since we were traveling across the country with our dog this was a definite plus since we didn't do anything we couldn't include our dog in.

Reviewed by MnDanK1957

Well ErinHarlineEichelberger, the reviewer before me had a different experience than we did. In our episode we arrived at the mine from Minnesota and were promptly turned away from the tour with our two K-9 friends. We would have paid full admission price for the dogs, but they had to stay in the car. So my wife and I stayed with them and we blew outta there like the wind. The people were nice enough, but not dog friendly by any means. Your pooch will end up sitting in the car waiting for you.

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Argo Gold Mine & Mill – Idaho Springs

Argo Gold Mine & Mill is a national historic site located about 45 minutes from Denver. Year-round tours are led by experienced guides and cover the tunnel, the mine, and the mill. There is a live demonstration of crushing, milling, and rock drilling.

It began in 1893 with the construction of the Argo Tunnel. After 17 years it reached Central City, about 4.5 miles away. The tunnel provided a way of transporting the gold from many mines along the way.

Gold Mine, Mill, and Tunnel Tours

Argo’s Mill was constructed to process the gold-bearing ore being transported from the mines. When it was completed, the Argo Mill was the world’s largest mill of its kind. It processed over 100 million dollars of gold ore at prices of $18 to $35 per ounce.

Tours last about an hour, so wear comfortable shoes and bring a light jacket. Afterward, the tour everyone on the tour gets to try their hand at gold panning. Keep any gems you find. You can also buy miners’ bags of dirt, with guaranteed placer gold and gemstones.

Address: 2350 Riverside Dr, Idaho Springs , CO 80452

Phone: 303-567-2421

Season: Year-round, weather permitting

Hours: Daily 9 am – 6 pm, the last tour at 4:30 pm

Website: argomilltour.com

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Mighty Argo: At the Center of Colorado Gold Rush History

The Famous Argo Mill and Tunnel

Soon after 1859, when Colorado’s first gold was struck in Idaho Springs, CO, the Argo and surrounding area became an international center of milling and tunneling innovation and served for many gold mines in Colorado. Partnerships between local entrepreneurs, highly skilled professionals, and international business leaders enabled projects of previously unforeseen scale, ambition, and productivity to be realized. The Mighty Argo has rekindled this spirit and will resume its role as a hub of activity and an engine of economic productivity for the region and beyond.

The Argo Mill and Tunnel is a wonder of ingenuity, technology, and entrepreneurial spirit. Begun in 1893, the 4.2-mile-long Argo Tunnel cuts an ingenious path through the hills, draining and servicing hundreds of miles of workings, thereby prolonging the productivity of the famous gold mines in Colorado for decades. Many of the gold mines in Colorado would have become inoperable if not for the Mighty Argo. A vast amount of the Mill’s original equipment is still in place, transporting visitors instantly back in time to an era steeped in the Victorian Industrial Revolution of the American West. The Argo is also part of a 400 square mile EPA Superfund Site. The property has been remediated and hosts over 40,000 visitors annually.

Keep Up With the Latest Argo Nuggets

Learn about the new attractions, special events, and other announcements for the Argo! The Argo is over 100 years old and continues to see improvements and upgrades to give you the best experience of Idaho Springs history possible. That’s one of the reasons why it’s the #1 thing to do in Idaho Springs! Read all about what’s happening at the Argo, and follow the Argo on social media for the latest news.

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