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Juneau Tours
Juneau Underground Gold Mine and Panning Experience
4.5

Juneau Underground Gold Mine and Panning Experience

By AJ Mine Gastineau Mill
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Ages 0-120, max of 24 per group
Duration: 2h 15m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More


  • Private transportation
What's not included
  • Alcoholic Beverages


Start:
  • Mount Roberts Tramway, 490 S Franklin St, Juneau, AK 99801, USA
    Please meet your tour rep behind Goldbelt Tramway building, (waterfront side) under the GREEN canopy, 15 minutes prior to tour time. TOUR DURATION 2.25 Hours
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Wheelchair accessible
    • Pushchair accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 306071P3

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Most travellers can participate
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 24 travellers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 306071P3

    From
    £74.20
    per adult
    Select date and travellers
    Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.

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    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • AJ Mine Gastineau Mill
      129
      Juneau, United States
      Joined in April 2021
    • 39darrenr
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Immersive Juneau
      Alicia was our bus host and she did a wonderful job to tell us all sorts of details about the area from Botha local and tourist point of view. Very nicely done and M&M is a great way to see the site in Juneau
      Written 7 August 2024
    • LoisRM
      0 contributions
      2.0 of 5 bubbles
      Awful driver to see beautiful glacier and falls
      We booked this tour to see the Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls, and we did get to see them. We spent about 90 minutes there and it was beautiful. However, the driver/narrator for the tour spent most of the drive telling one bad, old joke after another plus promoting his personal photos and music CDs. There were also some subtle racist and political comments. We couldn't wait to get off the bus. I would advise finding another way to get to the glacier and falls.
      Written 4 July 2024
    • 157ramkumars
      0 contributions
      2.0 of 5 bubbles
      Driver left the sight seeing spot leaving behind few passengers not sticking to the told time
      We had added the tour excursion "Juneau Highlights Tour and Mendenhall Glacier" to our cruise. It was worth seeing Mendenhall Glacier. But the driver was bad. At the "Whale statue", he said the bus will wait 30 mins until 6:30 pm, but it was really bad of the driver to leave the spot at 6:25 pm, when not all passengers had boarded the bus. He said, the missing passengers can walk to the port as it's not a long walk. It was really very disappointing and unprofessional.
      Written 29 June 2024
    • leathaul
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      raw Alaskan spirit
      Brian infused the natural magic of Juneau with his own personal experiences in a way that gave the glacier, the bald eagles, the black bear, and the rainbow he gave us to witness with the magic of the moment. His perspective, copious facts, and sheer enthusiasm for life flavored our Juneau and created a memorable moment.
      Written 11 May 2024
    • brendaoB6208OS
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great option
      This worked well. The driver was pleasant and informative. We got to come and go on our own time and we’re able to stay at the glacier as long as we wanted. The bus can get crowded at busy times and on our trip back we had to wait about 15 minutes for another bus.
      Written 8 February 2024
    • Travelimmersion
      0 contributions
      1.0 of 5 bubbles
      Overpriced and crowded
      This is no longer just a bus. They were bought out and it now a “tour”. It’s 75 dollars now and it’s mostly sold out in advance whenever cruise ships are in port. The booth that you can purchase tickets right on the dock was packed and the attendant was very rude, basically telling us we’d be lucky to get on a bus today. It’s much cheaper and nicer to take a private taxi. We were a party of 6 and we got taxi by dLux rides. It was 150 round trip for all 6 of us. It took about 20 minutes and she was waiting for us at the exact time we asked for when we finished.
      Written 29 August 2023
    • maureena654
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Close up view of a glacier
      Mendenhall Glacier is a must see, when in Juneau. The hike to the falls and glacier is an easy hike. You are close enough to the glacier to see the texture of the ice and pieces of ice that broke off. The cost for the bus was a little high for a ride that is so short. There is not much for the driver to narrate, that you wouldn't get from the displays at the visitor center. But it is the best option to see a glacier up close. The operation seems to have a monopoly at the cruise ship port, the reason I gave it a 4 out of 5.
      Written 16 July 2023
    • carymantraveller
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Easy to locate Blue Bus and friendly staff
      As expected. Easy to locate the bus, orderly entry and clear directions on return. Had a great trip to glacier and a short hike to Water fall.
      Written 14 July 2023
    • Paul L
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great experience!!
      our guide was so funny and knowledgeable! he was a native American and knew the history so fantasticly!! Let's get ir done...LOL
      Written 13 July 2023
    • MichiganLaurena
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Enjoyed my trip to the glacier and the first driver I had
      I booked the Blue Bus to Mendenhall Glacier in advance due to the cruise ships in port June 28, 2023. Was very glad I did. Booking process was smooth and easily able to print out my ticket. The female driver I had on the way to the glacier was excellent. She pointed out historical buildings, sights, even eagles as well as answering any questions we had. Dropped us off at the designated stop, a short walk from the visitor's center and clearly explained our pick up location. I really enjoyed my walk on a couple of the trails. I took the first bus of the day (8am) and it was nice to explore without the crowds. Other visitors were very friendly, often taking photos of each other (especially me since I was by myself). I was very glad I had this driver on the way out because on the way back, the male driver I had offered no narration, didn't point out anything and I think was eating his lunch on the return to town. I was sitting about 3 rows back and when I asked a couple of questions, he just told me to sit closer because he couldn't hear anything I said. Maybe the return driver thought I knew everything from the first driver, but pleasant conversation would have been nice. The first driver thanked us for riding and said I hope you enjoy your stay. The other driver said nothing. Overall though, the experience was more positive than negative and for me, was worth the price of the ticket.
      Written 9 July 2023
    • 286ferdinandp
      0 contributions
      1.0 of 5 bubbles
      Blue Bus should be Brown
      Booked and paid in advance for our upcoming cruise visit in September... Out of the blue they send me a cancellation with a refund request for a booking that was already confirmed... no reason given.... talk about disappointment... Beware of this companies' business practices!
      Written 8 July 2023
    • Firsttimeurope
      0 contributions
      2.0 of 5 bubbles
      Disorganized pickup on July 4th
      Pick up, both going to and from Mendenhall was very disorganized and stressful. Some of it was beyond the control of Blue Bus for two reasons: 1) 4th of July parade closed main road between 10 and 12:30 and we needed to be back on our cruise ship by 1:30; 2) Our cruise ship arrived one hour late. But what was within their control was that they should have had some type of queue system for pick up, both from Mt. Roberts Tramway parking lot and from the Mendenhall visitor's center. In was a free for all getting onto the buses, some folks who had patiently been waiting to catch a bus (and only had less than an hour to visit the glacier) were left in the dust as other less considerate families just shoved their way onto the bus. And I don't think there was enough seating capacity to ensure everybody was able to catch the 9:30 bus back to ensure being back on the ship well before departure from Juneau. Probably the most stressful portion of our whole Cruise! Maybe things runs more smoothly on non-Holiday days, but I would recommend other ways of seeing Mendenhall.
      Written 8 July 2023
    • 1sttimeineurope2011
      0 contributions
      1.0 of 5 bubbles
      Awfully disorganized pick up
      Awfully disorganized pick up on 4th of July. Not a sign to be found to queue up, nothing indicating where to wait, and when a really young employee showed up, it became even more chaotic. It took 1/2 hour to finally get on a bus. So poorly run. Stay away!
      Written 4 July 2023
    • Jurgita H
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great for sightseeing
      Bus stop is easy to find as its right in port. Driver commentary was funny and full of fun facts about the area. Buses run every 30min so be sure to time it well, especially on the way back
      Written 2 July 2023
    • yaorong2018
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great way to get to the glacier and back
      Narrations and the flexibility in riding the bus are very attractive to us. The frequency of bus runs is great. The price is fair The only downside is it will get very crowded on the bus often times. On our way back to town we had to wait for next bus and some late get-on people have stand in the aisle.
      Written 2 July 2023
    See all 129 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    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.

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    4.5
    4.5 of 5 bubbles37 reviews
    Excellent
    28
    Very good
    4
    Average
    3
    Poor
    1
    Terrible
    1

    Nation Traveler
    Heart Butte, MT17 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2023 • Family
    This was a unique experience for the area. The drive up to the private mine property in the tour vans set the tone for understanding how remote the location was for those working in the mine.
    The guides were excellent, informative, answering all questions with details beyond what we expected. Our bus driver on the way down shared local dog stories, the perfect wrap up for the tour!
    We enjoyed witnessing the actual operation of several pieces of equipment used during the time of active mining, some in place as early as 1904. Our two teen boys loved the actual panning for gold flakes, both leaving with a small vial containing 10-15 little pieces of gold. We thought that garnets were supposed to be included in the panning area, but no further mention of them was offered and we didn't ask with all the other information coming to the forefront.
    The only negative feedback we might give is the regret that the group didn't go any further down the mineshaft, but this may be a safety concern.
    Written 3 October 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Scott
    7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Aug 2022
    I went on this trip and enjoyed very much but I like history too. You spend time underground told by a real miner. He spoke very good about mining but seem annoyed by children asking him questions but still enjoyed.
    Written 1 September 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Cathy S
    Red Rock, AZ9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sept 2022
    Enjoyed hearing the history of the mine, and it was a fairly quick and easy shuttle to the mine from the cruise ship dock. The tour guides were all very knowledgeable and interesting. We would recommend this tour as it's very affordable and fun for the whole family. If I had one thing to suggest, the pan that were were given to find gold was as small as a teacup saucer, we were expecting more of a realistic pan for this experience, but it was still fun and we found a few flakes.
    Written 26 September 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Ronit L
    22 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Aug 2023 • Couples
    Unfortunately we were very disappointed in our guide of the mine. We had small children in our tour and they were talking over the tour guide and at no time did the guide tell the parents to stop talking to their kids so we didn’t hear one word he said as the echos in the mine amplify. The guide also didn’t ensure the kids stay with their parents so the kids were just running around pushing guests to get by. 3/4 of the way into the mine tour finally one of the guest loudly asked for the guide to stop because we can’t hear and the guest asked everyone to stop talking because we can’t hear. Guests shouldn’t have to do that! The guide outside the mine and during panning was amazing as were the helpers at the panning but we needed a bit more time panning it was way too short.
    Written 14 August 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    I am so Sorry you did not have a 5 Star experience!!! Our Miner is very hard of hearing and he usually shares that with his tours, likely from his 37 years of underground mining. He should have at least seen the little ones running around and reined them in. I'm sorry. As for wanting more time at the gold panning area, we have been discussing adding additional time to our tour. Your comments have been very helpful. Thank you and I hope one of these days maybe we will have the opportunity again to give you that 5 Star experience! Blessed Wishes, AJ Mine Team
    Written 20 August 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    TravelingWeWillGo
    Benton, KY94 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sept 2023 • Couples
    I booked this experience while we were going to be in Juneau for a cruise. The bus picked our group up and the driver was very pleasant and informative. It was a short drive to the mine and he shared local history with us on the way. The tour of the mine was very informative and our group wasn’t large so everyone could see and hear the information the guide was giving us. After the tour there was a Q & A session and then we went to pan for gold. There were several employees there to help if we needed it and everyone found a few flakes that were put in a small glass vial to take with them. My husband and I really enjoyed the experience and would recommend it.
    Written 9 October 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Melanie S
    Sydney, Australia46 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sept 2022
    This was a very interesting tour even if you don't think you are interested in mining. The tour guide was very knowledgable and explained the process of the mining in an easy to understand way. The guide who told us about the mill process was great. We all got to pan for gold and walked away with some gold flecks of our own. There is a little general store that is run by the owner and on a non-rainy day it would be a great place to wander around the ruins of the old mill site. But we didn't let the rain ruin our visit. The tour of the underground mine isn't great if you don't like dark places but there isn't a lot of walking and you are only in the mine for around 30 minutes. You have to wear a hard-hat and flat footwear is best.
    Written 24 September 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Lookingaround
    5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Aug 2023 • Friends
    Very knowledgeable guide. It was fun being able to walk into the mine and see exactly how it was left when they quit mining it. Panning for gold was also interesting. It is nice that you get to keep your few flakes that you find in a little vile that they give you.
    Written 5 September 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    ReaderMeter
    Washington DC, DC9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jun 2023
    I took three curious teenagers on this tour of a former mine. You take a shuttle to the mouth of a mine and walk a distance into the shaft. A retired miner explains how the mine is constructed and ore is extracted. They demonstrate the machines used and and the conditions. It is a very authentic experience, no frills, earnest talk from demonstrators and attendees. You learn something and have a small gold-panning experience. Gift shop was well stocked and had refreshments for sale.
    Written 26 June 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Jon
    Naples, FL6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Better than we expected. Our guide Gary has years of experience working in mines and provides great insights and hands on demonstration of the difficult job of mining for gold. We panned for gold and found 9 flakes of gold...not enough to take to the bank but they look great in the small glass bottle they place them in for you as a souvenir. Great activity for kids.
    Written 13 July 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Jann T
    Santa Rosa, CA5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2022
    What a great tour. We were going to book this tour through the cruise ship and so glad it was sold out. I went online and booked through M&M Tours. They were prompt in picking us up and there was only the 2 of us. We did end up running into the group from the cruise ship but since they had gold panned before us we were able to do that portion of the tour without them. We had Marianne (lucky for us the owner) shuttle us around and was actually gold panning with us and finding gold flakes for us. It was my husband's birthday and she gave him some gold keepsakes. What an amazing group of people who work at the gold mine. Awesome experience and over $20 each cheaper than the cruise line. Highly recommend!
    Written 12 July 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Showing results 1-10 of 37
    *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

    Juneau Underground Gold Mine and Panning Experience provided by AJ Mine Gastineau Mill

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