About Crow Creek Mine
Crow Creek Mine is a historic gold mining site nestled in the mountains above Girdwood, Alaska, operating continuously since the 1896 Gold Rush. Located at 601 Crow Creek Mine Road, just a few miles from Alyeska Resort, the mine sits in one of the most scenic valleys in the Chugach Mountains and offers visitors a hands-on window into Alaska's prospecting heritage.
The mine's signature experience is guided gold panning, where visitors learn traditional techniques and try their luck in the same creek beds that drew prospectors over a century ago. Two-hour Prospecting Tours combine a walking history of the camp's original buildings — the oldest structures in the Anchorage municipality — with guided panning instruction. Beyond gold panning, the site offers RV camping, scenic hiking trails through old-growth forest, and seasonal Monday-night Salmon Bakes with live acoustic music from June through August.
Crow Creek Mine stands out as one of Alaska's most authentic heritage attractions. Unlike manufactured tourist experiences, this is a real, working mine where the buildings, equipment, and creek are the genuine article. Families love the combination of outdoor adventure and living history, and the mountain setting — surrounded by glaciers, waterfalls, and wildflowers — makes the drive up Crow Creek Road an experience in itself.
