Historic Gold Panning Adventure & Salmon Bake
- 3–4 hours
- Guided in English
- Mobile ticket
Highlights
Spend your day in Juneau port panning for gold and indulging in a fresh Alaskan salmon bake. After a brief city tour of Juneau, make your way with a guide up to Gold Creek and Last Chance Basin for an adventure in gold panning. When you’ve built up an appetite, head to a traditional all-you-can-eat salmon bake. Take a short stroll along a natural salmon-spawning creek to the entrance of the Wagner Mine at beautiful Salmon Creek Falls where you can pan for gold, see mining relics, and look for salmon. Have fun roasting marshmallows over a campfire and feel free to take photos at our interactive, gold rush mural. You’re also encouraged to visit the Trading Post to purchase a souvenir and other mementos.
Inclusions
What's included
- Buffet and Hot & Cold Beverages
- All necessary equipment
- Transportation
- Guide
What's not
- Gratuities
- Alcoholic Beverages
- Souvenirs (available for purchase)
Itinerary
Head out with your prospector/guide for a historical tour of Juneau, including the state capitol. Then, turn up the road to Gold Creek and “Last Chance Basin,” where Joe Juneau and Richard Harris struck gold in 1880. In a beautiful, secluded setting near a waterfall alongside Gold Creek — only accessible for groups under our tour’s special permit — your prospector shows you how gold panning is really done. Then, it’s your turn, as you expertly work the pan with helpful tips and advice in the creek, or in the waist-high demonstration trough. People of all ages and mobility limitations can learn how to pan and capture the full gold-rush experience. You’re guaranteed to find gold, and all that glitters is yours to keep! See the remnants of the original buildings of the Alaska-Juneau Mining Company all around you. At the height of production, it was the largest operation of its type in the world. You’ll learn about the mining techniques used, and the quest for gold that is such a major part of Alaska’s history. Take home a souvenir Orelove Brothers Gold Claim Certificate, all the gold you find, and an appreciation of what it was like to seek your fortune in the wilds of Alaska more than a century ago.
In a beautiful, secluded setting near a waterfall alongside Gold Creek — only accessible for groups under our tour’s special permit — your prospector shows you how gold panning is really done. Then, it’s your turn, as you expertly work the pan in the waters of Gold Creek, with helpful tips and advice from your prospector guide. People of all ages and mobility limitations can learn how to pan and capture the full gold-rush experience. You’re guaranteed to find gold, and all that glitters and souvenir Gold Claim Certificate is yours to keep! Gold-panning is hungry work, so you’re sure to have an appetite for what’s up next on your Juneau adventure. Featured on Bravo Television’s Top Chef, Gold Creek Salmon Bake is an event that’s been grilled to perfection for over 40 years. After a 20-minute scenic transfer, find yourself in a truly unique, lush rainforest environment under heated, translucent domes. Savor the aroma of wild Alaska salmon, grilling over a fragrant alder wood fire—the signature entrée of an all-you-can-eat adventure. The sumptuous spread has something for everyone. Choose from our signature grilled Alaskan salmon or Cheechako Chicken and enjoy a variety of Alaskan sides, and blueberry cake for dessert. Relax listening to live music or take a short stroll along a natural salmon-spawning creek to the entrance of the Wagner Mine at beautiful Salmon Creek Falls where you can pan for gold, see mining relics, and look for salmon. Have fun roasting marshmallows over a campfire and take photos at our interactive, gold rush mural. The food, entertainment, activities, and ambiance make Gold Creek Salmon Bake an Alaskan experience that is much more than a meal. Shuttle buses run regularly, so no need for you to rush, take your time and enjoy. You can stay until your tastes have been satisfied and you're filled with great memories!!
Cancellation
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Reviews
4.3
- 545
- 416
- 34
- 24
- 14
Ratings come from 73 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- JUNEAU MEETING PLACE: On the sidewalk, under the cables of the Mt. Roberts Tram -15 minutes prior to tour departure. Once at the meeting area, look for the Alaska Travel Adventures tour representative. They will be wearing a red jacket/shirt, with the Caribou logo.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 50 travellers
- Operated by
- Alaska Travel Adventures Inc.
- Service animals allowed
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers MUST provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
- Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
- Children 13-17 must have a signed parental consent form to participate in the absence of a parent or guardian
How it compares in Juneau
- Its from-price is 34% below the median of the 95 experiences we list in Juneau.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 40 of 95.
About Juneau
Juneau is Alaska's capital, a small harbour city beneath steep forested mountains, reachable only by air or sea and close to glaciers.
Juneau sits on the Gastineau Channel in the Alaska Panhandle, squeezed between the water and the steep slopes of Mount Juneau and Mount Roberts, with the Juneau Icefield behind. No road connects it to the rest of North America. The city grew after gold was found in 1880, and the Alaska State Capitol, a columned building of the 1930s, the octagonal Russian Orthodox church of St Nicholas and the old downtown streets recall that past.
Top-ranked sights in Juneau: Mt. Roberts Tramway (Goldbelt Tram), Mendenhall Glacier, Nugget Falls.
