Crystal Gold Mine & RV Park
4.5(591)google
HistoryGuided TourQuirky
Overview
Located just outside Wallace, the Crystal Gold Mine & RV Park is an exceptional historic underground mining attraction that dates back to the early Idaho gold rush of the 1880s. Visitors are equipped with hard hats and guided underground into authentic hand-drilled quartz mine tunnels, where they can marvel at spectacular, naturally growing colorful crystal deposits coating the walls. Expert guides explain the grueling techniques used by early pioneer gold seekers, and visitors can even pan for real gold and beautiful gemstones in outdoor sluice boxes after finishing their tour.
Practical Info
Every day9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Suggested Duration1.5-2.5 hours
Best TimeYear-round suitability since the underground mine maintaining a constant, crisp 48°F (9°C) temperature, making it a perfect natural air-conditioned escape in summer. Touring between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM is ideal; donning hardhats to walk the 1880s hand-dug drifts reveals stunning real gold veins and quartz crystals. Bring a light jacket.
Getting TherePositioned on the western edge of Wallace. Drive east from Coeur d'Alene via I-90 E for 48 miles, take Exit 60 for Osburn/Silverton, and follow the Frontage Road driving parallel to the highway east for 1.5 miles. The mine's massive yellow vintage waterwheel marker will appear on the left, offering a spacious dirt RV/car lot.
Travel Tips
- The subterranean 1880s mine maintains a constant 48°F (9°C) climate with active overhead seepage; wearing a provided hard hat and bringing a fleece jacket and non-slip athletic shoes is a strict safety mandate.
- The RV park enforces severe axle-weight and length constraints; modern rigs exceeding 40 feet or deploying multi-slideouts must register exclusively for peripheral gravel pull-thrus during booking.
- The gold panning sluices operate on an isolated water-filtration layout; introducing wild river sediments or external magnets is illegal, and all recovered mineral flakes must pass inspector clearance before exit.
Reviews
Positive
- Donning a hard hat to step inside an authentic 1880s gold shaft with glittering quartz veins offers a fantastic visual thrill.
- The hands-on gold panning activity is a massive hit; screening real gems with metal pans under staff guidance offers peak fun.
- The integrated RV park features flat, wide pull-throughs, backed by spotlessly clean restrooms, showers, and modern hookups.
- Admission bundles a comprehensive underground history tour at a fair price; sitting right near the main road makes transit simple.
Heads up
- The underground shaft is permanently cold and damp with constant ceiling drips; failing to bring a heavy jacket ruins comfort.
- The shafts are low and cramped with uneven floors, requiring constant ducking and offering zero access for wheelchairs.
- Weekend morning family rushes trigger crowds at the narrow mine portal, turning the small staging area noisy and bottlenecked.
- Premium panning kits and crystalline mineral specimens in the gift shop carry noticeable tourist markup inflation.