Gold Rush Tour to Porcupine


Departing from Skagway or Haines.

Break away from the crowds of Skagway for a unique custom tour to the remote Porcupine gold mines. This is the same gold field that has been featured on the popular TV show “Alaska Gold Rush.” You’ll have a chance to see a modern gold mine in operation, and learn the finer points of gold panning as you work your own pan of gold-rich dirt.

The trip begins with a 45-minute catamaran ride along the steep-walled fjords, which connect Skagway to Haines. Enjoy the scenery as we look for humpback whales, harbor seals, and a variety of seabirds. Arrive in Haines and drive along the banks of the Chilkat River, through the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve and along the historic Dalton Trail to the ghost town of Porcupine. In 1905, Porcupine was a thriving town of two thousand people, complete with retail stores and a post office. Little evidence remains of the town, but the lure of gold is still strong, and there is still gold to be found in Porcupine Creek.

Arrive at the Big Nugget Mine, owned by the Schnabel family since the 1960’s. This is not a reenactment, set up for tourists or TV cameras. What you will see are real gold miners at work. The mine processes over nine thousand yards of material per season. The Big Nugget mine is aptly named- the largest nugget found here was a whopping 3 ounces!

Meet one of the miners for a personalized tour. Your guide may very well be John Schnabel, a 91-year old local legend and owner of the mine, or his teenage grandson, Parker. Watch the modern machinery wrestling gold from the creek bed. After watching the high-tech method, you’ll have a chance to try the old-fashioned way. With some dirt in your pan, you’ll learn how to swirl the pan until the gold separates from the dirt. There’s gold in every pan, and the gold you find is yours to keep!

After the tour, enjoy a picnic lunch before returning to Haines and back to your ship in Skagway.

4 hours from Haines
6 hours from Skagway
2 person minimum
Call 877 766 3516 (toll free) or contact us via email for departure times and pricing

A Note from Joe

Why visit Haines with Rainbow Glacier Adventures? Haines is different. And Rainbow Glacier Adventures is unique.

Haines is a real Alaskan town with colorful characters, talented artists, pristine scenery, intact wildlife habitat and friendly local people. Haines is visited by one large cruise ship per week....many other towns have four or five big ships per day. Haines was listed by Outside Magazine and National Geographic Adventurer as one of the top towns in the United States to live and play. Haines has the most accessible bear-viewing in Southeast Alaska, and is famous for its huge population of Bald Eagles.

Haines is easily accessible from Skagway via a 45-minute catamaran ride. Many large cruise ships visit Skagway. Visiting Haines with Rainbow Glacier Adventures gives you a chance to break away from the crowds and experience a true Alaskan town with a tour company committed to high-quality, small group, educational travel. There are other small Alaskan towns not frequently visited by cruise ships. The problem is, they require tricky logistics or expensive arrangements to visit when on a cruise. Haines is easy to get to. Just call us and we'll make the arrangements.

Rainbow Glacier Adventures offers tours for discerning travelers. If you want to avoid the crowds and hype and enjoy a truly unique experience, give us a call. If your interest is art, natural history, the eclectic, or the remote, we have a tour for you. If you have a special interest like birding, photography, or adventure, let us know and we will arrange a custom package. You and your party will have the full attention of our professional guides-no crowds, no waiting, no rigid itinerary!

Believe me, I've traveled the world and Haines should not be missed. That's why I moved here twenty years ago and that's why I founded Rainbow Glacier Adventures.

© 2011 | Rainbow Glacier Adventures – Joe Ordonez