Indian Valley Mine & Gifts — Local services in Alaska

This was a wonderful activity! We have had to travel to Alaska at a time when such non-winter activities are usually put to bed (around mid September). However, due to the pandemic, everyone's schedules seem to have been disrupted and Indian Valley Mine was open. We were taught how to pan for gold before being thrown in the deep end of the pool and quite honestly, it is not very difficult. Since we were the only ones there, we got all the attention and assistance until we perfected the technique and were able to pan quite a bit of gold! The gift shop is very well stocked and my favourite part about it is how the genuine stuff is clearly marked as genuine (in case of a piece of jewellery using an animal's tooth or ivory). You are also clearly told that anything that doesn't have the word original or genuine on it is not original or genuine. You now know exactly what you are getting for the money you're paying and can make your purchases accordingly. Depending on your patience level, you can opt for a 20/50/100 USD bucket of dirt from which you can pan gold. My husband and I divided the dirt of a USD20 bucket and it took us over an hour (backbreaking work, this) :D Thoroughly enjoyed ourselves though. Here's a picture of our...

We recently visited this gold mining attraction, and it was an absolute blast for the whole family! The experience was not only super fun but also highly educational—perfect for kids who love hands-on learning.

The staff were incredibly friendly and engaging, making sure every child felt excited and involved. They did a fantastic job explaining the history of gold mining while keeping things light and entertaining. My kids loved panning for real gold and gems, and the thrill of finding "treasure" made the experience unforgettable.

The setup was very kid-friendly, with safe, easy-to-use tools and plenty of shaded areas. There were also fun little surprises along the way, like hidden fossils and interesting facts about geology. It was amazing to see my children so enthusiastic about learning while having a great time.

Overall, this gold mining adventure is a must-do for families! It’s the perfect mix of education, excitement, and hands-on fun. My kids haven’t stopped talking about it, and we’ll definitely be back....

Cool little family owned business. You can pan for gold here but the material comes from a lode mine elsewhere. The dirt comes in plastic jugs in $10, $20 or $100 size. Once your purchase the jug, one of the workers will take you to a tub of water and teach you how to pan. You are guaranteed to get some gold from your dirt, but no guarentee on how much.

There are also a gaggle of turkeys, ducks and chickens on the property. They were penned up when we got their but the owner let them out when we were done panning. All the birds were friendly as can be and the turkeys even used one of us as a pole to chase the other turkey around.

There is a gift shop where you can buy a pan, gold items, moose antlers for your dog to chew on and more. All (three) of the workers we encountered were genuinely nice people and were friendly and fun to engage with.

Hours are 10am to 6pm daily. Located about 20-25 minutes south of Anchorage on the Seward Highway. Nice little tourist spot, highly recommend checking it out especially if...