Denali Fat Truck Tours
We get you out there in safety, and comfort, Alaskan style!
3 Hour Alaska Gold
Panning Experience
Healy Creek
3 Hour Experience with local guides, local history, and take home some local GOLD!
May-Sept $149 Per Person
Overview
Come for a 4X4 ride on Scenic Mining roads and trails then learn to Pan for Gold yourself (in warm water). Of course you get to take your Gold home! Meet us at our Panning Site, OR have our Specially Built 4X4 off road Shuttle pick you up at your Hotel near Denali National Park.
Duration: 3 Hours
Meeting point: 175 Pioneer Rd Healy, Alaska OR our 4X4 Shuttle pickup from Local hotels (north of the National Park Entrance)
Cancellation Policy: Full Refunds if canceled more than 24 hours before tour start time (No refunds for no-shows)
Age: 100 and under
Group size: Maximum 12 people
Highlights
Heated panning stations to work through some of the highest producing pay dirt in the Denali area. Guaranteed gold to take home in a keepsake vial, or have one of our mini-miners put it in a pendant, neckless, or even a set of ear-rings. (extra cost for some settings)
The tour begins with a scenic drive along the Nenana River and up the Healy Creek watershed. We are the only licensed and permitted tour to take guests up Historic Healy Creek in the active & reclaimed mining areas. Imagine yourself a gold prospector over 100 years ago, prospecting up rivers and creeks to zero in on the motherlode. Your guide will share with you the history of the area, and history of the original gold prospectors who blazed the path in the wilderness that fueled the Coal Rush and continuing mining operations of today.
Your Guides will describe the geology of the area, how gold was formed, and demonstrate how prospectors searched for gold. You will then head to our Gold Panning Site, where you will learn to pan gold with paydirt obtained from the highest producing local gold mine in the region, guaranteed to find you gold.
The panning site has warm water panning troughs to keep your "Chechako" fingers from getting cold. Beware, Gold Fever is a real thing, and you may find the desire to change your career or retirement plans when you see the glimmer of gold in your pan.
What's included
Shuttle Pickup and Dropoff at Denali Hotels
All Gold Panning supplies and tools needed
Personal instruction and help panning
Small glass vial to keep and display your gold
What's not included
Additional Paydirt and Gold panning starter kits are available for purchase.
Additional raw Gold is available for purchase
On-Site jewelry making services are available by the Mini-Miners.
Itinerary
1) 4X4 Shuttle Pickup from Denali area Hotels OR drive your rental car to our Panning site for pickup by the 4x4 shuttle.
2) Nenana River- Healy Creek: Scenic drive along exclusive access areas closed to the general public, on historic mining trails to Reclamation Hill.
3) Photo Stop on Reclamation Hill or Wedding Point.
4) Cripple Creek stop with geology lesson and prospecting demonstration.
5) Travel to our Panning Site.
6) Gold Panning lesson and individual gold panning experience (with warm water panning troughs).
7) 4X4 Shuttle Return to Denali area Hotels.
Small group/private format: Scenic 4X4 ride along historic mining trails with Vista Views to learn about Prospecting for Gold and Mining for Coal. Then, come learn the art of Panning for Gold and try your hand at panning in our heated panning stations with assistance from your mining guides.
The Pay Dirt comes from the highest producing local family gold mines in the Denali area.
We guarantee if you follow our instructions, you will find gold, and be able to take it home with you!