Historic Gold Panning and Salmon Bake

Historic Gold Panning and Salmon Bake

Pair panning for gold with a fresh salmon bake, and you get a memorable Alaskan experience. After a brief city tour of Juneau, venture to Gold Creek and Last Chance Basin for a hands-on adventure in gold panning — and keep everything you find! 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 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.

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Last Chance Basin, Juneau, AK 99801, USA

Catch “gold fever” and experience what it was like to seek your fortune during Gold Rush days! Learn to pan for gold and keep all you find! Discover Juneau’s colorful mining heritage for yourself.

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.


Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Gold Creek Salmon Bake, 1061 Salmon Creek Ln, Juneau, AK 99801, USA

A feast as grand as Alaska itself! The Gold Creek Salmon Bake is an event we’ve “grilled to perfection” for over 40 years. Savor an all-you-can-eat Alaskan feast, in a unique environment that you'll find nowhere else.

Arrive at a beautiful setting, in a lush rainforest alongside a creek, under heated, translucent domes protecting you from the elements, rain or shine. Savor the aroma of wild salmon, grilled slowly over fires of fragrant alder wood – the signature entrée of this all-you-can-eat Alaskan experience – and settle in for a feast for all your senses!

The sumptuous spread has something for everyone. Choose from grilled salmon, Cheechako chicken, Chilkoot baked beans, Tongass wild-rice pilaf, Alyeska au gratin potatoes and a robust selection of other sides, salads and beverages. Beer and wine are available for purchase. Vegetarian or gluten-free? There's plenty to tempt your palate! And, just when you think you've had enough – bring on the blueberry cake for dessert! Come back for seconds, or thirds, while local musicians set a festive mood with live music.

After dinner, 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.

The food, 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. Don't return until your tastes have been satisfied and you're filled with great memories.


Duration: 1 hour