Gold Mining Tour

We did one of the best guided tours I have ever been on near red river, New Mexico. I generally don’t like guided tours because I like to go at my own pace but this was beyond my expectation of the tour. Our guide, Cowboy (his nickname), was exceptional. Not only was he knowledgeable about the trail, but he was also very courteous and entertaining during the four hour tour. 

What I did not expect was to learn about the history of gold mining in Northern New Mexico. We learned that the area where we started the tour was called Elizabeth town and had 2000 to 5000 people in the 1860s. Elizabeth was one of seven children born and I house that we got to drive by. The land is still owned by a descendent of her which made it even more interesting to drive on.

Winding through the trails, we drove by several gold mines. We stopped at a few of them and learn how the water and hydraulics was used to shift out the gold as it ran from the top of the mountain all the way down to what is now near the Red River area. More than 400 gold miners worked the area until the early 1930s. 

Side learning the history, the views were amazing!  Here is a view of Eagle Nest lake and the valley near Angel Fire. 

Here is one of The larger abandon mines that we drove by. 

We stopped and ate lunch near the Rose Hotel which was about halfway down the mountain. It was awesome to consider when this hotel was active and people coming in and out the area.  I was fascinated to learn that the second story balcony was actually an alternative way to leave the hotel when it was snowing. The snow could get as high as 15 feet and block the first level of the hotel.

Collin had so many questions about what Cowboy was talking about, the lingo Cowboy used and what certain terms meant when he was describing the gold mining procedures.  I think Collin had a good time especially because he was riding in the back with his mom and Mimi.