Contact: Joe Ellis, 307-332-3684

Modern-day visitors can follow in the footsteps of a miner from 1868 while exploring the English Tunnel during tours at South Pass City each Saturday at 11 a.m. June through August.

The tunnel, named for its English financial backers, is one of the state’s earliest mining features.

The 300-foot horizontal tunnel was cut into the living rock in hopes of intersecting the vein of quartz that fed the nearby Carissa Mine. However, the expected vein of gold was never found and the tunnel was abandoned.

Time and the elements covered the tunnel leaving traces of the hard work of miners undisturbed for 150 years.

Today, visitors will find traces left by the mine workers, like the candles they used to light the tunnel.  The tour includes a one-mile hike and candle tour of a real mine.

Reservation for the tours are required and can be made at https://www.southpasscity.com/tours or calling 307-332-3684.

The South Pass City State Historic Site includes the Carissa Mine and 29 original town buildings people can tour. The historic site spans 389 acres with nearly five miles of interpretive trails. 

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