Mineral Creek Tours

The Valdez Experience

Valdez’s gold mining heritage comes alive on Mineral Creek Trail. Those who  hike, bike or drive through Mineral Creek Valley will see historic gold rush ruins  alongside present day mining claims. The trail is a rough gravel road that begins  on Mineral Creek Drive that crosses a bridge over the creek and continues for a  1.5 miles to a washout at Horsetail Creek Falls. The washout may be crossed by  foot or four-wheel drive vehicle. The gravel path continues for approximately  four miles, offering amazing views of glacier-fed waterfalls and wildflowers like  western columbine, until reaching a gate. The trail continues past the gate as a  dirt path that must be traveled by foot; the path ends at an abandoned gold  rush-era stamp mill.

Out & back 

• There are several trailheads to enter this trail. You can either enter at the  trailhead shown in the map on this page, the end of Mineral Creek Road, or a  couple miles north at Horsetail Creek.
• The “trail” is a gravel road for a couple miles, then a narrower trail, then  eventually an on-foot dirt path for the final mile. There is a closed gate where the  trail becomes an on-foot dirt path.
• 4-wheelers are recommended after Horsetail Creek.
• The route ends at W.L. Smith Stamp Mill on the northern end.