Photography Tours & Sightseeing Tours
Traveling through Colorado reveals a rich history from the old boom-town days, when gold seekers came from all over the world. Despite the passing years, remnants of these mining towns still exist in the mountains, providing photographers with a treasure trove of cool photo opportunities.
Old mine shafts, 1800s cemeteries, dilapidated cabins, and rusted equipment make for fun and fascinating subjects for those with the right mindset. These relics are perfect for capturing historical/surreal/stylized black and white photos.
Of course, we won’t spend all our time on old broken stuff. Amidst the rustic remains are breathtaking landscapes that are sure to inspire you. As we travel between mining destinations, we’ll take advantage of the stunning mountain beauty and capture some unforgettable landscape photos.
San Juan Mountains
Join us on a photography tour through the historic Red Mountain Mining District between Ouray and Silverton, Colorado. Our route will take us along the famous “Million Dollar Highway,” where we’ll turn onto several jeep trails to reach our target mines.
These abandoned mines were once at the heart of a silver boom from 1882 until 1893. While some of these sites can be accessed year-round, most of them are only accessible by vehicle between May and October.
Our tour includes visits to iconic mines such as Yankee Girl Mine, Idarado Mine, Bailey Shaft Mine, Robinson Mine, American Girl Mine, Barstow Mine, Copper King Mine, and many more. So grab your camera and join us on this adventure into Colorado’s past.
Front Range
Abandoned Mines and Cabins
We will travel up the twisted Virginia Canyon road where we will encounter several abandoned mines and the remains of their trestle structures. We will also explore the interiors of some old abandoned miner cabins. Often photos through the windows to the outside landscape can make for amazing photos. These locations are fantastic for monochrome photos and creative images.
Central City and Blackhawk
After we make it over the pass, we will enter the towns of Central City and Blackhawk Colorado. Both these towns are rich with history. Old churches, Victorian homes, the opera house and more will keep you clicking photos. Both of these old gold rush towns have now been turned into gambling destinations, here the modern mingles with the old, but it’s still easy to capture the history of the streets with a little creative composition. This is also a great location for us to enjoy a lunch before we move on. [ learn more about Central City ]
Cemeteries:
Knights of Pythias | Central City | Bald Mountain
Outside of Blackhawk we will pay a visit to several very old graveyards. Really, you’re taking me to a cemetery? You will like it, I assure you. The setting here is ripe with photo opportunities. The headstones are photogenic themselves, with old school cast iron adornments and ornate carvings, but the surroundings truly make the shots. Aspen groves and wild flowers surround the entire area, back-dropped by the high Rocky Mountain peaks; you will not find a more picturesque location.
