Entry No. 73 — the Pueblo file — filed under: abandoned-mine
Eureka Tunnel Mine
Located in the St. Peters Dome mining district within Pike National Forest, the Eureka Tunnel is a historic, abandoned fluorine-fluorite mine dating back to the late 19th century. Originally worked for cryolite and thomsenolite used in glass bottle manufacturing, the site is now a famous mineral-collecting locality. Today, visitors can find remnants of the old mine dumps littered with colorful fluorite, quartz, and tiny zircon crystals.
The story
While most late 19th-century prospectors in Colorado were losing their minds over gold, miners at St. Peters Dome were digging for something considerably stranger. The Eureka Tunnel was opened to pull out fluorine and fluorite, alongside rarer minerals like cryolite and thomsenolite, which ended up melted down for glass bottle manufacturing.
The underground workings are long gone from public reach—and you didn't hear it from us, but trying to squeeze into old timbered drifts is a fantastic way to end up on a local rescue roster. The real action sits out in the sunlight on the weathered mine tailings, where decades of discarded rock hold some of the richest surface-level rockhounding in the district.
What it's like
Expect a rugged, self-guided scramble on public Pike National Forest land near St. Peters Dome. There are no signs, no docents, and no velvet ropes—just hillside trails cutting up to historic mine dumps. You'll spend your time crouched on gravel piles sifting through debris for flashes of purple fluorite, quartz, and microscopic zircon crystals, framed by wide views across the region. Keep your distance from the dangerous, off-limits tunnel portal, pack out whatever you bring, and bring sturdy boots to hold your footing on loose scree.
The move: Hike along the scenic trails near St. Peters Dome to search the historic mine dumps for colorful fluorite and zircon specimens, then enjoy panoramic views of Colorado Springs from the hillside.
📍 Before you go The mine is located on public National Forest land, making the surrounding trails and mine dumps accessible, but the underground tunnel itself is extremely dangerous and off-limits.
- 📍 Eureka Tunnel Mine
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Eureka Tunnel Mine, Colorado 80906, USA
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.
Pair it with
- Phantom Canyon Road — Swap out picking through mine dumps for a drive down 30 miles of gravel laid directly over an 1890s gold-railroad route.
- Stratton's Independence Mine and Mill — Compare Eureka's quiet glass-mineral dumps to the massive, multimillion-dollar gold claim that defined Cripple Creek.
- Manitou Springs Penny Arcade (Arcade Amusements) — Follow up a cold afternoon of dirt-sifting in the forest with coin-op mechanical games built around the same era the mine was operating.
Good to know
Can you go inside the Eureka Tunnel?
No. The underground mine tunnel is extremely hazardous and off-limits. Sifting is strictly restricted to the outdoor surface mine dumps.
What minerals can you find on the site?
The surface tailings are littered with specimens of colorful fluorite, quartz, and tiny zircon crystals.
Is there an admission fee or hours?
It sits on public National Forest land, so there are no entrance gates or fees, but you should confirm current forest access conditions before making the drive.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: westernmininghistory.com · davealex.com · Reddit
last checked: 2026-07-20