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RalphVegan
As an industrial archaeologist I've visited many preserved mines over the years. This was one of the best, both as an experience/adventure and as an example of industrial heritage. It was also enhanced by great weather! The visit begins and ends with a hour-long journey in a tour bus up and down a narrow gravel road from Hedley to the the mine and back. It is not an attraction that people with vertigo will enjoy! But the expanding views over the Similkameen valley are fantastic. Our guide provided a running commentary that was informative, motivating but not overwhelming, giving the group of visitors time to look at the scenery and ask questions. Once at the Mascot mine we descended nearly 600 wooden steps to the gold mine buildings. The wooden steps are quite narrow and would be very demanding for someone who has mobility or other health/fitness issues (especially on the way back up to the bus!). There are no facilities at the mine site, so everyone brings their own lunch - eating lunch looking out at the scenery was actually a bonus.Again the guide provided plenty of information and stories associated with the gold mine. The tour includes a trip a short distance into the chilly main tunnel, where we were treated to a light (or perhaps it should be a dark) and sound show.Even though we were at the mine for several hours, time passed very quickly , and I could have readily stayed for another hour or two. The mine is still being restored, but the preserved buildings are presented very well, without too many annoying labels, and there is plenty to see.My only minor quibbles were the presence of old Christmas lights hanging on some of the buildings, which got in way of some of my photography, and the guide might have been provided with more technical information for awkward people like me! But overall this was a fantastic day and I recommend it to anyone interested in industrial heritage and unique places.
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BarbGag
An excellent tour of a gold mine. We took a Bus trip with an informative tour guide who was very well versed about local history, the mine and the area. After a one hour bus ride we arrived at a remote location. We decended 583 step to the partially restored mine site. The operators have done an excellent job restoring area to look authentic and making it a safe experience.The models of the mine, artifacts and information boards are very professional. Exploring the buildings was encouraged! We wore hard hats to walk into the mine tunnel. Once inside, we learned more about the mining techniques and we experienced the audio tunnel show which really left an impression on us, we truly understood the activities that would have occurred in the mine!
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LorenzoP806
We have always wanted to go up and explore mascot mine. Beware that the tours only run in summer (we went to visit the second time in winter!) and that during the summer months the tour to Mascot Mines runs only once a day at 12:30pm.The town of Hedley is very charming and eccentric and worth a drive through. See if you can find the house with the solarium made of of hundreds of old car windshields. Its in a back lane!
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AnnieN420
We went on the last tour of the season. Amazing and we survived the 1000+ stairs!!! Great attraction, lots to know about mining in Hedley.
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SHADOWSPRITE
We were visiting Princeton and decided to go to the Snaza'ist Centre museum as a side trip. I'm very glad we did. For one thing, it was nicely air-conditioned and it was great to get out of the sun on such a hot day. The displays didn't take long to see but were interesting. They had an impressive model of the area as well as examples of pictographs and various geological samples. Stay for the short film “From Ochre to Gold" especially if there isn't an interpreter around giving tours. We were disappointed that they no longer take you out to the actual archeological sites to see the pictographs but the movie gives you a good idea of what they look like and the importance to the people that lived in the Similkameen Valley. The trip up the mountain is for an entirely different type of tourist. We didn't have the time, my bad knee couldn't have managed the stairs, I get car sick, and I've been in mines before. So stop at the museum if you just want to take in a bit of ancient history on your way to somewhere else. It was worth it! After you've seen the museum, a great place for lunch is the café at the Hedley Inn and Hostel two blocks away.
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10161
I live nearby and this was my second visit to the site. Took my cousin who was visiting from New Zealand and we both enjoyed it immensly. The staff running the tour were fantastic and a wealth of knowledge re the history of the mine and life in that period.I would highly recommend this tour to folks who are visiting this beautiful part of British Columbia, it is well worth your time. Might very well be the highlight of your vacaction in BC!There is so much spectacular scenery and fascinating history, fun for all ages. We had a perfect day with cooler temps. My first trip it was very hot. I would recommend you bring several bottles of water, and leave some at the top of the stairs when you go down to the mine site. After you hike up those 589 stairs, you will appreciate that water!There is SO much more potential for this unique attraction, such as a zip-line or tram down the mountainside, a trolley-car ride through the mine, a B&B or hostel at the mine site. Maybe with enough visits, revenue and interest, these may become possible. Enjoy!
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GailH369
It was a very bumpy road to the mine with our driver telling us all about the history of the mine that his grandfather and father had worked at. A bit of put by the stairs I was worded that my son would find it hard but with so many resting places and time allowed for al to wander their way back up the 600 plus stairs all was good. The four and a half you visit went quickly with information being given as we wandered around. We were advised to wear hats which I'm glad we did and to take water. Both were needed on the side of a mountain with no shade. On the way down we also got to see ahead which for English people abroad was (in my son's words) awesome. Well worth a visit. Make sure you reserve a place as it fills up fast with only one tour a day.
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YaShaK
Great tourist spot in this Gold Rush Mining Town. The tour is about 4.5 hrs. Farmers market on Sundays and good local music.
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TerryS674
Wow-this is a 'Trip' from start to finish!! They have done a good job of restoring the buildings that seem to cling to the cliff face. I can't imagine what it must have been like working there!We were told the married men lived in the town below and went home every day-via the tram! This was the true beginning of zip lines!If you have any issues with motion sickness or heights, you would best steer clear of this. While the drive up is very scenic, it takes half and hour on hairpin turns. There are over 230 steep stairs to descend and what goes down, must come up again. Make sure you have water and use sun screen-this is an exposed area with no facilities till you come back to base. The round trip takes 3 to 4 hours, depending on the slowest member of your party
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DaveS942
Mascot Mine is an abandoned gold mine perched high (about 4800 ft) on a cliff face...it was once home to 150 mine workers. The tour of the area is breathtaking, and the bus ride to the site gives wonderful valley views. The tour includes local native history and culture, early "newcomer" settlement of the area, and mining history. The mine buildings are still quite original with just enough repairs to keep further weathering to a minimum. You can still feel the presence of the people that were working and living in the landscape.Bring food, water, good footwear and sun protection.
