In the mid-1800s, South Pass was swarming with crowds of people scrambling to get their piece of the gold rush. Thankfully, today the crowds are much smaller, so you can have a more intimate experience as you dig in and strike it rich in the area’s history. In this historic mining town, you can even try your luck at gold panning.
Long before the mass move to the West, trappers and traders shared South Pass with Native Americans. But in 1849, when gold was discovered in California, the area became a heavily traveled route for those chasing dreams of gold. And then in 1867, the Carissa Lode was found and the South Pass Gold Rush was on. The short-lived frenzy left a mark on the area, attracting a new kind of gold rush to this day.