kentucky mine tour

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Harlan County

Where the adventure begins

Head Underground to Kentucky’s Portal 31 Mine Tour!

Welcome to Portal 31!

Portal No. 31 Underground Mine Tour offers visitors the unique experience of touring an actual coal mine by rail car. Visitors will experience travelling through a coal mine as the enjoy animated exhibits along the tour. Outside Portal 31 stands a black granite monument in tribute to long time president of the United Mine Workers John L. Lewis and a memorial to U.S. Steel District #1 miners who died in mining accidents. The site also features a 1920s lamphouse, bathhouse, L&N train depot and loadout system. A walking tour around the site includes signage that explains the history of the Portal 31 mining complex. Portal 31 RV Park is located directly across from the Portal. With 12 hookups and 8 primitive parking spaces, the park adds another option for local accommodations. The park offers a sewer dump station for tour buses and RV vehicles. Cable television hook-ups available.

Admission Portal Prices:

• Adults: $22.95
• Seniors: (62 & up) $20.95
• H.S. Students/College: $17.95
• 3yrs of age – 8th grade: $12.95

Information Regarding Tour:

The Portal 31 Tour ride accommodates 10-15 adults (18 school age children). Reservations are suggested. Larger groups can be accommodated with prior agreements made through the Portal office. The ride takes approximately 45 minutes. The rides traverses through an actual coal mine and the temperature may be cool so you want to bring a light jacket if you are cold natured. Tours are regularly scheduled at the top of each hour and you should plan to be checked in 15-20 minutes before the tour begins.

Portal 31 recently underwent a multi-million-dollar renovation and while the story line has not changed of telling the history of coal mining, our exhibits feature state-of-the-art animatronics and computer simulated exhibits. While same day tours are available, reservations are recommended to guarantee your time slot.

Gift Shop: As a remembrance to your visit to Portal 31, be sure to visit our gift shop for a t-shirt, hat, bag or Portal 31 coal and/or other items!

Other things: While the Portal 31 Tour ride takes approxiamtely 45 minutes, you can spend additional time on the walking tour around the Portal 31 complex and Lynch train depot. There are 35 informational signs that explain the structure, their uses, and the history behind them. Food and drinks are available at the Lamp House Coffee Shop across the street. We suggest you plan 2-3 hours of your time to take the tour and view the other things outside the mine tour.

For more information contact  Nick Sturgill , Manager . Telephone: 606-848-3131

Owned by the Harlan County Fiscal Court  and operated by the  Harlan County Tourist and Convention Commission . Bookings are taken by Portal 31 (606) 848-3131

Hours: Tuesday – Friday: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Weekends: Please call ahead of time to ensure you have a reservation. Weekend hours are not guaranteed.

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Kentucky Coal Mine Tours & Museums

Coal has been a vital economic engine in the Appalachians for well over 200 years. First discovered in Kentucky by Dr. Thomas Walker in 1750, the vital role that coal would play as an energy resource quickly took hold, changing both the economic landscapes of Eastern Kentucky and the country as a whole. With the first official large-scale Kentucky coal mine underway by 1820, the centers of commerce and trade began to shift, and mining towns and villages soon began sprouting up across the coal-rich mountainsides around the booming mining industry. Families continued to arrive with the prospect of guaranteed work, and soon mining villages and towns grew into cities, many of which still exist and thrive across The Kentucky Wildlands today.

Coal’s legacy in America’ story runs as deep as the coal mines themselves. Supplying a majority of American energy needs from electricity production, iron & steel production, locomotive transportation and residential heating, as well as powering American war efforts, including heating the shelters of soldiers abroad, coal has become a cornerstone in the country’s energy supply over many years.

Today, The Kentucky Wildlands offers a number of opportunities to observe, learn and experience coal’s energy and nation-building legacy firsthand. Discover how iconic Americans played major, but little-known roles in Kentucky coal mining, such as industrialist giant Henry Ford ran a 1500-employee coal mining operation near Pikeville. Tours and exhibits are available there at the on-site Stone Heritage Museum. Explore award-winning historic exhibits and exciting hands-on activities at several dedicated coal mining museums, such as the nationally acclaimed Kentucky Coal Mine Museum in Benham, featuring four stories of preserved American artifacts, interactive displays and a real coal mine. Take a ride on a genuine rail car and experience life in a coal miner’s shoes at the family-fun Portal No. 31 Underground Mine Tour near Harlan, complete with authentic mine outfits for all ages. You’ll also not want to miss the one-of-its-kind, Coal House in Middlesboro, a home built entirely from bituminous coal, along with its coal mining exhibit next door. 

Learn about the influence the coal industry has had and impressed upon the culture and traditions of Appalachian Kentucky through places such as the Appalshop Roadside Theater, a professional ensemble of storytellers based in Whitesburg that uses contemporary performance art to tell the stories of the people whose families worked in the mines or take a ride on the Big South Fork Scenic Railway to learn about the Blue Heron Coal Mining Community.

And see how former surface-mined land is being reclaimed and transformed today into natural preserves and a haven for elk, black bear and other wildlife at elk viewing sites and tours available at three Kentucky State Resort Parks in the area: Jenny Wiley, Buckhorn and Pine Mountain. Saddle Back Elk Tours provides guided tours on horseback, as well, to reclaimed mine lands now populated by large herds of elk.

Coal of The Kentucky Wildlands

Harlan county coal miners memorial monument, kentucky coal mining museum, barthell mining camp, barthell mining camp- big south fork scenic railway, portal 31- underground coal museum. photos by brandon goins, portal 31- underground coal museum. photo by brandon goins, explore our heritage & culture, pioneering education, legends & lore, civil war history, hidden gems in the kentucky wildlands, liberty park veteran's wall.

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The Kentucky Wildlands

2292 South Highway 27, Somerset, KY 42501

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Portal 31 Mine Tour

26 Church St., Lynch , Kentucky 40855 USA

• Independent

“Tour and actual coal mine by rail car!”

Portal No. 31 Underground Mine Tour offers visitors the unique experience of touring an actual coal mine by rail car. Visitors will adorn the traditional protective gear of the coal miner as they enjoy animated exhibits along the tour.  Outside Portal #31 stands a black granite monument in tribute to long time president of the United Mine Workers John L. Lewis and a memorial to U.S. Steel District #1 miners who died in mining accidents. The site also features a 1920s lamp-house, bathhouse, L&N train depot and loadout system.

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Reviewed by ericarchrist

This was an awesome tour and great opportunity to learn about coal mining for our entire family. Admission includes the Kentucky Coal Museum, just a few minutes up the road. Kids were thrilled to be invited to take a piece of coal as a souvenir. Highly recommend this tour.

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Crystal Kayak Tours: Clear Kayaks

Crystal kayak tour details.

This glass-bottom kayak tour will blow your mind! Not only is your kayak crystal clear, but we’ve added underwater LED  lights so you get the best view of our rainbow trout and underwater features. There are new discoveries to be made around every corner of this unique flooded mine. A crystal clear kayak, paddle, personal flotation device, Nocqua LED underwater kayak lights, helmet and headlamp are included. A digital photo album of your tour is available for purchase. 

Glow-in-the-dark kayaking in a Kentucky mine is one of the coolest experiences you can have in the state. Our crystal kayak tours are great for families with kids 5 years of age or older, thrill-seeking groups, and solo adventurers. Book your tour and get ready to experience an unforgettable crystal clear kayaking trip.

• Ages: 5+ (A ticket is required for each individual.)
• Max Group Size: 8 (Larger by request)
• Minimum age for children on this tour is 5. For safety, children under 5 years of age are not able to participate.
• Weight restrictions: Single kayak - 275 lbs; Tandem kayak - 400 lbs. Individuals on the kayak tour (single or tandem kayak) must not exceed 275 lbs.

Kayak, Paddle, PFD, Helmet & Headlamp, LED Underwater Glow Lights

Crystal Kayak Tour

Adult (Ages 13+) Youth (Ages 5-12)

$75 Mon-Thur, $85 Fri-Sun $75 Mon-Thur, $85 Fri-Sun

The Gorge Underground Kayak and SUP tours are fine for beginners. There is no wind, waves, or current in the mine, so it is a gentle, easy paddle. It is very dark, but everyone will have a helmet with a headlamp, and the guides will have a spotlight to highlight different features of the mine. There will be a quick intro to paddling given for each craft before departure.

It’s 50 degrees underground, so dress in light athletic quick drying layers (you may get a bit damp depending on your paddling skill), extra pair of socks (no shoes allowed in clear kayaks), gloves (great idea) and comfortable shoes. Kids tends to get colder, so dress them warmly. We rent neoprene socks and mitts on the deluxe tours for $2.00 if needed.

We try our best to keep you dry, but there are times when you may get a little wet. There may be a little bit of water in the bottom of your kayak, and sometimes the seats are a bit wet. Some people also get wet from the water dripping off their paddles, but if you hold your paddle low this should not be a problem. There are also a few places in the mine where the water drips from the ceiling, but your guides will direct you around these places.

The mine stays a constant temperature of about 52 degrees year round, and the water temperature stays about 40 degrees.

No, it really doesn’t. The entire tour is underground in the mine, so our tours go out rain or shine! (In fact, some people prefer to go on a rainy day so they can do other activities when it’s sunny.)

Yes, we do have some tandem kayaks. If you would prefer to use a tandem with someone in your group, simply let the guides know when you get there, and they will pull out a tandem for you to use. Pricing is still by person.

We provide all necessary equipment.

Kayak Tours : Kayak, Paddle, PFD, Helmet & Headlamp

Clear Bottom Kayak Tours:  Kayak, Paddle, PFD, Helmet & Headlamp

SUP Tours : NRS Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board or Hylife Sit & Stand Hybrid Board, Paddle, PFD, Helmet & Headlamp.

Boat Tour : Boat, PFD, Helmet & Headlamp

Ride Along Child Ticket: PFD, Helmet & Headlamp

The cave boat tour is probably the best choice if you have small children. All children need to be at least about 40 lbs. and able to wear a PFD and helmet and sit still for the full hour-long tour.

The Gorge Underground is dark, but everyone will have a helmet with a headlamp, and the guides also have spotlights to point out various features in the mine.

We’re sorry, but we cannot accommodate children under 3 years of age.

We have had a few, but it doesn’t happen very often at all. The kayaks are relatively stable and are safe even for beginners. The Stand Up Paddle boards are also very wide and stable. A guide with rescue training goes on every tour, just in case.

30 minutes prior to your tour time

Yes! We highly recommend booking tours in advance. In the busy season many of our tours will fill up, and during the slow season, we need to know what tours are going out so that we have guides available.

The tours last one hour, but you will need to arrive 30 minutes prior to your tour time for check in and to put on gear.  Deluxe Tours  last 90 minutes for extra time to explore.

The Gorge Underground does not allow any pets on tour.

The Gorge Underground is open year round! We have more tours during the summer and fall, but we have tours available during every season! (The mine stays about 52 degrees year round, so the water in the mine never freezes!)

If you are coming with more than 12 people, we highly recommend our cave boat tour which can accommodate up to 20 people.

We limit our kayak tours to 12 people and our SUP tours to 10 because it becomes very difficult to hear the guides when you are spread out in a bigger group. For larger family groups or church/scout groups, we occasionally make exceptions to this rule at the manager’s discretion.

Yes! You can get a 10% group discount if you have at least 12 people and one person is paying for the whole group. For church/scout group discounts, please call the office at 844-254-6244. 

(Group discounts and church/scout discounts are not available on Saturdays or holiday weekends.)

We understand that sometimes plans change. Please read our policy fully. 

Due to the specialty nature of our events and our limited availability we  DO NOT OFFER REFUNDS.  Tickets can be rescheduled  NO LESS  than 7 days before event! A change fee of $10 will be applied per reservation. If you need to reschedule the week of the event you will be charged 50% of your booking as a rescheduling fee. Changes made less than 48 hours prior to tour are not allowed. Ensure you arrive a minimum of 30 minutes prior to your tour time.

No shows are not eligible for rescheduling, gift card, or refund.

We reserve the right to decline any person as a tour participant if the person’s behavior, health, or mental condition impedes the operation of the tour.

Got a Group?

Gather up your friends, family, even uncle Gary, or some co-workers and we’re here to show you how adventure is done. Give us a call for special pricing and package offers.

Need a place to stay in the Gorge?

Red River Gorge Cabin Rentals - 70 Cabins and Luxury Yurts for rent throughout the Red River Gorge. Small families to large groups we have something for everyone.

We’re Right in the Heart of Red River Gorge

Convenient for groups coming from: Lexington, KY: 1 hr Louisville, KY: 1 hr 59 mins Ashland, NC: 2 hrs 4 mins Cincinatti, OH: 2 hrs 2 mins Nashville, TN: 4 hrs 3 mins

1-844-254-6244

2478 Glen Cairn Road, Rogers, Kentucky 41365

Get Directions

Visit  RedRiverGorgeVacations.com

Sierra County Historical Society

Kentucky Mine Historic Park and Museum

We are open for the 2024 season.

Come visit us between 10 AM and 4 PM.

The Gold Rush lives on at the Kentucky Mine and Museum in Sierra City!

Today, the stamp mills are silent excepting two times each day when the Kentucky Mine stamp mill is once again brought to life to give folks on the twice daily tours of the mine and stamp mill a close up encounter with an operating stamp mill. Tour members are cautioned to cover their ears if sudden loud noises bother them because when the stamp drops, nearly everyone jumps! This is a chance to see and hear the sounds of a working gold mine is just the dramatic ending of the hour-plus tour that takes visitors through the incredible day-to-day experience of hard rock mining in the Sierra City mining region during the later part of the 19th century.

A visit to the Kentucky Mine and Museum located on Highway 49 near the town of Sierra City, CA, is a unique opportunity for you and your family to step into the world of the gold-seeking miners who worked the mines and built the towns that made California the golden state.

The Kentucky Mine and Museum is open 10 am to 4 pm , 7 days a week , from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Family-friendly pricing is in place with $5.00 per adult and  $2.00 per child museum admission. Guided gold mine and stamp mill tours start at 11 am and 2 pm daily with $10.00 admission for adults, $5.00 for children ages 7-17, and free admission for children 6 and under.  Bring the whole family for a day-in-the-life of a gold rush miner experience that will be a family trip gold-star day!

Hint: Sierra County Historical Society members receive free admission to the museum and tours. Learn more »

This Ride Through An Old Coal Mine In Kentucky Will Take You Back In Time

Jenn Shockley

I am somewhat a cliche'. I grew up running around barefoot on a farm in Kentucky. I love writing, art, sunshine, all animals and my incredibly patient husband, who tolerates my "crazy animal lady" side.

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Coal mining has been a way of life in the rural sections of our state for decades. There are many families that flourished, simply survived, and died by the mine. The rest of us usually don’t get to experience what life is like in an old coal mine in Kentucky. Portal 31 and the Coal Mine Museum have taken great lengths to change that and give us an in-depth look at what life was like for miners, and the trials and tribulations their families endured.

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Coal mining was hard work. Many workers died in accidents or from Black Lung.

This amazing portal to the past will take you back in time. You will see things as they were, under much safer conditions than they had back then.

Ride the coal cars while hearing the history of the mine. Enlightened engineers will take you on a ride into the darkness, explaining the way things were and the precautions that have been taken to preserve the area and keep things safe for tourists. This is a great way to get in touch with your ancestors and coal community of Kentucky.

You can also journey back into the past with these Kentucky coal camp photos from the 1930s.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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Lynch, Kentucky : Portal 31: Dark Ride Mine Tour

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A train ride through a real coal mine, with sound and light effects, animatronic miners, and a robot mule. Tourists ride rail cars, often in pitch blackness.

Visitor Tips and News About Portal 31: Dark Ride Mine Tour

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Stopped by during a trip to Kentucky. The tour guide was very informative and it was great to see the different time periods of mining through the displays in the Portal 31 exhibition mine.

The Portal No. 31 Underground Mine Tour is a new offering; supposedly it opened in late 2006. Lynch was once the world's largest coal camp, and this is touted as "Kentucky's First Exhibition Coal Mine." Groups are transported through the Portal #31 coal mine by rail car, wearing plastic safety helmets "as they enjoy animated exhibits along the tour."

According to the attraction's web site: "Outside Portal #31 stands a black granite monument in tribute to long time president of the United Mine Workers John L. Lewis and a memorial to U.S. Steel District #1 miners who died in mining accidents. The site also features a 1920s lamphouse, bathhouse, L&N train depot and loadout system."

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This Glass-bottomed Kayak Tour Through an Abandoned Mine in Kentucky Brings You to an Underground Waterfall

Spot fish, bats, and an underground waterfall during this epic tour.

Kentucky may conjure up images of bourbon distilleries , its famous derby, and bluegrass music, but the state also offers visitors a one-of-a-kind water sports experience.

SUP Kentucky , a stand-up paddleboard tour company in Rogers, about an hour east of Lexington, offers guests a guided paddleboarding experience through an abandoned limestone mine in the nearby Red River Gorge. To make things even more interesting (and Instagram-worthy), travelers can choose between a clear-bottom kayak or a paddleboard with multicolored LED lights illuminating the water underneath.

"Kentucky has many, many cave systems. I knew I was going to try to find a cave to paddle in," Heather Warman, co-owner of SUP Kentucky, told Travel + Leisure . She explained that after she and her partner founded the company in 2016, they started looking for unique adventures to offer their clients. Then, one day, Warman, a native Kentuckian, drove by the limestone mine and saw a banner advertising kayaking tours.

"I had been driving there my whole life and never knew [the mine] was even here. And certainly, I didn't know that it had water in it. And so we went in and discovered it's huge. It has five miles of tunnels. And it's all flooded from an underground aquifer," Warman explained.

Courtesy of Sup Kentucky

As it turned out, the mine had been there well before she was even born. It started as a surface mine in the 1800s and was converted into an underground mine in the middle of the 20th century when workers used dynamite to blast out the tunnels. Then, around the 1980s, they hit the aquifers, and water began to seep into the hallways. Eventually, the mine was shut down, and it remained so for about 30 years until SUP Kentucky started offering its Crystal Kayak and SUP Glow Tour.

The mine's tunnels are 60 feet in width and about 30 feet in height. Because there is no wind or waves inside, the waters are always calm, and previous paddleboarding experience is not required. Another unique aspect of the tour, according to Warman, is that unlike other bodies of water in Kentucky, which have muddy waters, limestone acts as a natural filtration system, making the water in the mine crystal clear. During the tour, guests can spot rainbow trout, napping bats, fossils, and even an underground waterfall. SUP Kentucky's groups are limited to eight people, but the company can accommodate a larger group on a private tour.

The easiest way to get to the Red River Gorge Area is to fly into Lexington and drive to the Gorge Underground. The nearby Natural Bridge State Resort Park in Slade is home to a lodge with 35 rooms with private balconies. Two campgrounds and a restaurant are also available to travelers. With many hiking trails, swimming, zip lining, fishing, pedal boating, a sky lift (open April to October), and rock climbing opportunities, the area is brimming with activity year-round.

Once guests arrive at the mine site (Warman recommends getting there 15 minutes early to gear up), they can choose between a clear-bottom SUP board — the company's newest offering — or a kayak. Temperatures in the mine are in the 50s year-round, so dress accordingly. On a hot summer day, for example, when it's in the 90s range outside, guests can expect a 40-degree temperature drop once they enter the cave.

"We do suggest that people wear light athletic layers, so they can take things off if they need to. I usually tell people if you think about a 50-degree day, and you're going to take a brisk walk, you'd want to wear something like that," she added. And that includes thick socks. Guides ask travelers to take their shoes off in the clear kayaks and SUPs, to maintain them clean and, well, "clear."

There are various items available for rent on-site, such as neoprene socks and gloves for $2 each or floating phone cases. The company's gift shop also sells sweatshirts for those who forget to bring one.

The minimum age for kids is five years old, and Warman explained that children always ride in their own seats for safety reasons. During the 90-minute tour, guests descend about 175 to 200 feet underground; at times, the water gets about 30 feet deep. Expect to spend about 60 minutes on the water. The other half hour is spent taking photos (guides carry cameras and charge $5 per photo), loading equipment, and walking to and from the mine.

Warman explained that the water temperature hovers around 42 degrees, which is one of the reasons this tour is guided.

"If you were to fall in and be in the water longer than ten minutes, you could become hypothermic," she said.

The Crystal Kayak and SUP Glow Tour is SUP Kentucky's most popular experience, so booking well in advance is recommended. Warman explained that weekend slots often sell out in the summer months in advance. Tickets cost $75 for adults ages 13 and older for tours between Sunday and Friday and $80 for Saturday tours. The earliest tour starts at 9 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays and at 10 a.m. on weekdays.

You can book your spot here .

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You Can Paddle In A Clear Kayak Through An Abandoned Mine In Kentucky

We’re adding this one to our bucket lists!

If paddling through a flooded limestone mine illuminated by the glow of underwater LED lights sounds like a dream come true, set your course to Red River Gorge, Kentucky, for the ultimate kayaking adventure.

Located one hour from  Lexington , Eco Tour company  SUP Kentucky  offers a variety of outdoor excursions, but their most popular is easily the " Red River Gorge Underground Cavern Glow ," which takes customers on a one-hour journey through an abandoned, 100-year-old mine complete with an underground waterfall.

Choose between traditional kayaks and paddle boards or upgrade to SUP Kentucky's new Crystal Clear Bottom Kayaks and Stand Up Paddle Boards to see everything happening (and swimming!) beneath you.

"Keep an eye out for rainbow trout who often follow the tour," the company's website advises. "If you're lucky, you'll see a Kentucky brown bat taking a rest on the limestone walls."

This one-of-a-kind experience costs $75 per adult and $25 per child (ages 5-8) from Sunday to Friday, with prices increasing on Saturdays. The tour is limited to groups of eight. Single and double kayaks are available, and SUP Kentucky promises to take incredible photos of you and your group while you experience the tour.

Visit  SUPKentucky.com  for tickets and more information.

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• (304) 256-1768
• 409 S Kanawha St. Beckley, WV 25801

UNDERGROUND TOUR

At the Exhibition Coal Mine, visitors ride through the dark passages of a vintage coal mine. The guides are veteran miners and provide firsthand accounts of the daily responsibilities and travail of past and present day miners.

Guests board a comfortable coal mine “man trip” that holds approximately 35 people for the duration of the whole tour. As the trip begins, guides give general information about the Mine and the history of coal mining in our region. The Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine is a “drift mine” and the track goes 1500 feet up and around various mined out areas.  Stops are made at these areas and the veteran guides give in-depth information on the mining methods and equipment seen. The underground tour last approximately 35 minutes.  Visitors are asked to bring a jacket because the temperature is always 58 degrees inside the Mine.

The Exhibition Coal Mine operates on a seasonal schedule, opening on April 1 and closing November 2.

Underground tours begin on the hour and the half hour.

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How one Kentuckian turned a closed coal mine into a distillery

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Host Scott Tong joins up with Shannon Wright, a businessman in eastern Kentucky who has found a novel way to repurpose a closed coal mine. He turned it into a distillery, where one day visitors will be able to tour the old mine as barrels of bourbon age and hang out at the tasting bar.

This segment aired on August 5, 2024.

Scott Tong Co-Host, Here & Now Scott Tong joined Here & Now as a co-host in July 2021 after spending 16 years at Marketplace as Shanghai bureau chief and senior correspondent.

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Kentucky is building homes on former coal mines for people fleeing flood plains.

I n a three-part series, Kentucky Public Radio examined the state's plan to spend hundreds of millions of federal recovery dollars to build seven new neighborhoods on top of former strip mines.

Kentucky's climate migration: Turning old coal mines into housing

In the first installment, experts couched Kentucky's initiative within the broader context of climate migration. They say there's a long history of moving to higher ground to avoid flooding. However, Kentucky's plan is unique because it pairs various federal aid programs with state-managed housing development.

Climate change has Kentucky flood victims weighing safety against tradition

In another story, locals and non-profit housing leaders talked about some of the challenges the state will face to convince people to move to high ground homes. One survivor explained they only moved because they "didn't have a choice" — their home was completely destroyed. There's also a tight rope the state needs to walk to make homes affordable and to foster a strong sense of community in the new neighborhoods.

As Kentucky builds climate-resilient housing, one town has their own plan

In the final part of the series, Kentucky Public Radio profiled a high ground housing plan in the small city of Fleming-Neon. Leaders there say they're uncomfortable with some aspects of the state's plan and their plan offers an alternative that gives people more choice for their homes.