Entry No. 72 — the Coeur d'Alene file — filed under: mine

Last Chance Mine

Discovered in 1885, the Last Chance Mine was a prolific silver and lead producer in Idaho's historic Silver Valley before being acquired by the Bunker Hill Company in 1910. Today, the extensive underground workings are sealed and flooded, and the historic surface structures have been dismantled. The site has been heavily reclaimed under the Bunker Hill Superfund program, leaving a massive capped tailings pile visible at the end of Wardner's Main Street.

The move: Take a scenic drive through the historic canyon town of Wardner, stopping to photograph the massive capped tailings pile at the end of Main Street and reading about the area's dramatic 1899 mining riots.

📍 Before you go The underground workings are sealed and the mine site is private property undergoing Superfund reclamation, but the capped tailings pile can be safely viewed from public roads.

• 📍 Wardner
• 💸 Free
• ⚡ Low-key
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: Last Chance Mine, Wardner, ID 83837, USA

Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: westernmininghistory.com · Wikipedia · lib.uidaho.edu

last checked: 2026-07-20