Entry No. 69 — the Coeur d'Alene file — filed under: ruins

Star Mine

Operating from the 1890s until its final closure in 1991, the Star Mine was once the deepest mine in North America, plunging 8,100 feet underground to extract silver, lead, and zinc. Following a devastating 1923 fire, the Hecla Mining Company rebuilt the surface facilities with concrete and brick, leaving behind the towering, skeletal mill ruins that still loom over the canyon today. The site is currently part of an active EPA Superfund cleanup, with its massive concrete structures slowly being reclaimed by the elements.

The move: Take a scenic drive up Burke-Canyon Creek Road to photograph the towering concrete ruins of the historic mill and the surrounding ghost town structures safely from the roadside.

📍 Before you go The mine ruins are located on private property owned by the Hecla Mining Company and are undergoing active EPA Superfund cleanup, making physical entry illegal and hazardous, though they are easily viewed from the public highway.

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

Where: Burke-Canyon Creek Rd, Wallace, ID 83873, USA

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

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: Wikipedia · Atlas Obscura

last checked: 2026-07-20