Hill Annex Mine State Park

We took the fossil 'tour' which involved a short bus ride to an exposed hill face where volunteers with a paleontology project gave a very brief explanation then let the group look for fossils on the ground among the stones for an hour or so. Be prepared for muddy knees and bottoms. Our family with 3 and 5 year olds lacked the patience and understanding to know what they were looking at... they just wanted to go for a hike. Others in the group had better luck and found some ancient shark teeth and shells. We were disappointed this tour didn't allow us to see any part of the mine. The small visitor center and museum were interesting. We will visit again for the historic mine tour. There are no hiking trails or other activities to do in the park. There is a nice playground and picnic are right outside the park gate. Tours are only Friday and Saturday, ending Labor Day weekend.
8 years ago (02-09-2017)

CLOSED SUNDAY But the web site didn't indicate that.
8 years ago (17-09-2017)

My husband and I decided to go on this tour based on another review. The tour guide, Lauren, was very knowledgeable and friendly. It was obvious he was passionate about his job! They stated the tour takes 90 minutes, but allow for some extra time. Well worth the $10 tickets. This tour was a jump back in time to an old, successful mine that has now filled up to become a 300 foot deep lake. With old antique equipment, an air conditioned bus, and a museum, this should be a for sure sightseeing stop if you're in this area.
10 years ago (14-06-2015)

I tried to climb the front side of the hill with my bike and didn't make it
8 years ago (08-05-2017)

When I came here, all I knew was I should do the bus tour. So, okay, I paid the $10, looked around the small museum, and went onto the bus with a guy who was chatting about how iron forms. The bus trundled down an iron-rich red road, we got a brief glimpse of the lake now filling the mine, and went past some old equipment rusting in place. Great, this is all I get for my money? Then he let slip that he worked at the mine itself, and started sharing stories about that. Then we rounded a corner and found entire buildings, miles of conveyor belts, gigantic mechanical systems, bigger and bigger equipment rusting in place, ore everywhere for the taking, and more and better views. At one point, we went up to a crest where loaded trucks went up to the top, dumped what they had for sorting, and left. The entire sorting facility was visible, and that was amazing. Then we went down into the valley and drove right through the sorting facility. ... All I'll say is, this is still a woefully incomplete story. It's a 90 minute tour, I'll say allow 2 full hours, because we actually took a bit more than that. And I didn't mind - best extra time I ever spent. Take the tour. Spend the money. Be awed.
13 years ago (26-05-2013)