Ezra, my 11-year-old son, and I clung to a thin rope as we scrambled down a steep, rocky hillside into a narrow river canyon. Using the rope, shovels and our muddy boots to slow our descent through ...

Contrary to what most people assume, the gold rush didn’t end in the 1800s. Across the U.S., people still pull real gold from rivers, streams, and old mining sites simply with a shovel and a gold pan.

When it comes to mining in Michigan, iron and copper tend to get top billing. However, I’ve discovered recently that gold can be found throughout the entire state. A good example is the Ropes Mine ...