Cobalt
Ontario’s Most Historic Town, 12 minutes south. The old silver boom town has headframes, mining museums, a 1926 theatre, and a tea room.
Photo P199, CC BY SA 3.0
On August 7, 1903, railway tie cutters James McKinley and Ernest Darragh found native silver near Long Lake, now Cobalt Lake, while the Temiskaming and Northern Ontario Railway was being built. Blacksmith Fred LaRose found a second vein a mile north. The rush that followed grew the town from about 100 people to roughly 10,000 by 1909, and the camp produced over 420 million ounces of silver.
It’s often called the birthplace of hard rock mining in Canada, and the Cobalt Mining District is a National Historic Site. TVOntario’s Studio 2 named Cobalt Ontario’s Most Historic Town in 2001. About 989 people live there today.
The museums are seasonal, so call before you go.
In 2001 TVO named Cobalt Ontario’s Most Historic Town, for the part its silver mines played in building the province’s industry, and the Cobalt Mining District is a National Historic Site.
The Heritage Silver Trail
Heritage Silver Trail
15 min drive
A signed, self guided loop on Cobalt and Coleman Township back roads, started in 1985, past headframes, mill ruins, open veins, and lookouts. Drive it, bike it, or walk parts of it. Stay on the paths and behind the fences, and skip any missing site numbers, which are closed to the public. Printed maps are at the Cobalt Post Office, 22 Silver St, and White Mountain Publications, 8 Prospect Ave.
Site 1 is opposite 27 Galena St, Cobalt
Headframes and lookouts
Townsite Headframe and Glory Hole
15 min drive
Sites 1 and 2, where the Silver Trail starts.
Opposite 27 Galena St at Miller Ave
Coniagas #4 Headframe
12 min drive
Site 13. The shaft house block also holds The Lavender Fox tea room.
50 Silver St
Pan Silver Headframe
13 min drive
Site 14, home of the Cobalt Historical Society office.
21 Silver St
Nipissing Hill Lookout
16 min drive
Site 7 on the Silver Trail.
Nipissing Rd
LaRose Site
12 min drive
Site 11, named for Fred LaRose, the blacksmith who found the second silver vein.
Kerr Lake Rd at the south end of the bridge
Museums
Cobalt Mining Museum
12 min drive
Home of what it calls the world’s largest display of native silver, plus a black light mineral room and over 6,000 photographs. Admission in 2025 was $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and students, and free under 6. You can also email [email protected].
24 Silver St, CobaltSeasonal, call to confirm705 679 8301
Colonial Adit underground tour
12 min drive
Walk into a hand cut tunnel of the Colonial Mine, worked from 1907 to 1937 for 1.25 million ounces of silver. It’s about 5 C underground. Hard hats are supplied, and you’ll need closed toe shoes. Book through the Mining Museum.
24 Silver St, CobaltSummer only, about an hour long. Call for tour times705 679 8301
Bunker Military Museum
13 min drive
Military artifacts from the Boer War to today, in a fully accessible renovated building, the old Fraser Hotel. A 2025 listing gave admission as $8 plus tax for adults, $5 for students and seniors, $7 for ages 6 to 18, and free under 6.
24 Prospect Ave, CobaltSeasonal, call to confirm705 679 5191
A show and a cup of tea
Classic Theatre
13 min drive
A 1926 theatre with about 250 seats, running a 2026 to 2027 season of touring plays, concerts, and Friday movies. Doors open at 1 PM for matinees and 6:30 PM on show nights. You can also email [email protected].
30 Silver St, CobaltBox office Thursday and Friday 1 to 5 PM705 679 8080
The Lavender Fox
12 min drive
A European style tea room in the Coniagas #4 shaft house block, with a big range of vegan and gluten free cakes. An easy stop between trail sites. Hours are from a listing, so check before you go.
50 Silver St, CobaltThursday and Friday 10 AM to 4 PM, Saturday and Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM, and closed Monday to Wednesday
Questions guests ask
What’s the Cobalt Heritage Silver Trail?
A 6 km loop through the old silver boom town, with signed headframes, mine sites, and lookouts. Drive it, bike it, or walk parts of it, and stay behind the fences.
Can we tour a mine?
The Cobalt Mining Museum at 24 Silver St runs underground tours in summer. Call 705 679 8301.
Is there live theatre?
The Classic Theatre in Cobalt puts on shows, 13 minutes away by car.
What’s the Lavender Fox?
A European style cafe and tearoom at 50 Silver St in Cobalt, 12 minutes away, known for vegan and gluten free cakes. Check its hours before you go.
We’re in town for a show. How far is the Classic Theatre?
The Classic Theatre in Cobalt is a 13 minute drive.
Any other museums nearby?
The Little Claybelt Homesteaders Museum is 14 minutes away by car, and the Cobalt Mining Museum is about 12.