Copper Ore is the very first ore you will run into while mining.  It comes from Copper Veins and is found in mostly in lower level areas and starting zones.  You can get copper veins in just about any starting area, but the two spots I want to focus on are The Barrens and Elwynn Forest.

In my opinion if you are getting Copper Ore to level up your skill you are better off just buying the ore and smelting it for the first levels. If you don’t have the gold to do this take a look at this Gold Course which teaches even the lowest level players how to make a lot of gold.

If you’re a gnome or dwarf you can take the tram from Ironforge to Stormwind to do this route, humans will already be there.  For The Barrens Trolls, Orc, Tauren, all start in areas that border the barrens.  Blood Elves and Undead can use Eversong Woods, there’s a teleportation crystal near the outside of the city for the Undead to use that brings them to Silvermoon City.  Night Elves and Draenei will use Azuremyst Isle.  If you’re a Night Elf, there’s a boat you can get on from Darnassus that brings you to Darkshore, from there go to the furthest point of the dock and take the boat to Azuremyst Isle.

Feel free to use any of the areas you want, you don’t have to go where it says above, that’s just for ease of use.

Copper Ore in Elwynn Forest

Elwynn Forest can be used by Humans, Dwarves, and Gnomes.  The caves are marked by triangles or V’s on the map.  If you can get into the caves easily enough without dying, I recommend that you go into them to mine.

Here are the two different database sources for nodes where Copper was recorded by people mining. (Click to Enlarge)

Thottbot Copper Locations for Elwynn Forest

WoWHead Elwynn Forest Copper Data

Copper Ore in The Barrens

This is a full circuit of the barrens focusing on the outside edges along the mountains.  There is a cave in the Northeast that you should go in if you’re high enough level.  Other than that you just keep running this circle all day to get a lot of copper ore.  This is a great place to go for any new Tauren, Orc, or Troll players as you are right next door to The Barrens and will probably end up leveling there.

The Barrens Copper Route

Here are the two different database sources for nodes where Copper was recorded by people mining. (Click to Enlarge)

Thottbot The Barrens Copper Data

WoWHead The Barrens Copper Data

Copper Ore in Azuremyst Isle

This is a very simple route for Azuremyst Isle.  It’s a small loop which can take a lot of time if you’re not on a mount.  If you’re just starting out you may want to spend time just grinding and farming ore inside of a cave.  The northern cave is a good spot to do this.  There are two caves marked on the map for you to go into.

Azuremyst Isle Copper Route

Here are the two different database sources for nodes where Copper was recorded by people mining. (Click to Enlarge)

Thottbot Azuremyst Isle Copper Data

Wowhead Azuremyst Isle Copper Data

Copper Ore in Eversong Woods

This is a good route to perform for all Undead/Blood Elves that are just starting out as it’s easy to get too.  The focus here is going to be completing the big outer loop, but you can alternate running down the Dead Scar or do figure 8′s if you so desire.

Eversong Woods Copper Route

Here are the two different database sources for nodes where Copper was recorded by people mining. (Click to Enlarge)

Thottbot Eversong Woods Copper DataSummary

Wowhead Eversong Woods Copper Data

Summary

These are some of the easiest and fastest copper routes available, let me know if you have anything to add by leaving a comment below.

If you’re looking for information on Leveling your Mining see my WoW Mining Guide.