Hi everyone,

I just went through the first mine I found (near Riverwood) and found some ore there, but surprisingly couldn't find a pickaxe anywhere in the mine (go figure). Where can I find one? I can't seem to forge myself one, so am a little stumped. Also, where is the first smelter I can use to turn it into ingots? Thanks for your help!

Hmm I think I found mine lying around a mine.
You can try and see if a blacksmith or general store has it.
I know a lot of mines and even cave like dungeons have them lying around, so eventually you will stumble across one.

Open up your world map and look for locations which have 'mine' in their name. You can find tons of pickaxes in almost every mine in the game.

That first mine has a pickaxe near the first lump of ore you find, just grab a torch and keep looking, it should be to the left of it, fairly early on in the mine tunnels.

Smelter, beside the blacksmiths in Whiterun is the easiest to get to, I find. Simply go through the main gate and turn right, besides War Maiden's.

Pickaxes are usually found in or around mines, but as Merari said, General Stores often carry them.
I found some gold ore in the wilderness, and because I am role playing, I walked all the way to Rifton to buy a pick axe and returned to "my claim".

I will carry a pick axe from now on, because you do find ore just laying around in different places in your travels.
The most accessible smelter is in Whiterun.

Thank you! I didn't even know I could use the torches. That helped me see the pickaxe I had missed laying on the ground near the first ore node. I thought it was awfully strange that a mine had ore but no pickaxes. I'm glad I'd just missed it. Thanks for your help!

Thanks for the tip! I plan to do that now that I have one, too. I'll probably sell the woodcutter's axe, though. At 2g each and 5 weight, they weigh a ton for a low return rate. I'm poor, but I'm sure I'll get a better return on the other stuff I find while doing the things I want to do (see the world and adventure).