Gold Hill
This area is awesome. There is
a link on my homepage to the Utah Remote webpage, which
gives details about the Pony Express Trail. I took the trip and passed through
Callao and Gold Hill - very cool trip. Talk about remote. We were out in
the middle of nowhere with no sign a civilization at all. The landscape out
there is beautiful (if you like desert).
Gold Hill is probably one of Utah's best semi-ghost town. It was establish
in 1892 as a mining town. It grew and died three times as new gold rushes
came through the area. Around 1917, the town boomed with a population of about
3000. So much sporadic mining happened in the town's history, that there
were even mine shaft openings on main street. Such openings have since been
closed. Rumor has it that one resident had strategically placed his outhouse
right on top of a mine air vent that came up through the ground next to his
home. This place is pretty cool and is well worth a day's exploration.
To find Gold Hill, I would recommend using a detailed
State Map. If you take the Pony Express Trail, which is mainly dirt,
plan on camping a night or two. The Pony Express Trail is mainly dirt road,
and it is a long stretch of desert with no services. Pack plenty of water
and take a vehicle that is reliable and doesn't suck down the gas. You can
also approach Callao from Wendover, and you don't have to drive on so much
dirt roads. Once again, you'll have to use State maps to find it. Some directions
are given on the Utah Remote
webpage. Email me if you
need detailed directions. There is a printable map link below. Good
luck.
4 stars.
