Ophir LbNA #44754
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Add Location| Owner: | N/A |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Nov 29, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Ophir |
| County: | Tooele |
| State: | Utah |
| Boxes: | 2 |
| Planted by: | Roamin' Romans
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|---|---|
| Found by: | SnakeDoctor (2) |
| Last found: | Nov 27, 2013 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFFFFFF |
| Last edited: | Nov 29, 2008 |
Difficulty: Easy drive-by
NOTE: These may be difficult to find when there is snow on the ground.
Ophir is a small mining town located deep in the Oquirrh mountains, about 20 miles south of Tooele, Utah. The town was founded in 1870 and grew rapidly. By 1871, Ophir had 125 businesses and houses, a school, and a post office. Like most Utah mining towns of the era, the population steadily declined throughout the 20th century. Unlike other towns, though, Ophir still has a couple dozen residents and a few summer homes.
Just driving down the main street gives you a sense of the long history of the town, and would be worth a trip even if there were no letterboxes planted there. But since there ARE boxes there, we’ll tell you how to find them.
To get to Ophir from Salt Lake City, take I-80 West. Take exit 99 and head south on Highway 36 toward Tooele. Follow Highway 36 through Tooele City and past Stockton. About 10 miles south of Stockton, turn left onto Highway 73 toward Ophir, Mercur, and Lehi. Just after the road curves (now heading south) there will be a sign for Ophir. Turn left on Ophir Canyon Road and head toward the mountain.
To get to Ophir from Utah County, it’s faster to go through Lehi on Highway 73 through Eagle Mountain, Cedar Fort, and Fairfield. From Lehi, it’s about 36 miles on Highway 73 to Ophir Canyon Road.
Box 1: Ophir Cougar
There’s at least one cougar in the Oquirrh mountains, and it’s located near the Ophir cemetery. From the Ophir Canyon Road turnoff, there is a sign for the Ophir Cemetery on the left about a mile up the road. Take the steep, gravel road up the hill to the cemetery and park at the gate.
Standing facing the cemetery gate, turn left (west) and walk to the corner of the fence. From the corner post, walk 16 steps on the trail around the tree to the right. Turn right and walk 7 steps between the trees. Look to the right. The cougar is hiding under a flat rock on the left side of the big tree trunk.
This is not a very busy area, and may not be accessible when there’s snow on the ground.
Box 2: Ophir Elk
There are animals all over this area. If you get lucky you may see deer or elk. If you can follow directions, you’ll definitely see at least one elk.
From the turn off for the cemetery, continue on Ophir Canyon Road into Ophir City. Drive slowly and enjoy the scenic beauty and the reminders of the town’s mining roots. Look at the old, well-preserved buildings downtown. Continue on the main street through the downtown area.
At the far end of town, there’s a red gate to the left of a cattle guard. There is a pull-off about 100 feet before this gate, or one about 200 feet after the gate. Park at either of these and make your way to the east end of the red gate.
Head north 20 steps. You should be roughly between two big trees on the edge of the river. There is a wire fence strung between these two trees. At the base of the tree on the left, under a large flat rock, you can catch a glimpse of the Ophir Elk.
There may be people driving up and down the road. Please re-hide the box well. Feel free to look around the town and canyon a bit, but be respectful of the no trespassing signs.
NOTE: These may be difficult to find when there is snow on the ground.
Ophir is a small mining town located deep in the Oquirrh mountains, about 20 miles south of Tooele, Utah. The town was founded in 1870 and grew rapidly. By 1871, Ophir had 125 businesses and houses, a school, and a post office. Like most Utah mining towns of the era, the population steadily declined throughout the 20th century. Unlike other towns, though, Ophir still has a couple dozen residents and a few summer homes.
Just driving down the main street gives you a sense of the long history of the town, and would be worth a trip even if there were no letterboxes planted there. But since there ARE boxes there, we’ll tell you how to find them.
To get to Ophir from Salt Lake City, take I-80 West. Take exit 99 and head south on Highway 36 toward Tooele. Follow Highway 36 through Tooele City and past Stockton. About 10 miles south of Stockton, turn left onto Highway 73 toward Ophir, Mercur, and Lehi. Just after the road curves (now heading south) there will be a sign for Ophir. Turn left on Ophir Canyon Road and head toward the mountain.
To get to Ophir from Utah County, it’s faster to go through Lehi on Highway 73 through Eagle Mountain, Cedar Fort, and Fairfield. From Lehi, it’s about 36 miles on Highway 73 to Ophir Canyon Road.
Box 1: Ophir Cougar
There’s at least one cougar in the Oquirrh mountains, and it’s located near the Ophir cemetery. From the Ophir Canyon Road turnoff, there is a sign for the Ophir Cemetery on the left about a mile up the road. Take the steep, gravel road up the hill to the cemetery and park at the gate.
Standing facing the cemetery gate, turn left (west) and walk to the corner of the fence. From the corner post, walk 16 steps on the trail around the tree to the right. Turn right and walk 7 steps between the trees. Look to the right. The cougar is hiding under a flat rock on the left side of the big tree trunk.
This is not a very busy area, and may not be accessible when there’s snow on the ground.
Box 2: Ophir Elk
There are animals all over this area. If you get lucky you may see deer or elk. If you can follow directions, you’ll definitely see at least one elk.
From the turn off for the cemetery, continue on Ophir Canyon Road into Ophir City. Drive slowly and enjoy the scenic beauty and the reminders of the town’s mining roots. Look at the old, well-preserved buildings downtown. Continue on the main street through the downtown area.
At the far end of town, there’s a red gate to the left of a cattle guard. There is a pull-off about 100 feet before this gate, or one about 200 feet after the gate. Park at either of these and make your way to the east end of the red gate.
Head north 20 steps. You should be roughly between two big trees on the edge of the river. There is a wire fence strung between these two trees. At the base of the tree on the left, under a large flat rock, you can catch a glimpse of the Ophir Elk.
There may be people driving up and down the road. Please re-hide the box well. Feel free to look around the town and canyon a bit, but be respectful of the no trespassing signs.