Gem Mining and Things to Do in Juab County, Utah

Juab County is one of the lesser-known counties to visit in Utah. The county is close enough to Salt Lake City to warrant a long and completely packed day trip. The county extends to the Nevada border and is off-the-beaten-path. I recently had a chance to visit Juab County in Utah, and it was a spectacular trip. Here’s where you can mine for gems and other things to do in Juab County, Utah. 

This post is part of our Utah and WITS Travel Series. Here are a few more articles:

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Prospecting for Topaz (and Quartz) in Topaz Mountain 

There are a few areas around the world where regular folk can try their luck looking for precious or semi-precious stones. One of those places is in Utah, around 3 hours from Salt Lake City, called Topaz Dome, also known as Topaz Mountain. 

Topaz Mountain Adventures owns the right to mine Topaz Mountain. You’ll have to sign up for a tour to look for topaz among the rocks. Otherwise, you are considered trespassers to the mine. Public tours are available on their website. Alternatively, private tours can be arranged with a maximum of 8 people. 

You get to keep whatever you find. Every tour includes supplies like a chisel and a hammer to help crack the rocks. You’ll also be with a tour guide to help you find where the best spots are to prospect. 

Why visit Topaz Mountain? 

Topaz is the state gemstone of Utah so it makes sense to prospect it in Utah. You won’t get rich from what you prospect and bring home from Topaz Mountain but it is a novel way to spend the day. 

I had so much fun looking for Topaz and trying to break rocks. I jokingly added that the activity comes highly recommended for those who have anger brewing! There’s nothing better than breaking rocks when you are annoyed at someone (or something). 

Getting to Topaz Mountain

It is easy getting to Topaz Mountain, but you’ll need a hardy car or truck to get you to the dome. The road is not paved and can be a bit bumpy. Those who have motion sickness or are prone to carsickness need to take precautions by taking medication an hour before the trip. 

Going to Topaz Mountain and the town of Eureka from Salt Lake City is a LONG day trip. It takes around 2 hours one-way for this trip, so expect a 14+ hour day. 

Topaz Mountain is unique, where you can search for topaz and whatever you find is yours to keep. I haven’t been in a place like this. It seems novel, but Arkansas also has a state park where you can search for diamonds and you get to keep what you find. 

What to pack for Topaz Mountain 

Bring water and rubber-soled shoes. Sneakers are OK, no need for hiking shoes. Wear clothes that you won’t mind getting dirty. You are breaking rocks with a mallet and a hammer, so you will get dirty. 

The weather in Utah changes constantly. It may feel cool when you are at ground level, but when you are up on the dome, it may be warmer. Pack layers so you can add on or take off layers as needed. 

Bring water and food (snacks, packed lunch, and more). While there is a small gift store that sells bagged snacks and souvenirs at Topaz Mountain, there are no other restaurants or facilities that are nearby. 

No shade in Topaz Mountain 

One thing to note when prospecting for Topaz on Topaz Mountain is it is for all seasons. The tour will continue rain or shine. There is no shade on Topaz Mountain, so put on sunscreen and bring a hat to wear. 

There is not much humidity in Utah, so the warm weather may not be too bad, depending on where you’re from. 

Are there bathroom facilities in Topaz Mountain? 

Yes, but it is a portable toilet that can only be accessed by a key. There is only one portable toilet available and is located on the base of Topaz Mountain. Best to use the portable toilet before you climb up and start prospecting for topaz. There are no other toilets in the prospecting area. 

If you are in a big group and there is quite a line to the portable toilet, you can do as the locals do: a bush wee. Find a spot that’s hidden, preferably behind a tree, and do your business there. 

What is included when booking a Topaz Mountain Tour 

A hammer and a chisel are included, as well as a special bag to bring your stones in. This bag helps block the light, so the stones can keep their natural color. 

You will also get a guide. When we went, Rhonda, the proprietor of Topaz Mountain Adventures, was our guide. She is a hoot and very knowledgeable about Topaz. She helped us find Topaz and in the end, every single one of us found something! 

How to clean your topaz 

The topaz you’ll find from Topaz Mountain is in its raw, uncut form. Don’t expect it to be as glittering as the jewelry you’ll get from stores. To clean the rock from the topaz, you’ll need an emery board to gently file the rock pieces out of the topaz. 

Topaz is a hard semi-precious stone, with a ranking of 7 on the Moh’s hardness scale. You won’t damage the topaz as much when cleaning with an emery board (also known as a nail file). 

Finding Topaz at Topaz Mountain

If you have a keen eye, look down as you are near the dome. There may be loose semiprecious stones scattered about. Pick them up and ask your guide about them! This is the easiest way to bring home stones without needing to break a rock open. 

Despite the name Topaz Mountain, it’s not a mountain, more like a hill. It is easy to climb up to the prospecting area, with a bit of a scramble through rocks near the top. Those with mobility issues can hitch a ride on an ATV with the guides to help bring you up to the top. 

The Historic Mining Town of Eureka, Utah

An hour from Topaz Mountain is a small, historic town called Eureka. This was a mining town, part of the Tintic Valley region, where original miners found gold, silver, copper, and other minerals. 

Eureka is a typical Western town with one main road that has everything: restaurants, shops, and museums. What used to be the fire station is now the City Hall. A building that was the Carnegie library still stands, and is also a government office. 

The town is also home to the Tintic Mining Museum, a quaint museum that has artifacts from the late 19th century. It also has a scale model of the mines that shows how deep the miners went and how many chambers they managed to unearth. 

If you visit, there’s still an original cabin from the 1800s, called the Porter Rockwell cabin. Porter Rockwell was one of the first Latter-Day Saints to move to Utah and served as a bodyguard to Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. His restaurant was also moved to Eureka. You can’t go inside the cabin, but you can see the exterior from the street. 

A Brief History of the Tintic Valley

During our time in Eureka, our host, Ian Wright, from UCSS had a small talk about the history of the valley. Amelia Earhart, known for her around-the-world flight, briefly stopped by the town to refuel as part of her quest. The Tintic Valley is also home to a few mines: Mammoth Mine, Bullion Beck Mine, and the Chief Consolidated Mine. These mines had silver and gold and produced a boomtown in the 1800s, as more and more people decided to move to the area to try their luck to find these minerals. 

The town of Mona, Utah

This town is off-the-beaten-path and usually a stop to get food, a coffee, or a drink on the way to the National Parks. 

Mona is a small town, but the main draw is Mount Nebo and the Mona Reservoir, which looks like a gorgeous lake overlooking the mountains. The views are amazing of both. It’s very peaceful, with mostly nature and outdoor adventures.

When in the area, check out the Junk Hunks. They specialize in using recycled materials for their furniture and also do special events. We got treated to an amazing dinner outdoors thanks to this company, and it was a memorable one! If it’s lavender growing season, check out the Young Living Lavender Farm and Distillery, also located in Mona. 

Things to do in Juab County, Utah

While we only had a day to spend in Juab County, you can easily spend multiple days exploring. During the summer, the lavender fields at Young Living Lavender Farm and Distillery are in bloom and are a sight. Many people from overseas travel to Utah to see these fields, and is a domestic alternative compared to flying to Provence in France. 

This post is just a sample of the things you can do in Juab County. I hope this small guide helped you plan your trip. Let me know if I missed anything or if you have any other suggestions on where to go in the county in the comments below! 

Many thanks to WITS, Juab County, and Visit Utah for hosting me on this trip!