Gold Hill - (Uintas) - Anyone been there?

cruiseroutfit

Cruizah!
Moderator
Vendor
Location
Sandy, Ut
Olly and I went exploring up Mirror Lake Highway on Wednesday (8/11/04)... ended up on a bunch of dirt roads around Gold Hill...

Couple questions for the knowing:

1. Some old books of mine show Gold Hill as a ghost town, pics of fallen cabins, etc... Anyone know where they are?

2. Can one get to Whitney Lake from the Gold Hill area? Topo's say no, but I think I saw a open road heading down to the lake, as the other heads to ridge of Gold Hill Mountain

Any cool spots to check out in the area?

Thanks in advance
 

Brad J

Registered User
Location
Woods Cross, UT
fjwear said:
Where is Mirror Lake? north Salt Lake?

- Rico.

Its been a really long time since I've been close to it and I'm not sure if I've actually been all the way up there but its close to being 1/2 way between SLC and Vernal. Its up in the Uintas and you get there from SR 150 from Kamas to Evanston. I've been camping up there but its been a long time. Tons of small lakes every where up there.

Thanks, Brad J

http://scenicutah.com/mirror-lake-scenic-byway/scenic-byway.php

http://www.utah.com/byways/mirror_lake.htm
 

Coreshot

Resident Thread Killer
Location
SL,UT
cruiseroutfit said:
1. Some old books of mine show Gold Hill as a ghost town, pics of fallen cabins, etc... Anyone know where they are?

2. Can one get to Whitney Lake from the Gold Hill area? Topo's say no, but I think I saw a open road heading down to the lake, as the other heads to ridge of Gold Hill Mountain

I have Benchmark Maps' "Utah Road ans Recreation Atlas", and it shows Gold Hill Rd. goin north of Gold Hill all the way to Whitney, then forks over Moffit Pass and loops back around to the Whitney Guard Station.

As for the ghost town, I'm looking for my book on the subject, I'll get back to you. ;)
 

cruiseroutfit

Cruizah!
Moderator
Vendor
Location
Sandy, Ut
Coreshot said:
..As for the ghost town, I'm looking for my book on the subject, I'll get back to you. ;)

Both my books talk about Mill City & Gold Hill, but say the cabins are hidden in the trees and are difficult to find...

Sounds like I need to trek up there again and find em' :D
 

Milner

formerly "rckcrlr"
cruiseroutfit said:
Both my books talk about Mill City & Gold Hill, but say the cabins are hidden in the trees and are difficult to find...

Sounds like I need to trek up there again and find em' :D

Let me know if/when you go looking for them!!!! I want to tag along. I love ghost towns, old mine sites, etc....
 

fourdoorjeep

Registered User
Location
Clearfield
Gold Hill

It has been about four years but that is a way to get to Whitney Reservoir. Take the first left after Hayden Fork CG (heading north) on HWY 150, it is labeled Gold Hill Road (FS road 081) on FS High Uintas Wilderness map, dated 1994. You go across some high meadows that if you time it right, have some spectacular flowers. It will take you over Gold Hill Pass (north of Gold Hill) and down to Whitney Reservoir. On the map there is a 4wd trail after Beaver Lake but shows a locked gate about half way up the trail. The first part is not very hard but more fun than a bumpy road. I have not been all the way to the lock gate. Let me know if you are going up there, I have it on my to-do list.

Do you remember when U4WD went rock crawling up in Murdock Basin about 4 years ago? I tried to find they area when I was up there a couple of weeks ago but could not locate it. Is it open for 4wd use? What is the FS logic on making ATV trails and not having them as 4wd trails too? I have a better jpg of that area with the road on it. I sent you a e-mail with the larger pic.
 

Attachments

  • gold hill (Small).jpg
    gold hill (Small).jpg
    70.4 KB · Views: 49

cruiseroutfit

Cruizah!
Moderator
Vendor
Location
Sandy, Ut
fourdoorjeep said:
...Do you remember when U4WD went rock crawling up in Murdock Basin about 4 years ago? I tried to find they area when I was up there a couple of weeks ago but could not locate it. Is it open for 4wd use?

I will forward this to a bunch of the long timers @ U4WDA and get a pinpoint on the location.. :)

What is the FS logic on making ATV trails and not having them as 4wd trails too?

Squeeky wheel gets the cheese... time for us to squeek! ;)

I have a better jpg of that area with the road on it. I sent you a e-mail with the larger pic.

Thanks, that verified excatly what I was thinking, funny thing... my topo maps (AllTopo) shows the road ending just past the split, yet when we were up there, it is VERY evident that the road continues towards Whitney Lake, I just wanted to verify 100%.

We need to plan a Saturday to head up there and do some exploring... Sounds like there is alot of interest and alot of knowledge of the area... :D
 

cruiseroutfit

Cruizah!
Moderator
Vendor
Location
Sandy, Ut
rckcrlr said:
I was worried I was toooo old..... :rolleyes:

Hahaha

When I referred to you as an "old-timer", I was referring to your knowledge of the sport, the trails, etc... seeing as how you have been it involved for along time... It had little conotation to your age ;)
 

Cody

Random Quote Generator
Supporting Member
Location
Gastown
How bout the 28th? Thats the only saturday I have off.

Or else this thursday! I need to get up there, I havn't been this year.

Cody
 

cruiseroutfit

Cruizah!
Moderator
Vendor
Location
Sandy, Ut
Cody said:
How bout the 28th? Thats the only saturday I have off.

Or else this thursday! I need to get up there, I havn't been this year.

Cody

I wish... but I will be at UROC...

I have a power steering jub tomorrow and Wednesday.. if I get it all wrapped up, I am down for Thursday... otherwise, I was thinking September...
 

cruiseroutfit

Cruizah!
Moderator
Vendor
Location
Sandy, Ut
fourdoorjeep said:
...On the map there is a 4wd trail after Beaver Lake but shows a locked gate about half way up the trail. The first part is not very hard but more fun than a bumpy road. I have not been all the way to the lock gate. Let me know if you are going up there, I have it on my to-do list.....

That is definately my destination... according to the USGS Maps... that "jeep" trail connects directly to Smith & Morehouse Canyon... Sweeet....

So....

I could go from Spanish Fork Canyon... to Strawberry Res... to Mirror Lake Highway... to Smith & Morehouse... with very little pavement (except driving to & from)... Cool :cool:

What map did you send me? I want to get a copy of that EXACT one... :D

Thanks!
 

cruiseroutfit

Cruizah!
Moderator
Vendor
Location
Sandy, Ut
Coreshot said:
...As for the ghost town, I'm looking for my book on the subject, I'll get back to you. ;)

So... what do your sources say? :D

Both my books (Utah Ghost Towns & Faded Footprints) are rather vague :( on the location...
 
Top