ADVENTURE #11

Tucked away in the remote wilderness north of Millard County, Topaz Mountain promises treasure to those who look hard enough. Topaz is abundant here and also happens to be Utah’s prized state gem, appearing as a hard, transparent crystal in various colors. This site is renowned as one of the world’s premier topaz-hunting destinations — a dream for rockhounds and adventure seekers alike. 

When you visit, you’ll see that topaz crystals shimmer within the mountain’s nooks and crannies, formed within the ancient volcanic rhyolite rocks that erupted millions of years ago during the Tertiary Period. While topaz is the main attraction, the mountain also offers a wealth of other semi-precious stones that add allure to the hunt, like:

• Hematite
• Garnet
• Amethyst
• Opal
• Red beryl

Experience excitement with each step through the washes and slopes and the thrill of finding these hidden sparkling gems.

When you get there, you may be surprised that the mountain and surrounding area aren’t very picturesque at first glance — but that’s what makes this destination so unique! Topaz Mountain requires a little digging and sweat to reveal the magic of the site.

What to bring: Grab a water bottle, snacks, hiking boots, gem-collecting bags, a rock hammer, and a screwdriver — you’re in for a treat! The crystals at Topaz Mountain are naturally amber-colored but become colorless after sunlight exposure, so don’t overlook them!

Camping: If you plan to stay overnight, the nearest campgrounds are in Yuba State Park and Little Sahara Recreation Area. A little farther away, you can check out the Great Basin National Park campgrounds and Fishlake National Forest.

Other activities: While searching for gemstones is undoubtedly the most popular activity at Topaz Mountain, there are also plenty of great trails for hiking and biking.

Cost: Most of Topaz Mountain lies on public land and is free to the public, but it’s important to note that the public areas of the mountain are challenging to work and are better suited for experienced rockhounders.

Tours: If you’re new to rockhounding or searching for a fun, kid-friendly activity, sign up for a mining and prospecting tour with Topaz Mountain Adventures. They offer private bookings and public tours starting in the morning and throughout the day.

Topaz Mountain promises a unique adventure you’ll remember forever.

Smelter Knolls

Smelter Knolls can be found above the Millard County line in Juab County. It’s characterized by unique and captivating rhyolite formations that produce pitted rocks perfect for aquariums and flower pots. This area is geologically rich, encompassing parts of the Drum and Little Drum Mountains, with rhyolite dome and lava flow complexes and rocks that tell a story spanning millions of years.

Drum Mountain is a small, rugged range spanning Juab and Millard counties with a summit elevation of 7,298 feet. The range, once submerged underwater, is now composed of limestone and shale from the Cambrian period. Some visitors claim to hear a drumming noise from within the mountain, attributed to air movements in caves caused by barometric pressure changes, while others see the peaks as resembling drums.

Drum Mountain offers several trail options for reaching the top — a major drainage leading northeast or a steeper ridgeline to the east. A trailhead accessible from the southwest leads to rocky paths, so sturdy tires are essential. From the summit, visitors are rewarded with sweeping views of the Great Basin desert and picturesque peaks stretching southward from the high point.

Little Drum Mountain, a smaller formation within the same range, lies just south of Drum Mountain’s main peak. Though lower in elevation, Little Drum shares the same rugged terrain and Cambrian deposits, giving you a more compact experience of the range’s unique geologic history.

Joy Mining District & Agate Hill

Joy was settled in 1872 by Harry Joy and Charles Howard as a mining district, and significant gold, silver, manganese, and copper were extracted from the area. Today, Joy is a ghost town that contains some remnants of buildings and mining equipment. A single grave of 19-year-old Matt Evans still remains and is located near the four-way intersection in Joy. Excellent camp spots dot the ghost town, and the sandy desert terrain makes for fun ATV riding. Hidden trails also lace the lower hills, which are perfect for exploring.

Just east of Joy, Agate Hill offers an additional attraction for rockhounds and collectors. The hill is known for its scattered agate deposits, with colorful agate and other stones often visible on the surface. The area’s trails also offer rewarding hikes and scenic views of the desert alongside opportunities to spot agate.

Apache Tears Rockhounding Site

On the way to Topaz Mountain off the southwest side, there’s a great rockhounding site for Apache Tears. These obsidian nodules form if water is present during the cooling of obsidian lava and may form onion-like fractures. If the central core does not get hydrated, that fresh obsidian core ends up being an Apache Tear.