Overview

Hype:

Primitive camping near Topaz Mountain, Utah, offers a rugged and unique experience for adventurers. Located in the Thomas Range, this area is a haven for rockhounds seeking Utah's state gem, topaz, which can be found in clear or amber varieties. The camping sites are dispersed and surrounded by vast desert landscapes, allowing for privacy and easy access to the rock-collecting areas. While the terrain is rocky and the roads can be rutted, most visitors can find suitable spots for tents or RVs, with the lower hills being more accessible for trailers. Be sure to come prepared, as there are no water sources or amenities for miles. Visitors can also enjoy ATV trails and scenic views, adding to the adventure. Just remember to bring plenty of water, sturdy tools for gem hunting, and protection from the sun?.

Time:

Fees: None

Recommended Ages:

	0-3
	4-11
	12-19
	20-49
	50-69
	70+

Recommended Months to Visit:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Location

Closest City or Region: Delta, Utah

Coordinates: 39.686334, -113.073153

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August 23, 2024 Trip Report

By Jeremy Dye

Trip Members

Jeremy Dye, Tara Dye, Savannah Dye, Madilyn Dye, Cooper Dye,

Story

I worked a half day then Tara and I packed for our trip to Topaz Mountain. After burning my fingers on the camp chef knob at our ward camp out the week before, I bit the bullet and bought a replacement knob. It was $25 for a pack of replacement knobs and screws, which coincidentally was the same price that we paid for the entire camp chef when we bought it. It came with some parts that we didn't need, so we used those parts to fix my parents' camp chef also, so at least there was a silver lining. We were done packing quite fast and had extra time before the kids got home from school, so I started a 3D print of a display stand for puzzles and typed up two trip reports. When the kids got home from school, they packed and it took for-stinking-ever. Cooper took a whole hour to pack one change of clothes and a swimming suit. We finally piled in the truck and drove the trailer down to an area just southeast of Topaz Mountain. We had leftover soup for dinner and played parks until bedtime. We only finished half the game before it got too late, so we bundled up everyone's cards and pieces so we could resume in the morning. We were afraid that the weather was going to be super hot when we planned the trip and that we were going to have to cancel, but the weather was in the low 80s. The only downside was that we had 25 mph winds the whole trip. It would have been miserable in a tent, but the trailer was just fine. Except that Tara didn't sleep well from all the rocking.

Saturday, August 24 - We had a good sleep in. We had cold cereal for breakfast then finished our game of Parks. Savannah took first place, Cooper took second place, Madi took third place, I took four place, and Tara came in last. It was nice though to see the kids play cheerfully even when they weren't winning. After the game, we hopped in the truck and drove up to the main portion of Topaz Mountain. We had to throw the truck in four-wheel drive to get up sections of the road. Then we grabbed our hammers, picks, safety glasses, and other digging gear and hiked up to the quarry area. We dug for a couple hours and found quite a few good specimens. We found two quite nice orange topaz pieces when we broke out a big chunk of rock. Most of the rest of our rock smashing wasn't very fruitful. We had a lot of fun. The only downside was that the strong winds were blowing dust in everyone's eyes. We packed up and went back for lunch in the trailer then Tara read her book for a bit. I took a short nap. Then the kids and I played Quiddler. We started packing up shortly after 4:00 and drove home. We stopped at Baker Hot springs on the way home.

 

Pictures