We had found several directions to Glitter Mountain, and even a google map to the location which I insisted on using because our phones know everything right?!.... Wrong! The whole time I was telling Josh where to go he kept saying I'm pretty sure I know where this is, and this is the wrong direction. After the phone told us to turn on a road that didn't exist, I turned my phone off let the man do his driving. To my surprise, we passed sooo many people who were so lost and couldn't find it either! Josh took us straight there though and it was exactly what we were hoping for... expect the mountain part! It was more hills and a pit than a mountain...but maybe we are just spoiled with the mountains near home. I decided to make some directions in hopes that it helps some other lost souls who depend on their phone for everything like me!
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| Staheli Farms |
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| Under over pass, turn on first right. |
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| Old Cattle Corral |
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| Cross State line. |
The kids loved it! We went on a beautiful sunny day and the second you see it, you know that its your destination. It really does just sparkle! The best part was that since it was such a hot day we didn't have to do any hiking to wear ourselves out before getting some place fun. You really just drive there, park to the side of hills and walk down into the pit.
Glitter Mountain was an old mine shaft that has been dug out so you can see and chip away at the rocks. There is an unbelievable amount of clear almost glass like rocks all around and a wall of it you can that break away in sheets. Piper was determined that the rocks were crystals, and after watching the word "Gypsum" go right over her head, we just went with crystals.
Hudson loved finding the holes that people had dug out and would reach his tiny little arm in as far as it would go and grab a handful of little rocks, "ooh and ahh" over them and throw them back in the hole. He did this the whole time we were there. We didn't bring a hammer, we had thought that the children were to young, and would just enjoy gathering the rocks from the ground, but after watching some bigger kids chip away at the "crystals," Piper was pretty bummed we hadn't brought one. Josh decided to hike around while we played, and came back with a head of hammer that had broken off and was left behind. Piper was thrilled and it turned out even better than an actual hammer because there was no big swinging involved. Piper was very meticulous as she would chip away little pieces of gypsum and quickly add it to her collection.
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We will be back Glitter Mountain. With only a 25 minute drive from St. George, how could we not go back right?
** Directions: Get off I-15 (exit 8) and turn left onto St. George Blvd. Go straight until you hit North River Road. Turn Right. Follow North River Road until you get to 1450 South (you will see a maverick and a jiffy lube to your left). Turn left. Follow 1450 South until you get to 3000 East. Turn right. When you get to 1580 turn left. As you cross over St. George city limits the street will turn into 3650 South. Follow 3650 South until you get to South Washington Fields Road. Turn Right onto South Washington Fields Road. Follow the road until you get to an over pass. Once you pass under the overpass take the first right leading to a dirt road. (If you go straight it will lead you to Warner Valley Dinosaur tracks). Follow the dirt road for about 20 minutes along the way you will cross over 3 cattle guards, stay on this road until you tome to a cattle corral on your right. Take the first right after that cattle corral and follow this road. Cross the Arizona/ Utah State Boarder. Keep driving on this same road and Glitter Mountain will appear on you right.
Can't wait to take my family there. I just learned about it today! We're up in Provo, but-- we'll go down this Winter for sure... BTW, is it safe for an adventurous 2 1/2 yr. old?
ReplyDeleteYes totally! We took our little two year old when we went! I would recommend some closed toe shoes though. There are lots of rocks that can slide into sandals that could hurt little feet. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did!
DeleteRe: the glitter pit.
ReplyDeleteThis site is not open to the public.. it is an active mining claim and has been for years. anyone going there and taking rocks is Claim Jumping
I know the claim owners. And it is not ok for people to go there.
Because of sites like yours, people have stolen literally tons of material.
http://www.good4utah.com/southern-utah/blm-tells-glitter-mine-visitors-stop-mining/820686491