Harker Canyon (Tooele County, Utah) facts for kids
Harker Canyon is a cool place found about 10 kilometers (or 6 miles) south of Vernon, Utah, in the United States. It's in Tooele County. This canyon stretches from east to west on the south side of the Sheeprock Mountains. These mountains are part of the bigger Wasatch Range. The whole canyon is inside the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. You can get there by a special forest road called NF 586. Harker Canyon is known for its old, abandoned mines. Many people enjoy visiting the canyon for fun activities like bird watching and horseback riding.
Exploring Harker Canyon
Harker Canyon is about 5 kilometers (or 3 miles) long. The road entrance at the east end is about 1,900 meters (6,300 feet) above sea level. The top of the canyon at its west end is much higher, around 2,700 meters (8,800 feet) up.
Water and Plants
You can find a natural spring in the canyon. It is located at 2,255 meters (7,400 feet) high. This spring flows into a stream called Harker Creek. The main type of plants you will see in the canyon are pinyon and juniper trees. They form a special kind of forest called a woodland.
History of Harker Canyon
People have mined Harker Canyon a lot in the past. They were looking for valuable minerals. Today, you can still see old buildings and tools from a ghost town and mining operations. These are found near a natural spring.
Keeping the Canyon Safe
The old mines in Harker Canyon are now managed by a group called the Vernon Sheeprocks Project. This project includes several important organizations. These are the United States Forest Service, the United States Department of Agriculture, the United States Department of the Interior, and the Utah Department of Natural Resources. They work together to make sure the area is safe.
In 2005, scientists found that the groundwater in Harker Canyon had some metals in it. The project managers are working to keep the water and the area safe for everyone. Harker Canyon is also part of a special area for wildlife. It is called the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Wildlife Management Unit 19B.
