Oquirrh Mountains

The Oquirrh Mountains are a north-south mountain range on the western edge of the Salt Lake Valley in Utah, United States, forming a prominent barrier between the Salt Lake and Tooele valleys. The range is notable for its extensive mineral deposits and long history of mining.

Key visiting features are the large-scale mining operations and industrial landscapes, including the Bingham Canyon Mine on the range’s eastern flank, plus trails and viewpoints that overlook the Salt Lake Valley. Recreation is mainly hiking and local trail access rather than developed alpine tourism.

Mining in the Oquirrhs dates to the 19th century and expanded through the 20th century with large open-pit operations for copper, gold and other minerals; mining shaped local communities and transport infrastructure. Many peaks and ridges have been altered or accessed primarily because of mineral development.

Geographically the range runs along the western side of the Salt Lake Valley, west of Salt Lake City and east of Tooele Valley, in north-central Utah. It is immediately adjacent to the urban and suburban edge of the Salt Lake metropolitan area, making it visible from much of the valley.

• Major mine: Contains the Bingham Canyon (Kennecott) Mine on its western slopes, one of the largest open-pit copper mines in the world at roughly 2.5 miles across and about 0.6 miles deep.