Iron County, Utah - Overview - Escalante Valley

This area was referred to as the Escalante Desert but today as the Escalante Valley, and is located in Iron County, Utah.

The Escalante Valley was founded around the year of 1776 by two Fathers, Escalante and Dominguez.

A fur trapper named Jedediah Smith was here in 1826 during one of the most remarkable journeys in western history.

Many prospectors stopped here to mine the gold, silver, copper and iron ore still located in the area. In the Modena mountains some old mines are still being worked.

National Historic Trails

This area was traveled by pioneers along The Old Spanish Trail or The Mormon Trail.
Mormon Pioneers arrived in 1851 to mine the coal and iron from nearby mountains.

Other nearby Historic sites
The Old Spanish Trail Monument
The New Castle Monument
Desert Mounds
Beryl Town - Lund - Modena - Enterprise - Beryl Junction
Iron Town - Remains of the historic Iron Town can still be seen near Cedar City.
The Iron Mission Museum in Cedar City, Utah displays many wagons and artifacts from the early days.

Farming - Agriculture
With improved water irrigation and well pumping most of the area has become agriculturally productive today.


Trails Illustrated Map: UT- Canyons of Escalante

• The Dominguez-Escalante Expeditions Journal:

Through Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico in 1776

• I Walked to Zion:
- Young Pioneers on the Mormon Trail

• The Gathering of Zion:
- The Story of the Mormon Trail

• National Geographic's Guide to:
- Lewis and Clark Trail

• Hiking Historic Trails
- Utah's Favorite Hiking Trails

• Scenic Driving - Travel guides
- Scenic Driving in Utah

• Historical reading
- The Old Spanish Trail

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