Butterfield Canyon
(Bingham Canyon Mine Overlook)
Butterfield Canyon
is a one tough climb, from the start all the way to the overlook! Don't take
it to lightly! The scenery once on top is incredible! You can see all of Salt
Lake and Utah valleys and the Wasatch range to the east, Tooele Army Depot
to the west and the Qquirrh's beyond. From the overlook you can see straight
down into the Bingham Canyon mine. Here are a few facts about the mine:
Kennecott's Bingham Canyon Mine has
produced more copper than any mine in history -- about 16 million tons.
The mine is 2-1/2 miles across at the top and 3/4 of a mile deep. You could
stack two Sears Towers on top of each other and still not reach the top of
the mine.
The mine is so big, it can be seen by the space shuttle astronauts as they
pass over the United States.
By 2015, the mine will be at least 500 feet deeper than it is now.
If you stretched out all the roads in the open pit mine, you'd have 500 miles
of roadway -- enough to reach from Salt Lake City to Denver.
You can find out more about the mine by visiting their website: www.kennecott.com
How to get there: Take the Riverton exit off of I-15 and go west on 12300 south. After passing through the town of Herriman, the road turns to the north. Look for the canyon on your left. If you come to the gate to Kennecott Mine, you've gone to far!
Scenery:
(I give this a 4, if not only for the view
from the pass, but also for the view of the open pit mine, no where else will
you see a site like this!)
Length: 10 miles out and back (from the where the pavement ends) 20 miles out and back from the mouth of the canyon.
Trailhead elevation: 6,700'
Highest point: 9,180' (at the overlook)
Total elevation: Gain +2,457' -325' = 2,132' overall
For a topo and profile, click
here: 
Click on the thumbnails below for a larger version:
Bingham
Canyon Mine.
Two
of my favorite things..Gary Fisher bikes and Bitburger Beer!
Looking
down Butterfield Canyon road.
View
from the saddle of White Pine Flats.