I left Callao with some regret – the beauty and the isolation are so attractive. The photo below is of the road from Gold Hill looking back to the flats. Callao would be the vague line of green in the far distance on the right of the photo. The road is of good quality once you leave Callao and cross into Tooele County. That’s the Thomas Range across the flats.

Gold Hill Road to Callao

The Goodyear Cutoff

The Beasleymobile at The West End of The Goodyear Cutoff

The road looks poorly maintained but it is patrolled regularly. I read a story recently of some amateur geologists who had strayed onto the flats near here and were chased off by two jet fighters. The facilty is very serious about security.

Boundary Sign

“Use of deadly force is authorized” on the Dugway Proving Grounds.

Beasley Pleads “Don’t Go In There Dad”

Not to worry Mr. B. I have no intention of going further.

Gold Hill

Continuing up the main road, not the cutoff, you will arrive at the very small town of Gold Hill, once a very active mining area in the later 1800’s, with its own railroad. There are few residents today but the town is a great one to explore. I didn’t spend nearly as much time as I should with camera in hand.

Gold Hill from the North

Downtown Gold Hill – The LHW Runs in Front of the Store

Overland Canyon – The 1913 Route

Overland Canyon Looking Northwest from the Pony Express Station

On leaving Callao you have the option of avoiding Gold Hill by turning on the 1913 route into Overland Canyon. The intersection is well signed. This is taken from the Pony Express monument where I stayed one windy night. The LHW roughly follows the current grade.

Overland Canyon Road – It is well maintained.

The road through the canyon is perfectly cromulent. It meets the 1919 road from Gold Hill a couple of miles from the upper end of the canyon.

Next Up: Ibapah

As always, travel wisely in the desert,

Grover