A cairn found in Cohab Canyon, Capitol Reef National Park. Frank and Anne's Canyon Country Hiking and Camping Notebook.

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Silver Reef ghost town, Utah.

This page presents information on the ghost town of Silver Reef, Utah.

 Topics
 Overview

In 1866, silver-bearing sandstone was discovered on the east slope of the Pine Valley Mountains. The first claims were worked in 1874.  By 1877, the town had over 100 businesses, including a racetrack and a brewery. In 1879, the town housed over 2,000 citizens, but by 1890 only 177 citizens remained. In the early 1900s many of the remaining buildings were demolished, and a fire in 1908 destroyed almost all that remained. 

Silver Reef still has about 10 visible ruins, including the Rice Bank Building. There is a museum in the restored Wells Fargo Express building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Area: N/A
Elevation: 3,797 feet
Fees: None
Hours: Open all year.
Visitor Center: None
Facilities: A museum; no restrooms; no drinking water.
Directions: In Washington County, Utah; 15 miles north of St. George and 1.5 miles west of Leeds. Take Exit 22 off of Interstate 15.
Coordinates: Map Coordinates (NAD83): 37 15.177N; 113 22.037W.
Weather:
 
Regulations:
Precautions:
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Cliffs above Silver Reef, Utah.
 Landmarks
Within the Ghost Town
Check our personal notes for details about these points of interest:
  • Chinese Saloon and Drug
  • Clancy Market
  • Harrison House Hotel
  • John Rice Bank
  • Leopold Goldberg Store
  • McCormack Store
  • Peter Harrison Residence
  • Wells Fargo Building
Near the Ghost Town
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 Maps
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 Books and Resources
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 Related Sites

Note: Remember to bookmark this site before you venture off down these side trails. They lead to other Web sites that we do not control. We cannot vouch for the content on, nor do we endorse, these sites. The following links are only intended to assist you in your quest for further related information. If you discover a broken link, or a link with inappropriate content, or know of a link that should be listed here, please let us know.

Silver Reef
Max Bertola's site.

Silver Reef, Utah
by Gary. B. Speck

Silver Reef, Utah
Ghosttowns.com site.

Silver Reef, Utah
Woodworkers Auction site.

Silver Reef, Utah Collection
Old photos.


More Outside Links
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This page was last updated Sunday, October 12, 2008
   
 
   
 
A Canyon Country cairn.