Vernon Hills Wonderstone
Utah
wonderstone (banded rhyolitic tuff)iron oxides
State-designated locality · Free
Vernon Hills Wonderstone
Wonderstone here is a welded vitric tuff of rhyolitic composition — vitric meaning glassy — whose intricate folded bands of cream, yellow-brown and maroon come from iron oxides and groundwater alteration staining the rock. It cuts and polishes into landscape-looking slabs, which is why lapidary people make the drive south from Tooele. The Utah Geological Survey is blunt about the mixed land status: a private mining claim sits in this area, so do not collect on any marked claims or on rock piles showing signs of recent mining.
The card catalog
| What you can find | wonderstone (banded rhyolitic tuff), iron oxides |
|---|---|
| Access | State-designated locality — Free |
| Fees | Free on the open BLM portion; no fee or permit. A private mining claim covers part of the area, and UGS says plainly not to collect on any marked claim or on rock piles showing signs of recent mining activity. |
| Season & hours | Spring through fall. From Tooele, about 31 miles south on Highway 36 toward Vernon, then 4.5 miles further, north onto a dirt road beside the railroad tracks for 1.7 miles, then 0.4 mile to the end of the road. UGS recommends four-wheel drive and warns the road can be muddy depending on weather. Summer is open and shadeless. |
| Kids | Family-friendly — Banded slabs in cream, yellow-brown and maroon are visually striking and easy for kids to spot and carry. Keep the group away from any rock piles showing fresh working, which mark active claim ground. |
| Official source | Utah Geological Survey, The Rockhounder |
| Last checked | Checked against its source August 16, 2026 |
Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
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Before you go
What does Vernon Hills Wonderstone cost?
Free on the open BLM portion; no fee or permit. A private mining claim covers part of the area, and UGS says plainly not to collect on any marked claim or on rock piles showing signs of recent mining activity. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
When is Vernon Hills Wonderstone open?
Spring through fall. From Tooele, about 31 miles south on Highway 36 toward Vernon, then 4.5 miles further, north onto a dirt road beside the railroad tracks for 1.7 miles, then 0.4 mile to the end of the road. UGS recommends four-wheel drive and warns the road can be muddy depending on weather. Summer is open and shadeless. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
Is Vernon Hills Wonderstone good for kids?
Yes — Vernon Hills Wonderstone works for families. Banded slabs in cream, yellow-brown and maroon are visually striking and easy for kids to spot and carry. Keep the group away from any rock piles showing fresh working, which mark active claim ground.