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Tooele lies on the sloping east side of the Tooele Valley, with the Oquirrh Mountains rising directly behind town and the Great Salt Lake glinting to the north. Mormon pioneers settled here in 1851, and from the late 1800s the town grew on mining, smelting and the railroads that hauled ore from the canyons, a history that still defines its character.
The Tooele Valley Museum and Historic Park preserves an old railroad depot, rolling stock and mining exhibits, while the Daughters of Utah Pioneers museum occupies the 1867 county courthouse. Newer landmarks include the Deseret Peak Utah Temple. Settlement Canyon, at the edge of town, offers a reservoir, picnic spots and trails into the foothills.
Tooele is also a gateway to wide-open country: the Stansbury Mountains and the climb to Deseret Peak to the southwest, the historic Benson Grist Mill to the north, and racing at Utah Motorsports Campus. Salt Lake City is about 35 miles away, close enough for an easy day trip in either direction.
Set around the town's historic railroad depot, this museum displays old locomotives and cars, mining tools and photographs of the Tooele Valley Railroad that carried ore to the smelter. Volunteers often lead the tours and share local stories. Hours are seasonal and limited, so check ahead.
Run by the Daughters of Utah Pioneers inside the stone county courthouse built in 1867, this small museum is packed with pioneer furniture, clothing, tools and family photographs from the Tooele Valley's early settlers. Volunteers staff it on limited days, mainly in summer, and admission is usually free.
A timber flour mill built in the 1850s, among the oldest surviving buildings in western Utah, about ten miles north of Tooele near Stansbury Park. The restored site includes the mill, a blacksmith shop and other historic buildings, and it hosts craft fairs and heritage days in summer and fall.
A temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints named after the highest summit in the nearby Stansbury Mountains. Its white exterior and landscaped grounds stand out against the Oquirrh foothills, and visitors are welcome to walk the grounds. The interior is open only to church members with a recommend.
A canyon on the southeast side of Tooele with a small reservoir for fishing and paddling, shaded picnic areas, a campground and trails that climb into the Oquirrh foothills. It is a quick escape from summer heat, and fall color in the scrub oak and maples can be bright. Day-use fees apply in season.
At about 11,031 feet, Deseret Peak is the highest point in the Stansbury Mountains, reached by a strenuous loop trail from South Willow Canyon southwest of Tooele. The summit gives huge views over the Great Salt Lake and the desert ranges. Start early, carry plenty of water and avoid the ridge in thunderstorms.
A large county recreation complex between Tooele and Grantsville with an aquatic center, rodeo arenas, sports fields, a motocross track and fairgrounds. It hosts the Tooele County Fair and many horse and rodeo events. Check the event calendar before visiting, since activities change from week to week.
A large road-racing circuit in the Tooele Valley north of town that hosts car and motorcycle races, track days, driving schools and karting. On race weekends the grandstands fill with fans, while other days are given to private events. Check the schedule before going, and bring sun protection on summer days.
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