Jacob City
Jacob City was a small mining town, born in 1865, when several men discovered rich ore in Dry Canyon, just north of the city of Ophir. During Jacob City's prime times, there were an estimated 300 population, and the town had several stores, a hotel, a school, saloons, and gambling houses. The mines were successful for almost 40 years, when they began drying up in the early 1900's.
The road to Jacob City is steep, rocky, and narrow. A high clearance light 4x4 truck or ATV is required to access the town. The canyon is a beautiful haven in the desert landscape. The entire canyon is open to public and is owned by BLM. There are two main ways to access Jacob City; just off the main road to Ophir, and out from Stockton. The Stockton route is much easier to drive, but does not provide the scenic adventure the Ophir route provides. Both routes are open and will take you directly into the city, provided the snow is not too deep.
The Hidden Treasure Mine was the first mine opened, and holds the greatest amount of history for the area. The Hidden Treasure Mine was made popular when a 10-year old scout, Josh Dennis, became lost in the mine. This event was also responsible for the permanent, and very unnecessary closure of the mine via collapsing the entrance.
Location
40.388956° -112.271941° @ 8500'
