Fort Deseret
The last stop on Route 257 isn't an off-road adventure at all, but rather the reconstructed ruins of Fort Deseret, built in the 1800s. Every school kid in Utah learns that the European settlers and Native Americans got along great - as long as you don't count all those wars. At one point, the local settlers were feeling threatened, and they ran out and dug up tons of sod and built a pretty impressive fort. It's good for a stop and a look around because there are some big trees to shade a tailgate lunch.
Topaz & Topaz Mountain
Topaz Mountain, northwest of Delta, is a good destination for trail runners. Rock hounds, prospectors, and miners have left a huge web of trails all over the area. With the exception of large snow storms, this area is accessible year round. The trails range from smooth and flat runs across the empty desert to steep, rocky climbs in and out of the washes and gullies of the mountains. The rock hounds enjoy looking for topaz and other crystals that have been washed out of the mountains during the winter
When snow closes the rocky mountain trails and the days get shorter, we can still find new places to play on this mountain. To get there, follow Route 174 west and be sure to let someone know when you're heading out and when you expect to return. Take a lot of food and warm clothes in the winter. There are thousands of little gullies and canyons out there, and it would take a long time to find you if you got lost or broke down.
While in the Topaz area, history buffs might want to detour south and visit the World War II detention camp named after the mountain. All that is left are some foundations, but there is a monument to the citizens who were interned there in the middle of nowhere for years. It's a sobering place. If you take your kids off-roading, this would be a good place to go for an interesting history lesson.
Baker Hot Springs
Also off Route 174 is Baker Hot Springs. We had heard about the springs for years but had never made the drive out there. With a good map and some free time, we set out to find the springs. The turnoff to the springs heads north about 18 miles west of the junction of 174 and Highway 6. The road to the springs is smooth dirt, the type that turns to slimy mud when rain soaks in. We noticed serious tracks left from trucks that had driven through after the last storm, and farther up the road there were still mud holes from a storm days before. Unless you really love mud, avoid this road after the rain.
At the springs, there is a narrow channel that funnels water into some small cement tanks. Just north of the springs are a number of old buildings. The area is clearly marked with no trespassing signs and is surrounded by a serious fence. This is not a good place to play. The people who own the buildings really do not want you poking around, and you are a long way from help if anything happens. This far out, it is common sense to respect others.
Delta
What Moab is to slickrock, Delta is to desert adventure. There are fewer new-agers and art gallery owners in Delta and more rock hounds and places to get hunting supplies. For those who love taking their rigs into the back-country, Delta makes a good base of operations. You can get food and fuel as well as find lodging or a place to park your RV. The locals are nice people, and if you find the right old-timer, you might hear a good story or two - whether you want to or not. Overall, it is still a small American town that locals can be proud of.
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